THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:Actor/politician draws crowd of Republicans, media

“Law and Order” actor and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson had to know he’d make himself popular with the Lincoln Club by mentioning Ronald Reagan. In his speech at the club’s annual dinner Friday a the Balboa Bay Club, Thompson name-dropped not only the 40th president, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Wayne.

The story in Saturday’s paper, which you can read here, talked about Thompson’s speech and how it was received, but didn’t say much about Thompson’s background. (Personally, I blame a late-running event and deadline.)

For those who wondered, his bio in the program says that he was an assistant U.S. attorney, worked on the Senate Watergate Committee, and served in the U.S. Senate from 1994 to 2002.

His acting career includes parts in “The Hunt for Red October,” “In the Line of Fire,” and a recurring role on “Law and Order.” To read Thompson’s blogging, go to https://abcradio.com.

The event Friday was pretty much a media circus. One news story on Saturday said Thompson wasn’t expected to announce his candidacy for president at the dinner, but I find it hard to believe nearly 40 news outlets including CNN, Fox, the New York Times and the Christian Broadcasting Network would have showed up if they didn’t think there was a chance of it.

POOL NAMESAKE TO BE HONORED AT FUNDRAISER

The swimming pool complex at Corona del Mar High School already bears retired state legislator Marian Bergeson’s name, but she’ll be further honored at a May 12 dinner that aims to raise money to renovate the pool.

The pool opened nearly 17 years ago, and now officials say they need to replaster it, build new locker rooms and showers, put in a new scoreboard and make other upgrades. The work is expected to cost $1.8 million, and community activists want to raise some of that at the dinner.

The dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 12 at the Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. Tickets are $300 a person, and sponsorships are available. For information or tickets call Angela Kraus at (949) 644-7064 or go to www.cdmpool.org.

SOIL CLEANUP

A cleanup of contaminated soil on Costa Mesa’s Westside likely won’t be the city’s last, but the next environmental job might come sooner than expected. City Councilwoman Linda Dixon on Tuesday asked for information about pollution seeping into the groundwater at 1640 Monrovia Ave., where a mixed-use development is proposed.

Officials are planning to remove soil from the Monrovia property because of pollution from industrial activities there. But information from the state Department of Toxic Substances Control, which is orchestrating the cleanup, showed some contaminants in the groundwater appear to have come from elsewhere.

A public meeting on the soil removal is Wednesday. For information, call (714) 484-5337.

THE CITY FOR THE TREES

Newport Beach has again been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation, city officials announced this week. The city has more than 33,500 trees and regularly plants and maintains its trees, public information officer Marilee Jackson said in a news release.

State foresters will present the award to the city at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

REP. RAILS AGAINST TAX PLAN

Congressional Democrats are proposing changes to the alternative minimum tax, and Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell doesn’t like the revisions a bit, he told constituents in his newsletter this week.

The alternative minimum tax was established in 1970 to stop some high-income taxpayers from using tax breaks to dodge most of what they’d otherwise owe.

According to Campbell, Democrats suggest the tax be increased from 28% to 36% for people who earn more than $250,000 a year, and that millionaires pay taxes of as much as 40%.

Such a proposal would hinder economic growth, Campbell wrote in his newsletter, adding, “I agree that we should fix the … [alternative minimum tax], but let’s fix it by reducing it, eliminating it, or changing it — not simply moving the burden of paying it around.”

He plans to make a counterproposal but has not revealed details.

SPEAK UP MEETING

The May meeting of community group Speak Up Newport is set for Wednesday and will feature Matt Brisbois, the city’s community preparedness coordinator, speaking about natural disasters and the city’s response. He’ll also answer questions about emergency preparedness.

The social hour begins at 5 p.m. with the meeting at 6 p.m. at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach. For information call (949) 224-2266 or go to www.speakupnewport.org .