Newport angry over switch on El Toro

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan’s rollback

of his support for an airport at El Toro on the eve of his expected run

for governor hasn’t made him popular in town.

Riordan announced the reversal during a community meeting in Costa

Mesa on Monday.

“I’m very disappointed to see it because it speaks very loudly of

politicism,” Newport Beach Councilman Steve Bromberg said. “He is of the

mind that Newport Beach will vote for him anyway because it is mostly

Republican. To that end, he’s writing us off. I think it’s very shallow.”

At the same time, it makes sense politically because, after a decade

of explosive growth during the 1990s, South County contains a larger

portion of county voters, said UC Irvine political science professor Mark

Petracca.

That doesn’t keep it from being pandering, he added.

“It’s the worst type of pandering because it’s so transparent,”

Petracca said. “He knows he has to win Orange County to win governor. And

he can’t win Orange County, if he’s pro-airport.”

The change of heart could hurt if that pandering hurts Riordan’s

credibility beyond Newport Beach, said Councilman Tod Ridgeway.

“He didn’t take an absolute position,” Ridgeway said. “It’s what I’d

call a hedging position. This is what gives politicians a bad name.”

The new stance, Ridgeway added, blurs Riordan’s position on the issue,

instead of clarifying it.

South County airport opponents, naturally, welcomed Riordan’s change

of heart. The former Los Angeles mayor had staunchly supported

development of the base as an airport during his tenure in office.

“He’s looking more globally than he was as mayor,” said Meg Waters,

the spokeswoman for the coalition of South County cities fighting an

airport. “I don’t know the man. I don’t know what’s going on in his head.

But I like it.”

In his off-the-cuff remarks, Riordan also reiterated his view that

Orange County needs more air service. His answer -- an airport in the

Inland Empire.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .