A Lot Is Riding on Ventura Ten’s Mission

The Ventura Ten came to Washington with a mission. Bunking at the Quality Hotel for $69 a night, the former congressman, retired naval officer, citrus rancher and some of Ventura County’s most heavyweight politicos felt the weight of an entire county resting on their shoulders.

In three quick days they had to save their county from economic obliteration by persuading the Pentagon brass to save two Navy bases.

Of course, you just don’t climb on a plane out here and lecture admirals and deputy defense secretaries about how their decisions might devastate Oxnard or Simi Valley. To do it right, you speak Pentagon-speak and you pay careful attention to everything from what you wear on your lapel to what comes out of your mouth.

The delegation ironed out its message at countless strategy sessions back home: Stay pithy and to the point, they repeatedly reminded themselves, but deadly serious, too.

After all, besides the looming deadline--a list of endangered bases will emerge in the spring--the delegation faces another reality: Theirs is hardly the only community to push its case in the capital.

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While the Ventura County group attempted to save bases at Point Mugu and Port Hueneme, a separate group from the Indian Wells Valley spent the week here defending the Naval War Air Force Center at China Lake. Delegations from Monterey, Sacramento, Long Beach and Barstow have made recent visits too.

The Base Closure and Realignment Commission has seen about 100 community groups, chambers of commerce, city councils and other groups traipse through its doors in the past year.

How can Ventura County hope to stand out?

“The only way we’re going to be successful is to show that these bases have unique defense capabilities,” explained former Rep. Robert J. Lagomarsino (R-Ventura), who came along to offer his knowledge of the Washington scene. “We have to know our facts.”

The group prepared comprehensive briefing papers and hauled along technical experts who know the inner workings of the bases cold. They stressed the county’s one-of-a-kind geography, including assorted offshore islands, a deep-water port and a radar-crowded peak that rises nearly 1,500 feet from the Point Mugu base.

Style was important, too.

The group came up with an official-sounding name, the BRAC ’95 Task Force, which refers to the Base Realignment and Closure law. They wore evidence of their patriotism on their lapels--red, white and blue ribbons and tiny American flags.

(They did not, however, invite any decision-makers for drinks at their humble hotel, where a roach was spotted crawling up the leg of the pool table in the dimly lit bar.)

To set up the meetings in the first place, they took advantage of one of the cottage industries that have emerged from the base closure process: lobbyists specializing in keeping bases open. (The delegation stayed away from the other set of experts that have emerged, the ones who help communities convert closed bases to civilian uses.)

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Nobody knows for sure whether a trip to Washington affects the base closure process a bit. Groups have come out here and lost their bases. Others have stayed home and survived.

One person who has listened to the community groups in the past is Jo Ann Miller, a former assistant secretary of the Air Force and Army. Now an aide to Gov. Pete Wilson, she is fighting to save California’s bases. She says the group from Ventura County did the right thing.

“A community that does not make a visit would be at a disadvantage--especially if there were erroneous information in any of the reports,” said Miller, who spent 11 years in the Pentagon. “It’s definitely worth the trip because once something gets in the report, you’d be hellbent on getting it out.”

Then there is the therapeutic side of it all.

Jack Connell, who has visited Washington numerous times to help save the China Lake base, came out again this week, just so he’ll sleep well at night when the Pentagon does finally make up its mind.

“We don’t know for sure if we’re doing any good,” the former Navy test pilot said. “We have no way to be sure. But one thing we do know--we’ve done everything we can.”

And for those communities who have not made the trip, Connell offers this advice: “If you’re planning your trip now, just putting it all together, I hate to say it, but you’re probably too late.”

As the Ventura Ten wound up their week, they congratulated one another on a job well done. Their presentations were snappy, they said, and at least one rear admiral said he learned a thing or two. Did they make a difference? Did they save Ventura County from a major blow?

They don’t have a clue.