Davis names investor Blum to UC Board of Regents / Husband of Sen. Feinstein is a Berkeley grad

March 13, 2002

Richard Blum (C), husband of Senator Dianne Feinstein, founded The American Himalayan Foundation, that has for 20 years provided education, health care, reforestation and cultural preservation for the people of Tibet, Nepal and parts of India. Surrounded by Nepalese prayer stones and flags, Blum is joined by Norbu Tenzing Norgay, development director of the foundation and the son of Norgay Tenzing, who was the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE PHOTO BY CHRIS STEWART 909 Montgomery St. Suite 400 STORY SUMMARY: WB CENTERPIECE: The American Himalayan Foundation has for 20 years provided education, health care, reforestation and cultural preservation for the people of Tibet, Nepal and parts of India. International financier Richard Blum, husband of Senator Dianne Feinstein, founded the organization. NOTE: On Blum's office balcony are Tibetan prayer flags and prayer carvings, along with a mock sign saying "Nepal, 14,000 miles, Tahoe, 202 miles," etc. PLUS: foundation executive director is Erica Stone; development director is Norbu Tenzing Norgay, who's dad was a Sherpa. Worth pix of all them together? IS THIS A POSSIBLE CENTERPIECE?: YESCHRIS STEWART

2002-03-13 04:00:00 PDT Sacramento -- Gov. Gray Davis yesterday appointed San Francisco financier Richard Blum, husband of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, to the University of California Board of Regents.

Blum, 66, is a wealthy investor who has been involved in ventures as diverse as Northwest Airlines and trading companies in China. Some of Blum's business dealings have long been a sticky subject for Feinstein.

Opponents have often accused Feinstein of voting for bills, such as normalization of economic ties with China, that would financially benefit Blum.

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Feinstein said her husband abandoned his Chinese holdings in 1999.

More recently, it was revealed that Blum owns part of the firm studying the environmental impact of San Francisco International Airport's planned runway expansion, a connection that troubled environmentalists. Blum holds a bachelor of arts and master of business administration degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Blum, who has contributed to Davis' gubernatorial campaign, serves as a director on several boards, including Korea First Bank, CB Richard Ellis, Northwest Airlines and Glenborough Realty Trust Inc. He also serves as co- chairman of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.

March 13, 2002