North County gets some financial clout

Paul Clinton

SANTA ANA -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a

$5-million payment to a coalition of North County cities Tuesday for a

public information campaign supporting an airport at the closed El Toro

Marine base.

The county will allocate the money to the Orange County Regional

Airport Authority, a group of 15 North County cities that have pushed for

the airport.

Authority Executive Director Gen. Art Bloomer has said he plans to use

the funds to mount an extensive public information campaign extolling the

benefits of the county’s airport plan.

County supervisors approved the funding by a 3-2 vote during the

morning meeting, with familiar names supporting the move. Those who have

pushed for an airport at the closed base carried it -- Supervisors Jim

Silva, Chuck Smith and Cynthia Coad.

Silva, whose district includes Costa Mesa, said he has been frustrated

by the anti-airport campaign out of South County. Silva acknowledged the

county’s difficulties in generating broad public support for the plan.

“The airport can stand on its own merits,” Silva said. “You just get

the truth out there.”

Fifth District Supervisor Tom Wilson, a fervid anti-airport voice who

represents Newport Beach, did not support the lobbying effort. Wilson

could not be reached for comment.