Torrance Voters Side With Mobil

Torrance voters on Tuesday decisively rejected a ballot measure that would have forced Mobil Oil Corp. to eliminate the use of acutely hazardous hydrofluoric acid at its local refinery.

The oil company, which mounted a saturation campaign to defeat Measure A, estimated it would have been forced to spend $100 million to convert to less-volatile sulfuric acid had the measure passed.

The initiative--which lost by a 3-1 margin--would have prohibited the storage of more than 250 gallons of hydrofluoric acid at the refinery, effectively banning its use. Mobil, which uses the chemical in a process that boosts octane in unleaded gas, typically has 29,000 gallons on hand.

Another measure, which would have allowed the city to raise its spending limit to pay for any lawsuit stemming from passage of Measure A, was also rejected handily. In addition, three City Council incumbents were easy victors over a lone challenger.

Election officials said about 25% of the city’s 72,000 registered voters cast ballots.

The vote on Measure A was a political setback for City Councilman Dan Walker, who had championed it in the face of opposition from his council colleagues.

Refinery manager Wyman Robb said the vote was a clear victory for Mobil. “I think it’s quite clear that the people of Torrance don’t perceive (the refinery’s use of hydrofluoric acid) as the big problem that people like Dan Walker want to make it.”

But Mayor Katy Geissert said the vote did not reflect a lack of concern over refinery safety. “I don’t think this should be misread by Mobil Oil to mean that people are not concerned about the hazardous chemicals (at the refinery),” she said. “People are very concerned.”

Walker, asked why he thought he lost, responded: “A million dollars,” a reference to Mobil’s campaign expenditures. Nonetheless, he said, “I am very much surprised. There was a lot more support in the community just a matter of a few weeks ago.”

Polling in January by supporters indicated that sentiment strongly favored the measure. Last Friday, Mobil spokesman Tom Collins said company polls showed supporters still outnumbered opponents, although he said the gap had narrowed substantially.

Walker proposed the measure last year after a series of explosions, fires and other accidents had caused three deaths and more than a dozen serious injuries at the refinery during the preceding two years. Attention was focused on hydrofluoric acid after a buildup of the chemical caused a massive explosion and fire at the refinery in November, 1987. No one was killed in that accident.

Mobil put about $600,000 into the campaign against the measure, outspending supporters by 24 to 1 and dwarfing the previous city election spending record of $45,000, set by Walker in the 1988 City Council race.

Supporters of the measure reported spending at least $25,000 and Walker also spent $65,000 in campaign funds to draft the measure and support the signature campaign.

The measure has drawn the attention of lawmakers in Congress and the California Legislature, as well as from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the oil refining industry and national environmental organizations.

With Mobil setting records for campaign spending and airing its messages on major radio stations, the campaign also has attracted the interest of national media.

Supporters of the measure cited industry-sponsored tests that showed a leak of 1,000 gallons of hydrofluoric acid could be fatal as far as five miles downwind. They argued that the refinery’s history of accidents showed Mobil could not adequately protect the public.

Walker claimed that a defeat would cripple efforts elsewhere by legislative and regulatory officials to eliminate the use of hydrofluoric acid in populated areas.

Mobil argued that the Torrance refinery has used thehydrofluoric acid for 40 years without any release affecting the public, that it can safely handle any reasonably foreseeable leak and that switching to sulfuric acid, which is required in greater quantities, would create a transportation hazard.

The company and the other six members of the seven-member City Council also said that Walker’s primary motivation in sponsoring the measure was political.

Walker’s council opponents said they also believe that the bulk use of hydrofluoric acid should be eliminated at the refinery. But they said the measure was drawn too narrowly and that a lawsuit the city filed against Mobil last April offers a better vehicle for controlling all hazardous substances used by the company.

Times staff writers Janet Rae-Dupree and George Hatch contributed to this story.

VOTING IN TORRANCE

Precincts Reporting: 58 of 58

Measure A: Shall Measure A be adopted prohibiting the storage or maintenance of more than 250 gallons of 70% solution of hydrofluoric acid or 1,840 pounds of hydrogen fluoride; declaring a violation thereof to be a misdemeanor and a public nuisance, and authorizing the City Council to extend the time for removing any excess storage or maintenance of hydrofluoric acid, or hydrogen fluoride?

Preference Vote Total Yes 4,925 No 14,074

Measure B: In the event Measure A is adopted at this election, shall the amount of appropriations subject to limitation pursuant to Article XIII B of the California Constitution be increased by the sum of $2 million for each of the four fiscal years 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 in order to offset the anticipated costs of legal defense and implementation of Measure A?

Preference Vote Total Yes 6,563 No 11,341

Measure C: Shall Article 15 of the Torrance City Charter be repealed?

Preference Vote Total Yes 7,991 No 8,044

FOR MAYOR

Candidate Vote Total Katy Geissert (i)** 16,300

FOR CITY COUNCIL (3 SEATS)

Candidate Vote Total Bill Applegate (i) 13,345 Dee Hardison (i) 14,158 Donald N. Pyles 6,738 Mark Wirth (i) 13,300

FOR CITY TREASURER

Candidate Vote Total Thomas C. Rupert (i) 15,878

FOR CITY CLERK

Candidate Vote Total John A. Bramhall (i) 15,685

**(i) designates incumbent

Winners in bold; some races were uncontested.