Supervisors to hire El Toro lobbyists for $1.16 million

Paul Clinton

SANTA ANA -- In a move lauded by Newport Beach airport activists, the

Orange County Board of Supervisors on Thursday approved $1.16 million in

lobbying contracts for five firms in Washington, D.C.

By approving the contracts -- passed by a 3-2 vote -- county officials

hope to jump-start the transfer of the closed El Toro Marine base to

Orange County. The county’s campaign advocating an El Toro airport was

stalled by the March approval of Measure F, which required a two-thirds

voter approval for landfills, jails and commercial airfields before it

was overturned by a judge.

Contacted while out of town, Newport Beach Mayor Gary Adams praised

the action.

“Anything the county can do to advance a second airport in Orange

County is good,” Adams said. “Something needs to be done to get things

moving in Washington.”

Supervisor Tom Wilson, whose district includes Newport Beach and South

County communities, accused the board majority of trying to subvert

federal environmental reviews required in the transfer of the 4,738-acre

base.

The Department of Defense has set February 2002 as the probable date

for the turnover.

“The county is trying to accelerate the process,” Wilson said.

“They’re trying to get it done sooner rather than later.”

Supervisor Cynthia Coad, whose district includes Anaheim, defended the

contracts.

“It’s a common business practice,” Coad said of the lobbying. “It’s

kind of a knee-jerk reaction to think that there’s something amiss.”

With the approval, the county offered 18-month contracts to Boland and

Madigan for $25,000 a month, Hill and Knowlton for $10,000, HMS Partners

for $10,000, DuVal and Associates for $10,000, and Glenn LeMunyon and

Associates for $7,000.

In his public remarks, Wilson also blasted the contracts as

“borderline illegal.” He said he was concerned federal grants might be

used to fund the contracts.

County officials said the contract fees will be paid with landing fees

and other John Wayne Airport-generated revenue.

As part of the deals, the consultants may secure bonuses of up to 50%

of their annual bills by securing the formal hand-over, known as a Record

of Decision.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer and other South County leaders joined Wilson

in objecting to the deals.

Spitzer said he worried the funds would be used by the lobbyists for

“champagne and caviar dinners.”

In a letter to board Chairman Chuck Smith, Susan Withrow -- head of

the South County coalition El Toro Reuse Planning Authority -- said the

action runs counter to the “will of 67.3% of the people expressed by

Measure F.”

Barbara Lichman, executive director of the Newport Beach-based Airport

Working Group, defended the county’s lobbying drive.

“I believe what you’re doing today is critical,” Lichman said at the

supervisors’ meeting. “Your mandate is to build an airport.”

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