Dean Spanos's new hired hand

The Chargers announced yesterday afternoon (February 8) that Fred Maas, a specialist in steering public money into private real estate ventures, has been named a special advisor to the team's chief executive, Dean Spanos, who is trying to get citizens to ante up for a football stadium.

Maas, once chief executive of the former Centre City Development Corporation, has concentrated many of his corporate-welfare lobbying and fundraising on downtown projects.

Spanos says he is open to a Mission Valley site for a new stadium but prefers downtown. Maas will advise Spanos on the citizens' initiative process, including "the exploration of possible stadium financing plans that would be publicly accessible," according to a news release sent out by Mark Fabiani, Chargers public relations spokesman and strategist.

Maas has been involved in real estate much of his career. He was developer of Black Mountain Ranch, site of the Santaluz and Del Sur neighborhoods. Maas served as former mayor Jerry Sanders's advisor on a downtown sports and entertainment district — possibly another clue on the direction his lobbying and public persuasion will take.