Appointment draws praise and criticism

Alicia Robinson

While local political observers seem to agree that Rep. Chris Cox

will make an excellent financial policy wonk, they’re far more

divided about what his legacy as Newport Beach’s congressman will be.

Cox was tabbed Thursday by President Bush to take the helm of the

federal Securities and Exchange Commission, where current Chairman

William H. Donaldson will resign June 30. The Senate must confirm Cox

as SEC chairman, after which he’ll leave the Congressional seat he’s

held since 1988.

Cox talked an awful lot about water quality projects, particularly

restoration of the Back Bay, but did he actually deliver anything?

Definitely, said Newport Beach Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff.

“I think he did about as good as anybody could have done in light

of the budget situation in Washington, and I have a lot of respect

for him and the effort he put into our projects,” Kiff said.

One obstacle Cox had to fight was skepticism among his Republican

colleagues toward the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is heading

the Back Bay dredging project, Kiff said. The congressman managed to

get Ohio Rep. Dave Hobson out here to see the Back Bay, which Kiff

believes is the reason the city got the $2 million promised for

dredging in the proposed 2006 budget.

It took Cox years to develop his considerable influence in

Congress, and in the past he was able to get money for the Back Bay,

said Bob Caustin, founder of Newport Beach-based environmental

watchdog Defend the Bay.

In recent years, federal money has been tighter, so a new member

of Congress with less experience “is going to have a far more

difficult time” bringing funds back to Newport, Caustin said.

But Cox’s efforts haven’t cut much ice with Newport Beach City

Councilman Tod Ridgeway.

“Chris was focused on national-policy issues and less so on local

policy issues,” Ridgeway said. “He was a broad-brushed guy who was

not as effective as he could have been for his constituents.”

Ridgeway pointed out that the cover for the Big Canyon Reservoir

-- the state required the cover to protect city drinking water

supplies -- cost nearly $6 million, but after several years of

requests, Cox was only able to get about $900,000 of federal money

for the project.

But Cox’s most noticeable legacy will likely be in the skies. He

fought vigorously to extend the settlement agreement that restricts

flights out of John Wayne Airport, but some critics say he abandoned

Newport when it came to a proposed El Toro airport.

Many Newport residents believe an airport at the closed El Toro

Marine Air Corps Station would have eased swelling transportation

traffic at John Wayne Airport. In 2001, Cox said a county plan for an

El Toro airport was unworkable, and he supported the sale of the

Marine base for public parkland and private development.

Although Cox is a knowledgeable congressman, he’s not a realist

when it comes to the airport issue, said Tom Naughton, a spokesman

for the Airport Working Group.

“As far as I’m concerned, Chris Cox does not have an answer that

is actually viable as far as handling the air-transportation needs”

of the region, Naughton said.

When Cox chose not to back the El Toro airport, he was looking to

the constituents who give him most of his votes, Naughton said.

“They’re all in South County, and he supported them,” he said.

South County residents are causing much of the increasing traffic

at John Wayne Airport, Ridgeway said, but they didn’t want an El Toro

airport in their backyards.

“The citizens of this community were clearly betrayed by Chris

Cox” on the El Toro issue, Ridgeway said. “I think had Chris

supported it, there would be an airport there today.”

Regardless of Cox’s performance as a congressman, some locals said

his experience and clout in Washington can’t be replaced.

“No matter who we get, they’re going to be back on the bottom

rung,” Kiff said. “It’s going to be much more challenging to get

appropriations.”

The list of Republicans interested in Cox’s congressional seat

includes state Sen. Dick Ackerman, former Assemblywoman Marilyn

Brewer, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, Tustin millionaire Mark Chapin

Johnson, former Rep. Jim Rogan, Assemblyman Todd Spitzer and Newport

Beach physician Don Udall.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at alicia.robinson

@latimes.com.