El Toro proponents file suit

Mathis Winkler

SANTA ANA -- El Toro airport supporters filed a lawsuit against Orange

County Counsel Lon Watson on Tuesday, alleging that his official title

and summary for the “Orange County Central Park” initiative fails to

inform voters about proposed development at El Toro.

If approved by voters, the initiative would prevent an airport and

bring a park, as well as cultural and educational institutions, to the

closed Marine Corps Air Station.

Opponents of the park proposal point to its costs and the lack of

money to finance it as problems. Park supporters say it can be funded

without taxpayer contributions through the development that’s allowed

under the plan.

“All we’re talking about right now is the accuracy of the initiative,”

said Bruce Nestande, the lead plaintiff and president and chief executive

of Citizens for Jobs and the Economy. “All we’re saying is that the

ballot title ought to state that there would be park facilities, open

space and development there.”

Watson declined to comment Tuesday, saying that he had not seen the

lawsuit.

Under state law, any proposed initiative must be reviewed by the

county counsel’s office, which then prepares a ballot title and summary

of the measure. The summary and title must be displayed on initiative

petitions. If the initiative qualifies for the ballot, it may be included

on the ballot and in the voter information pamphlet sent to all voters

before the election.

State law requires that the title and summery be “a true and impartial

statement of the purpose of the proposed measure.”

Park supporters, who hope to have the initiative on the March ballot,

said the lawsuit was simply an attempt to stop the initiative.

“Just because it’s a public use doesn’t mean there’s no structure

involved,” said Meg Waters, a spokeswoman for the El Toro Reuse

Authority. “Parks have all kinds of structures. . . . I think they’re

stretching it, to say the least.”

An initial hearing in the case, which was filed in Orange County

Superior Court, is not expected until next week.