Money for CenterLine looks to be buried

Paul Clinton

Despite his best efforts, Newport-Mesa’s County Supervisor, Jim

Silva, says he doesn’t expect to see any federal or state money to

help build an underground tunnel for the Costa Mesa section of the

CenterLine light-rail project.

Silva said he has spent a lot of time lobbying state and federal

officials for funds.

“We’re still trying to find daylight,” Silva said. “I don’t see

the money coming forward.”

Silva also said he is not optimistic that public money will be

used for the project’s estimated $100-million price tag or for a

$3-million design study.

Officials from the Orange County Transportation Authority, the

agency mounting the project, and Costa Mesa have been at odds over

the project. Developers, led by C.J. Segerstrom and Sons, suggested

the tunnel idea so the rail project wouldn’t interfere with other

developments in the area, including South Coast Plaza.

In October 2001, the transportation agency voted to move forward

with the $1.5-billion rail project. Silva is one of 15 members of the

transportation authority board.

The route in Costa Mesa would cross Anton Boulevard and then head

north on Bristol Street.

NO TIME TO COAST FOR BERGESON

Marion Bergeson, Newport Beach’s former state assemblywoman and

state senator, has been installed for a second one-year term as

president of the Orange County Coast Assn.

Bergeson will continue in her top spot for a group whose mission

has been to stimulate debate about coastal issues.

“I’m pleased to be able to provide services to the coast

association,” Bergeson said. “It’s probably one of the oldest

organizations that has been a tireless devotee of coastal issues.”

She was installed at the association’s March 26 meeting.

The group, which was founded in 1913, maintains a who’s who member

list of elected officials, business leaders and other community

leaders.

Last Thursday, Bergeson, who was also the state’s Secretary of

Education under Gov. Pete Wilson, became the latest to endorse

Assemblyman John Campbell for the area’s state Senate seat. She is

picking Campbell over Assemblyman Ken Maddox to replace Ross Johnson

in that seat. Johnson is being termed out.

THE TIES THAT BIND, OR AT LEAST WIN ELECTIONS

Assembly candidate Chuck DeVore, it turns out, can claim a tie to

Newport Beach, a city he hopes to represent in the state Legislature.

DeVore, who lost a race for his hometown Irvine City Council,

works as vice president of communications for a local aerospace firm.

He is one of four announced Republican candidates to replace John

Campbell in the 70th District. Campbell is seeking a state Senate

seat. In addition to DeVore, former Newport Beach City Council

candidate Marianne Zippi, Corona del Mar GOP fund-raiser Cristi

Cristich and Irvine businessman Don Wagner are running for the seat.

For the past 11 years, DeVore has worked for SM&A;, a publicly-held

company that trades on Nasdaq under the symbol WINS.

DeVore also manages the research department of the defense and

aerospace consulting firm.

His job has given him familiarity with a public role, since he

serves as the public face of the company. He writes news releases,

manages the company’s Web site and helps write the company’s

financial reports.

One of the more conservative candidates in the race, DeVore has

also served as an Army and National Guard reservist since 1983, a

Reagan appointee to the Pentagon from 1986 to ’88 and a five-time

elector to the Republican Party’s Central Committee.

A UNITED FRONT ALONG THE COAST

U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein have joined Gov. Gray

Davis in protesting the Bush Administration’s opposition to the

state’s review of 36 federal oil and gas leases. The leases were

issued between 18 and 34 years ago, but have not been developed.

In 1999, Davis joined the California Coastal Commission in suing

the U.S. Department of the Interior over the issue. Boxer, Feinstein

and Davis say the review is a state right. A victory by the feds

would most likely result in more drilling off the coastline, the two

senators said.

“Californians are united in defense of our coast,” the officials

said in a letter to President Bush. “No state has been so shaped

throughout its history by its coast, and no state’s citizens are so

dependent on safe and healthy coastal waters.”