Sitting this one out

Selicia Kennedy-Ross

For Clarence Turner, life in the political arena is a thing of the past

-- and that’s the way he likes it.

Turner, a former mayor of Newport Beach and one of the people influential

in having restrictions placed on John Wayne Airport, is enjoying his life

as a private citizen.

History is repeating itself as the airport issue heats up again, but this

time the El Toro proponents will not have one of their strongest allies

-- Turner.

“I spent 25 years on that issue,” said Turner, 66. “I finally decided it

was time for me to move on and let someone else carry the ball.

“My public life is over,” he said. “I’m traveling a lot and enjoying time

with my wife and grand kids.”

Turner was a key supporter of converting the El Toro Marine Corps Air

Station into a commercial airport after the city of Newport Beach sued

the county in opposing expansion of John Wayne in 1981 and again in 1982.

In 1984, Turner helped establish the Airport Working Group, an airport

activist group that advocated the conversion of El Toro into a commercial

airport and opposed expansion of John Wayne Airport. He later served as

the group’s president in 1996.

Largely due to the group’s efforts, the city and the county reached an

agreement that regulates John Wayne Airport by capping passengers and

operating hours.

After losing his first run for City Council in 1986, Turner sat on the

council from 1990 to 1994 and served as the city’s mayor in 1993.

“I’ve seen a lot of elected officials come and go, but I’d rate him as

one of the top five mayors the city has had in the past 30 years,” said

Newport Beach Mayor Dennis O’Neil.

“I’m a major fan of Bus Turner,” he said, referring to the former mayor

by the nickname he received as a child because his parents thought he

resembled Buster Brown.

“He’s gone the distance for the city,” O’Neil said.

“As mayor pro tem, I found him a very competent and energetic assistant

and he carried those attributes on to his own mayoralty,” said Turner’s

mayoral predecessor, Phil Sansone.

Consultant Dave Ellis called Turner “an honest man with a good strategic

mind and stubborn as the day is long.”

“I think the world of Clarence,” said Ellis. “Even if things weren’t so

good, being an engineer by trade, Clarence always had a plan.”

Turner withdrew from the public eye after his first wife, Celia, passed

away in 1997. He married his second wife, Janice, in 1998.

For the past two years, the once-vocal activist has been living the quiet

life. City Council meetings have given way to traveling, jogging,

backpacking, golf and skiing.

Even among his opponents, Turner is respected. Bill Kogerman, executive

director of the Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, a group that

adamantly opposed converting El Toro into a commercial airport, recalled

sharing a broadcast debate on El Toro with Turner.

“He was a worthy debate opponent, that’s for sure,” Kogerman said. “He’s

a pretty straight-up guy.”

Turner was born on a small farm in Pleasant Mount, Pa., one that did not

have electricity. He attended the University of Alabama and studied

engineering.

He is president and co-owner TRICO Realty, an industrial real estate

developer in Costa Mesa. He established it in 1968 with Irene Salter.

Lately, the former activist has turned more of his attention to the arts.

He is a charter member of the Orange County Performing Arts Center and is

on the board of directors of Opera Pacific.

He is also a member of the board of directors for the Newport Beach

Public Library Foundation and is involved with the 552 Club, the Orange

County Business Council and the Newport Beach Aviation Committee.

An author, Turner has written two children’s books and also collects rare

historical books. He also has an extensive collection of rare glass and

crystal including some Lalique, Waterford and Steuben pieces.

The city has not forgotten Turner. Last year, he was awarded the Citizen

of the Year Award by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Former City Manager Bob Wynn nominated Turner for the award.

“I have known him for more than 25 years,” said Wynn. “He’s a moral,

generous and honest person.”

Yet, despite the praise, Turner said he will never run for public office

again and has turned down invitations to do so.

“From the time I was out of college, I have given my time to my community

and various service organizations,” Turner said. “I just think it’s time

for me to enjoy other things now. I’m happy.”