Riverside May Hire Ex-Irvine Co. Exec

Gary H. Hunt--for 20 years the public face of the powerful Irvine Co.--might go to work for Riverside County in a push to improve its strained relationship with Orange County on nagging transportation and land-use issues.

Before leaving in February, Hunt, 52, was in charge of the real estate giant’s government and community relations staff. In the post of executive vice president, many considered him to be the right-hand man of chairman Donald L. Bren.

Hunt is now a partner in California Strategies, an Irvine-based consulting company that specializes in public relations, government affairs and strategic planning. The company includes former aides and supporters of former Gov. Pete Wilson, including Bob White, a former chief of staff, and Camden McEfee, Wilson’s deputy chief of staff.

Hunt also has been appointed by Gov. Gray Davis to a state task force dealing with highway and other infrastructure issues.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is expected to decide today whether to hire Hunt and California Strategies.

The proposed $100,000 contract is part of the county’s effort to plan for population growth and develop new transportation corridors, including links to Orange County.

“My role will be finding ways to bring these two counties together, starting with transportation,” Hunt said Monday. “We will be looking at any and all options related to the 91 Freeway, rail and alternative routes--whatever opportunities exist to solve these issues.”

If approved, Riverside County will get the services of a man known for operating in a low-key, gracious manner in public, but reputed to be forceful in private dealings. The neighboring county also may benefit from his knowledge of Orange County government and politics.

“Gary is well-situated to represent the concerns of Orange County people to us and us to them,” said Larry Parrish, Riverside County’s chief executive officer. “He is a big-picture kind of guy, not a parochial one. “

For the last year, Orange and Riverside counties have sometimes been at odds on how to deal with the congested Riverside Freeway. Orange County supported the construction of four private toll lanes on the freeway, while Riverside County sued to have the lanes opened for public use.

In another potentially explosive issue, Riverside County has proposed a new highway into Orange County through the Cleveland National Forest, an idea opposed by Orange County cities, environmental groups and community leaders.

“Our efforts to communicate have not been effective, and some of our ideas have not been well-received,” said Parrish, a former chief administrative officer for Orange County. “We won’t be able to get people to talk unless we have someone who can facilitate it.”

Riverside County Supervisor Bob Buster disagreed, saying that Hunt’s services are not needed.

Instead, Buster contends that his colleagues should approach Orange County’s business and political leaders themselves rather than rely on an expensive consultant.

“The more open we are, the better,” Buster said. “We could end up rubbing people the wrong way. If the direct approach doesn’t work, then we can get some help.”