Airport funding was set aside to educate, not defeat

David Ellis

A few items in Joseph N. Bell’s column of Aug. 29 require

clarification (The Bell Curve, “Some haven’t dropped their gloves for

the El Toro fight”).

The funds granted to the Airport Working Group were not used to

defeat Measure W. Bell should know statutory and case law prohibits

the use of tax dollars to support or defeat a ballot measure.

A committee structured under the Fair Political Practices Act was

formed to defeat Measure W. Only private funds were used for the No

on W committee. It was underfunded but ran a scrappy campaign that

resulted in three of five supervisorial districts opposing Measure W.

The work conducted by my firm and 41 professionals performed on

behalf of the Airport Working Group was reviewed by three law firms

for compliance with all applicable state law.

The working group’s task with the Newport Beach grant funds was to

educate Orange County on the regional importance of El Toro Airport

-- not campaign against Measure W.

Our educational program was so effective that a Newport Beach

resident that had been paid more than $330,000 by the city of Irvine

filed a lawsuit to stop our efforts. We collectively settled this

lawsuit earlier this year.

For almost 20 years, I have consulted to the Airport Working Group

Board of Directors. Any fees paid to my firm from city grant funds

were reviewed and approved by the working group board, which includes

some of Newport’s most dedicated volunteers like Tom Naughton, Phil

Arst, Richard Taylor, Anders Folkedal, Tom Anderson and 17 other

volunteers.

The contract between the city and the Airport Working Group

stipulates that an audit of the funds will be conducted. The audit

provision was included at the request of then-Mayor Gary Adams. The

audit is not the brainchild of Councilman John Heffernan -- it is

contractually required.

In fact, when the original grant request and budget was presented

to the aviation subcommittee, of which Heffernan was a member, he

made it very clear that he opposed the expenditure.

Heffernan was provided copies of all our educational material

throughout the program. He never commented, complained or

complimented. He was regularly briefed by city staff and lawyers.

The reference in the working group’s recent newsletter to

replacing politicians that have surrendered on El Toro was directed

at certain members of the state legislature -- not sitting Newport

Beach council members -- that forget who they represent.

The Airport Working Group is proud of our efforts working with the

city of Newport Beach. For the nearly 20 years I have worked for

Airport Working Group, every Newport Beach council member has written

personal checks, attended meetings and worked the politics of

aviation to protect our city. Except one.

The working group’s loyal volunteers will continue to fight for

Newport’s residents to extend the John Wayne Airport Settlement

Agreement and pursue El Toro airport through political and legal

avenues.

I appreciate Bell’s take on airport issues. All the No on W

committee needed was about $2 million from private donors and his

columns would read a little differently. We look forward to his

check.

* DAVID ELLIS is a member and spokesman of the Airport Working

Group.