Laguna Niguel’s Wilson Selected as O.C. Supervisor

SANTA ANA —  Laguna Niguel City Councilman Thomas W. Wilson was selected Wednesday to succeed Marian Bergeson as Orange County’s 5th District supervisor, and he immediately vowed to fight the conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a commercial airport, the county’s most divisive issue.

“Many of my constituents want me to vote ‘no,’ ” said the 56-year-old retired Rockwell International aerospace engineer. “I am going to work diligently on their behalf to keep [an airport] from happening.”

Gov. Pete Wilson’s appointment caps a month of intense jockeying among South County political leaders vying to replace Bergeson, who resigned in October to become the governor’s secretary of child development and education.

Bergeson had urged the governor to select a woman as her successor, but Wilson’s appointment establishes an all-white, all-male Board of Supervisors that some criticized for failing to reflect the diversity of Orange County. Sean Walsh, a spokesman for the governor, said the goal was simply to select the best qualified candidate and the appointment “was very much representative of the overall sentiments in the county.”

The appointment comes at a crucial time for South County residents, who are fighting the El Toro airport plans as well as a proposal to dramatically expand the James A. Musick Branch Jail near Irvine.

Wilson takes office as Orange County continues to slowly recover from its 1994 bankruptcy, which forced cuts in services and personnel and severely strained county government’s credibility with the public.

Some anti-airport activists and community leaders threw their support to Wilson’s council colleague, Patricia C. Bates, who some believe is a stronger airport foe.

But on Wednesday, Wilson’s appointment received a generally favorable reaction in South County, where officials said his local roots might give residents a stronger voice in county affairs.

Though the 5th District stretches from Newport Beach south to San Clemente, both Bergeson and her predecessor, Thomas F. Riley, live in Newport Beach, where many residents support the El Toro airport conversion. Wilson becomes the first county supervisor since 1971 to represent the 5th District who has not lived in Newport Beach.

“This is a milestone and a victory for all those in the South County who have been demanding representation on the Board of Supervisors,” Laguna Niguel Councilman Mark Goodman said. “I’m very pleased that the governor appointed a credible South County leader. Tom is one of us.”

Despite her interest in being replaced by a woman, Bergeson said Wednesday that she enthusiastically supported Wilson’s appointment because he lives south of the El Toro Y, the unofficial dividing line between North and South County.

“It’s high time South County had a representative who actually lives in the South County area,” Bergeson said. “I think people wanted someone who could build bridges and hopefully bring the South and North Counties together” on the airport issue.

Wilson vowed Wednesday to be a thoughtful and energetic advocate for South County residents and issues. He plans to hold a “summit” of District 5 community leaders later this week to discuss El Toro and other issues.

“It’s an honor,” he said of the appointment. “Stepping into Marian’s shoes will be very difficult.”

An Air Force veteran, Wilson helped incorporate Laguna Niguel seven years ago and now holds leadership posts on several countywide government agencies including the Orange County Transportation Authority and Orange County Fire Authority.

The governor cited Wilson’s business experience and government service in the selection.

“He is a strong, independent professional who clearly identifies and solves complex problems,” Gov. Wilson said in a statement. “Tom will be an asset to the board as they work on the business of county government.”

Sources close to the appointment process said that Bergeson favored Bates for the job but that others on the governor’s staff favored Wilson because of his business background and knowledge of financial issues.

Walsh, the governor’s spokesman, said, “There was no split in the staff. There were no concrete favorites. There was just a simple presentation of the strengths and weaknesses” of the finalists.

In the end, Gov. Wilson went with Thomas Wilson (no relation) because he had a broad background in the business world during his tenure at Rockwell and demonstrated an impressive ability to deal with difficult government issues, Walsh said.

Walsh said the governor’s staff sought the opinions of a variety of Orange County politicians, community activists and others on the candidates.

The advice of developer George L. Argyros, chairman of a pro-El Toro airport group, and Irvine Co. officials “weighed in like the opinions of anyone else,” Walsh said. “All of this was put into the mix.”

During the selection sweepstakes, the governor was criticized by the League of Women Voters for not revealing the names of the finalists so the public could have a say. Walsh countered that the governor’s staff took pains to conduct a broad sweep of public views on the candidates.

Some politicians and observers expressed surprise and regret that the governor didn’t heed Bergeson’s advice and appoint a women to the board.

“Oh, I am shocked. I can’t figure [Wilson] out, and I’m not going to try,” said Harriett M. Wieder, who in 1978 became Orange County’s first female supervisor. “My bottom line is they just don’t get it.”

Added political consultant Dan Wooldridge: “I was very, very surprised. I really thought that the governor was going to appoint a woman, and there were a number of qualified woman. There is great value in having the board reflect the makeup of the county and more than 50% of the people in the county are women.”

Walsh countered that the governor had simply chosen the finalist he believed was best suited. “In this case, Tom Wilson’s breadth of experience, his clear thinking and technical understanding of complex issues prompted the governor to conclude by the end of the day that he would best fill this job.”

Wilson is one of three new supervisors to take office by January, an unprecedented turnover that will give the freshmen an unusual amount of clout.

Charles V. Smith, the former Westminster mayor who was elected to the 1st District supervisorial seat in November, worked with Wilson on OCTA and said he expects to have a smooth relationship with him.

“This is an excellent choice. He is very smart and very reasonable, but he doesn’t make any rash decisions,” said Smith, who is also a retired Rockwell aerospace manager. “He’s quiet and impressive, but not loud and boisterous.”

Supervisor William G. Steiner, who is scheduled to become board chairman in January, also praised the appointment. “He will be a strong voice for South County,” Steiner said. “He’s someone who will be respected.”

Wilson is scheduled to be sworn-in this morning and will immediately find himself at the center of many thorny issues beyond El Toro. On Wednesday, the day he was appointed, Irvine and Lake Forest filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking a proposed expansion of the Musick jail.

The new supervisor also will have to contend with the aftermath of the bankruptcy, which ended in June when the county sold $800 million in bonds and used the proceeds to pay off creditors. The county--which has 14,000 employees and a budget of $3.4 billion--must repay the bonds over 30 years, severely limiting its financial flexibility.

Stan Oftelie, chief executive officer of the Orange County Transportation Authority, said Wilson is up to the challenge.

“He has an extraordinary grasp of financial issues,” said Oftelie, noting that Wilson accompanied the agency’s financial officials on trips to Wall Street to discuss bonds and bankruptcy issues.

“He understands the ramifications of the bankruptcy and what the county has to do,” Oftelie added.

But others expressed concern about the appointment.

“Now, Tom has an opportunity to prove to us not in just mere words but in action that he truly is anti-airport,” Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Janet Godfrey said. “It’s going to take courage and guts to fight the pro-airport people, and I’m not sure he has that.”

Tim Cooley, an Irvine resident and vice president of the Orange County Business Council, which backs an airport, said he was unhappy to hear that some of Wilson’s first comments after the appointment announcement were about blocking the airport.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Cooley said. “I really like the idea of someone with his background in engineering and aerospace coming and taking at look at the airport reuse. I hope he keeps an open mind.”

Two county committees already have voted to certify the El Toro environmental impact report. And even with Wilson’s opposition, many observers still expect the Board of Supervisors to approve the document as well.

Also contributing to this report were Times staff writers Rene Lynch, Dexter Filkins, Tracy Weber, Len Hall and correspondent Kimberly Brower.

* JAIL STUDY CHALLENGED: Lake Forest, Irvine sue over Musick jail impact report. B1

* ‘THOUGHTFUL’ POLITICIAN: Friends see Wilson as conscientious, foes as slow to decide. A3

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Profile: Thomas W. Wilson

Age: 56

Family: Widower since 1988; one son, 21

Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of Pittsburgh; master’s degree in business from Cal State Long Beach

Professional: Held management and administrative positions at Rockwell International for 30 years before retiring in 1995

Public service: Served on Laguna Niguel City Council since its inception in 1989; chairman of Orange County Fire Authority; member of Orange County Transportation Authority

Source: Thomas W. Wilson

Appointment Facts

The appointment of Thomas W. Wilson as county supervisor for the 5th District means that:

* South County gets its highest-ranking public official ever.

* The 5th District will be represented by someone who does not live in Newport Beach for the first time since 1971, when Alton E. Allen of Laguna Beach served on the board.

* The Board of Supervisors will have an all-white, all-male makeup for the first time since 1978.

* Laguna Niguel gets its first county supervisor.

Sources: County of Orange; city of Laguna Niguel