McCarthy Criticizes Curb’s Lands Panel Attendance

Democratic Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy has attended only about one-third of the State Lands Commission meetings since 1983, but nevertheless Thursday he criticized his Republican opponent, Mike Curb, for attending only two meetings during the four years Curb served in the office.

McCarthy, who succeeded Curb as lieutenant governor in 1983, told reporters that Curb set “an abysmal attendance record” by attending only two of 57 meetings of the relatively little-known but influential commission during his term.

At the time, Curb said he would not personally vote on commission matters because of a conflict of interest posed by oil company campaign contributions he received during his 1978 campaign for lieutenant governor. He sent a representative to vote for him instead.

Manages Oil Fields

The three-member commission manages state tidelands oil fields and administers land-use policies established by the Legislature.

Curb, who has held only one news conference since the beginning of the year and rarely responds directly to McCarthy, issued a rebuttal through a spokesman.

Fred Karger, Curb’s campaign manager, claimed that it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black. He said that although Curb did not attend all meetings, either he or his representative attended 98% of them. Karger also noted that it was common practice for state constitutional officers to send proxies to sit in for them on various boards and commissions.

Records of the commission show that McCarthy has attended 23 of the 65 meetings held during his tenure.

Staff Can Handle Matters

“I attended every meeting where there was any serious discussion on offshore oil,” McCarthy told reporters. He acknowledged that most meetings of the commission involve relatively routine matters that can be handled by his staff representative.

McCarthy said the issue is important because the commission faces “crucial questions on offshore oil drilling policy over the next four years.”

McCarthy said Curb has received about $45,000 in oil industry contributions so far in the current campaign. “Obviously, the conclusion has to be that once again he will not be able to attend the State Lands Commission,” he said.

McCarthy said he has received $10,000 in oil company campaign contributions but does not believe the money alone poses a conflict serious enough to prevent him from voting on oil-related issues.