Spending for El Toro needs to have audit

It is a simple question: How was $3.67 million dollars of Newport

Beach residents’ money spent in the battle for an airport at El Toro?

That question, regarding funds the Newport Beach City Council gave

to the Airport Working Group and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy in

March 2001, was on the council’s agenda earlier this month when

Councilman John Heffernan asked the city manager to pursue an audit

of the groups’ spending. His request was supported by Councilwoman

Norma Glover, although she said it was her intent to show that the

money was spent wisely and that the city tracked its use properly

while Heffernan seemed more concerned that was not the case.

Both Dave Ellis, of the working group, and Bruce Nestande, of

Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, say they are willing to put their

records before the public eye. That attitude is commendable because,

while they perhaps could argue that the money was theirs to spend

once the council handed it over, originally those dollars were public

funds. Therefore, the public has some right to know how the money was

spent.

Ellis and Nestande also should back their words up with actions

and ensure the review and audit process is as quick and easy as

possible -- after all, there is no reason to spend any more of the

public’s money than is absolutely necessary.

Once the audit is complete, Glover’s beliefs may well prove true.

But if Heffernan’s worries that money is still unspent prove correct,

then residents -- from whose pockets the pro-airport funds come --

deserve it back.

At the very least, they deserve to know exactly how the money was

spent.