Briefly in the news

South County Supervisor Tom Wilson’s attempt to ban county spending of

“discretionary” revenue from John Wayne Airport was quashed Tuesday.

Wilson was trying to halt the use of the revenue, about $13 million a

year, for planning and promoting an airport for the closed El Toro Marine

Corps Air Station.

Since the issue was not placed on the meeting’s agenda as an action

item, the board couldn’t vote on it unless four supervisors agreed to it.

A Wilson motion failed on a familiar 3-2 vote, with pro-airport

supervisors Jim Silva, Chuck Smith and Cynthia Coad opposing the move.

The board majority has come under fire by Wilson and South County

colleague Todd Spitzer for using revenue generated by the airport, which

is placed in an account known as Fund 14M.

The money has been used to pay for the county’s “Just the Facts”

campaign, public relations consultants, lobbying and other efforts to

develop an airport at the base.