Ex-Legislator Areias Named to Coastal Panel : Land use: Farmer is called a strong shoreline defender. But some express fear that he will further politicize the commission.

Rusty Areias, a former assemblyman and unsuccessful candidate for state controller, was appointed Monday to the California Coastal Commission by the state Senate Rules Committee.

In announcing the appointment, Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) called Areias “a committed advocate for the coast” who will “stand up to powerful interests.”

But some commission observers expressed concern that the appointment of Areias, a dairy farmer and Democrat from Monterey County who may run next year for the state Senate, will further politicize the state agency created to protect California’s coastline from runaway development.

Melvin Nutter, chairman of the League for Coastal Protection and a former commission chairman, said Areias had assured him that “he is going to be a prime defender of the coast. I’m certainly willing to take him at his word until he proves otherwise. I would hope to see those promises fulfilled,” said Nutter, who added that “it is a matter of concern” that Areias may be raising money for a Senate race while a commissioner.

Areias will be the first former legislator to serve on the commission since 1990. After a dozen years in the Assembly, he ran last year for state controller but lost in the June Democratic primary.

Lockyer also announced the appointment of Agoura Hills City Councilwoman Fran Pavley to the commission. Pavley, who has a master’s degree in environmental planning, beat out Santa Monica Councilwoman Judy Abdo in a behind-the-scenes struggle over the commission seat reserved for an elected official from the South Coast, which includes Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The twin appointments give the Senate its full complement of four commission appointees. In recent years, the Senate appointees have been the most outspoken critics of coastal development on the commission, although they have been outvoted on key development decisions by appointees of Gov. Pete Wilson and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco).