Kudos from whom?

Engineers and surveyors group praises Van Tran; another endorsement made in yet-to-begin race; JWA fee passes muster with taxpayers group.As the year ends, groups that watch lawmakers are totting up lists of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice -- or at least who’s promoted their interests through legislation.

It’s a mixed bag in most cases, with Newport-Mesa’s legislators generally being proclaimed business-friendly but not always advocates of environmental and social spending programs.

Costa Mesa Assemblyman Van Tran got the most kudos, though perhaps from the most obscure source -- he was named legislator of the year by the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California.

The group specifically praised Tran for his legislation to reduce bureaucracy in getting state highway projects approved.

“As a legislator, I’ve always thought it important to work with private industry to encourage the growth and development of California,” Tran said in a statement. “The state needs to stop hindering our businesses and help California grow again.”

Tran will receive the award Jan. 31 in Sacramento.

Orange County legislators also fared well with the California Chamber of Commerce, which gave Tran a score of 92% and a 100% rating to Newport Beach Assemblyman Chuck DeVore for pro-business votes. State Sen. John Campbell received a 93% score. The California Farm Bureau gave Tran and DeVore ratings of 93% and Campbell a perfect score.

But other groups gave locals a lump of coal. For instance, the Sierra Club gave Tran a measly 10% and DeVore and Campbell each scored a goose egg.

WHEN-AND-IF ENDORSEMENT

Candidate-to-be Diane Harkey, a Dana Point city councilwoman who’s “running” in the not-yet-official race to replace Campbell, sewed up another endorsement this week as she announced support from Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell. He joins Supervisor Jim Silva, whose endorsement of Harkey was announced Nov. 17.

Sen. Campbell, a Republican, is widely expected to beat four opponents in Tuesday’s election for the 48th Congressional District seat.

Harkey and Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman, also Republicans, are the only two candidates so far for Campbell’s seat, but more could enter the race if the seat officially opens.

TAXPAYERS GROUP OK WITH JWA FEE

Tacking a passenger fee onto flights departing from John Wayne Airport is OK by the Orange County Taxpayers Assn., according to a statement from the group.

The $4.50 fee could be part of a plan to fund much of a $437-million expansion at the airport. Orange County Supervisors will likely vote later this month on the overall funding plan.

The taxpayers’ association generally opposes new taxes, but it doesn’t consider the proposed charge a tax -- it’s a fee paid by the people using the facilities that made the expansion necessary.

“We are forced to pay taxes, whether we use a service or not. We pay user fees (such as the proposed passenger facility charge) voluntarily, in exchange for using the service,” a statement from association president Reed Royalty said.

If the supervisors approve the charge, travelers who fly out of John Wayne Airport could begin paying it as soon as July 2006. The fee would expire in 2021.20051201ifs7nwkfKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Assemblyman Van Tran gathers his thoughts before a vote. He was recently praised for legislation to ease the approval of highway bills.