Closer Look -- Campaign shifts from park to overdrive

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- Over the next month, voters are expected to have one

big topic on their minds -- the fate of the El Toro Marine Corps Air

Station.

Three weeks from now, county voters will decide whether they prefer a

central park or an airport at the closed base by approving or denying

Measure W.

The South County-mounted initiative would change the zoning at the

4,700-acre base from aviation to open space to allow Orange County to

create what promoters say could potentially be the greatest park in the

United States and put a huge crimp in any plans to build an airport

there.

The election, to be held March 5, will be the fourth referendum in the

county’s nearly nine-year effort to build an airport at the base. Three

earlier initiatives have ultimately validated that use for the base.

“It’s not the end of an airport [if Measure W passes],” said Barbara

Lichman, the executive director of the Airport Working Group. “This is

the fourth time -- two we won at the ballot box, the third we won in

court. If we do not succeed [in March], we’ll be back in court to

challenge it and win. And we’ll be back in the saddle.”

However, if the measure passes, Supervisor Jim Silva -- an airport

supporter -- has said he will support the public’s choice to build a park

at the base. That can hamper efforts to push through an airport since

airport supporters will no longer have their 3-2 board majority. Instead,

the pro-park crew would.

Costa Mesa Councilman Gary Monahan, though, agreed with Lichman that

this election wouldn’t be the final word on what happens at the base.

“If it passes, somebody takes it to court,” Monahan said. “If it

fails, they try a fifth [initiative]. If this keeps going the way it has,

the Feds will just put a fence up.”

Supporters of the initiative are already powering ahead full throttle

to pass Measure W. As of Jan. 19, the primary group backing the measure,

Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities, counted a $510,455 war chest.

Opponents of Measure W, led by the Airport Working Group’s No on W

political action committee, have taken a little slower to get out of the

gate. The working group counted only $9,366 in operating cash as of that

time, county records show.

The group has run some cable ads attacking the Great Park, but not

mailers so far, spokesman Dave Ellis said.

The initiative’s supporters have already sent out two campaign mailers

urging county voters to approve Measure W.

“I have to assume they’re not adequately funded,” Measure W spokesman

Leonard Kranser said. “They haven’t sent out any mailers because they

don’t have any money.”

South County ballot supporters said they are planning a highly

specialized mailing campaign that would bring a unique message to each

area of the county. Separate mailers will be sent to Costa Mesa and

Newport Beach, including a separate flier to Newport Coast.

Rectangular, blue signs have started cropping up around town urging

voters to reject the initiative and “Stop the Great Tax.”

Airport boosters contend the initiative, if passed, would result in a

significant tax increase to county residents to pay for the development

of the park at the base.

A consultant hired by the working group in September said the Great

Park would cost $2.1 billion to develop. To build a library, art museum,

recreational lake and a handful of other cultural amenities could result

in a 10% countywide tax, the consultant said.

Ellis and others say they’re waiting for the right opportunity to

strike against Measure W.

“I’m not going to talk about [campaign plans],” said Bruce Nestande,

the former supervisor heading up the effort. “The element of surprise is

part of the strategy.”

In the coming weeks, several televised debates have been scheduled. On

Feb. 20, Nestande will square off with Irvine Mayor Larry Agran at the

Newport Dunes resort. Public television station KOCE will televise a

debate being held today. A third debate is scheduled for Feb. 25 at

Concordia University in Irvine.

The tenor of the campaign, in the weeks leading up to election day, is

expected to be fairly negative, those on both sides say.

“It’s been pretty nasty so far, when you have the Airport Working

Group repeatedly lying that this initiative will cause a tax increase,”

Kranser said. “There will be no taxes as a result of this initiative.”

That is true, Ellis said, if no park is ever built.

“A Great Park will require a great tax,” Ellis said. “Without a great

tax, you’ll get no park.”

The working group, in its campaigning, has even set up a Web site,

where visitors can calculate the amount of tax they would need to pay,

based on their home value, for such a park.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .