New Supervisor Sworn In; Airport Vote Nears

By SHELBY GRAD

Dec. 6, 1996 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

SANTA ANA —

Thomas W. Wilson was sworn in Thursday as Orange County’s newest supervisor just five days before he and his colleagues will cast the most crucial vote that has faced the board in years--whether to approve a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Wilson used the brief swearing-in ceremony at the Old County Courthouse to announce a community forum today concerning the airport plan, which he and many residents in his South County district oppose. The 1:30 p.m. forum will take place in Clubhouse 3 at Leisure World Laguna Hills.

“I want to gather all the input I can before the Tuesday meeting,” said the 56-year-old retired aerospace engineer and former Laguna Niguel councilman. “I want to meet with folks one on one. This seems like the best way to get people in my district together.”

With the long-awaited airport vote due Tuesday, lobbyists jammed the fifth floor of the Hall of Administration to make last-minute pitches to supervisors in their offices.

“They are up here like flies,” said Supervisor William G. Steiner, who has meetings scheduled with Federal Express, the Orange County Business Council, the Building Industry Assn. and other groups over the next few days.

“It’s almost like overkill,” he added. “We are getting both proponents and opponents. But we have already heard every conceivable angle presented to us over the last two years.”

Steiner, who will become board chairman next month, said that while his district generally supports the airport, “I’ve made it clear that I’m also concerned with the impact” on residents.

“There needs to be a balance between economic benefits and the quality of life,” he added.

Supervisor Don Saltarelli said he plans to study the issue through the weekend and remains undecided about how he will vote. But he worried Thursday that the project’s environmental impact report does not fully examine the negative effects of an airport.

“There are some aspects of the [report] I’m not satisfied with,” he said.

Wilson announced he would vote against the airport plan immediately after being appointed to the Board of Supervisors by Gov. Pete Wilson on Wednesday. The new supervisor replaces Marian Bergeson, who stepped down last month to become the governor’s secretary of child development and education.

Wilson said Thursday that he will spend the next few days learning all he can about the airport and talking with concerned constituents. He also said he will present evidence at the Tuesday meeting that he hopes will convince his colleagues that the project is flawed.

“I will push as hard as I can for the airport not to happen, but if I walk in there and pound my shoe on the table, it won’t help,” he said. The other supervisors “will say ‘thank you very much,’ and the vote will be 4-1.”

Wilson is the first South County resident in more than 20 years to serve on the Board of Supervisors, and dozens of leaders from the area came north to Santa Ana on Thursday for Wilson’s swearing in. The oath of office was administered by Board Chairman Roger R. Stanton as Wilson’s fiancee, Nancy Miller, and his 21-year-old son, Tom Jr., who serves in the Navy, looked on.

In January, Westminster Mayor Charles V. Smith and Todd Spitzer, a prosecutor and Brea school board member, will join the board as well. Like Wilson, Spitzer opposes the El Toro plan. Smith favors it.

Steiner said that he doesn’t agree with Spitzer and Wilson on all aspects of the airport issue but that their “articulate” opposition could foster common ground.

“Tom’s personal diplomacy and Todd Spitzer’s passionate support for South County issues can’t be ignored by the other supervisors,” he added. “It means that other supervisors who support an aviation alternative might be more willing to modify their positions somewhat because they know they need their support on other unrelated issues in the future.”

Wilson said that after the El Toro vote he will begin selecting his staff and focusing on other county issues.

“At this point, I’m learning my phone number and finding my parking spot,” he joked.

Despite the praise that accompanied his appointment, Wilson said he knows the job will have its good and bad days.

“Some are [calling] to say congratulations, others are sending condolences,” he added.

Also contributing to this report were Times correspondent Frank Messina and staff writer Rene Lynch.

* LOW PROFILE, HIGH VISIBILITY: Orange County’s new supervisor rose fast in a quiet way. A32

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Supervisor Positions

Here’s where the five sitting supervisors and two taking office in January stand on a plan to convert the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a commercial airport. The board will vote on the El Toro environmental impact report Tuesday.

CURRENT SUPERVISORS

* Don Saltarelli (leaves office in January): Still studying issue, but believes environmental factors need deeper examination by county.

* Roger R. Stanton (leaves office in January): His district generally favors airport, but he expressed concern about how it would affect surrounding area

* Jim Silva: Considered a supporter; has not taken public position on vote.

* William G. Steiner: Generally supports, but wants to address concerns of neighbors

* Thomas W. Wilson: Opposes, citing concerns of El Toro neighbors.

****

TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY

* Charles V. Smith: Supports, says airport will boost economy

* Todd Spitzer: Opposes because of environmental, safety concerns

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Issue Lineup

Here’s how members of what will become the new Board of Supervisors split on three issues: whether the James A. Musick Branch Jail should be expanded into a maximum-security facility; whether there should be more evening meetings of the board and whether they should be televised; and whether supervisorial district lines should be redrawn before the new board sits for the first time. Laguna Niguel Councilman Thomas W. Wilson was sworn in Thursday, joining William G. Steiner and Jim Silva on the board. Westminster Mayor Charles V. Smith and prosecutor Todd Spitzer will join them in January.

Charles V. Smith

Musick Jail expansion: Favors; says county needs more jail beds

More evening meetings/television: Favors

Redraw districts: Opposes

Jim Silva

Musick Jail expansion: Favors to ease overcrowding and early inmate releases

More evening meetings/television: Opposed when issues came before board earlier this year

Redraw districts: Opposes

Todd Spitzer

Musick Jail expansion: Opposes; thinks new jails should be in more remote areas

Evening meetings/television: Favors

Redraw districts: Opposes