Every vote counts
Greg Risling
Only hours remain before Orange County residents begin to cast their
votes for or against Measure F, prompting both sides to flood mailboxes
and airwaves with last-minute propaganda.
Voters have been inundated with scores of fold outs that have a
concoction of statements and quotes favoring their views on the
initiative. The advertising blitzkrieg has fueled the rancor between
groups on both of the issue leaving voters in the cross-fire. Some have
grown tired of the political rhetoric spewed out by organizations
lobbying for the passage or defeat of Measure F.
“Enough is enough already,” said Jan Salinsky, who lives in Costa Mesa.
“All anyone can talk about these days is Measure F, but who can discern
the fact from the fiction? I can’t wait until this whole thing is over.”
Many residents may feel the same way as Salinsky after being bombarded
with brochures and signs about Measure F. Most Orange County residents
associate the initiative with the debate over a proposed international
airport at the closed El Toro military base. If passed, Measure F would
require a two-thirds voter approval of future airport, jail and hazardous
waste landfill projects.
However, for some voters, the only means of educating themselves about
Measure F has come from brochures.
“To be honest, I don’t really know much about the measure,” said Edward
Rawlins, a Newport Beach resident. “But what I do know comes from the
information I receive at my apartment. I’ve received stuff from both
sides so I’ll just go from that.”
The mailers have been the bread and butter during the campaign. Both
sides have infiltrated their opposing camps, trying to persuade voters to
the other side.In recent days, South County residents have received
brochures urging them to vote no on the measure. One flier put out by the
Citizens for Jobs & the Economy recruits officials from the town targeted
lobbying against the measure. Instead of pushing the airport issue,
anti-Measure F supporters have focused on the jails. One mailer claims
“every school, church and home will be at risk” as well as “property
values will plummet” if Measure F passes.
Conversely, measure proponents have sent a steady stream of brochures to
the Newport-Mesa region. The most recent mailer shows a purported
politician whose nose is elongated. Inside the brochure, six “lies” are
listed, which reportedly have been attributed to some county politicians.
Another flier gives voters a chance to check a box indicating who they
most trust. In one column are the faces of the three Orange County Board
of Supervisors who support an airport at El Toro -- Cynthia Coad, Jim
Silva and Chuck Smith. Another column shows “county government
bureaucrats,” and the last column has a picture of a family labeled “you
and your neighbors.”
Throughout Orange County, various Measure F campaign signs dot front
lawns and line roadways. Again, while most of the pro-F placards scream
“Stop El Toro Airport,” anti-F signs stress public safety, with slogans
such as “Cops say No on F” and “No Jails in Our City.”
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.