O.C. Persuades Senator Not to Drop Key Bills

After a series of apologetic conference calls from Orange County leaders Thursday, state Sen. William A. Craven backed away from his threat to drop several bills essential to the county’s escape from prolonged fiscal disaster.

In turn, county officials vowed to give Craven a larger role in shaping the legislation, to communicate more with Craven’s office, and to better coordinate the wide-ranging recovery campaign.

“He is a key supporter, and these legislative efforts are too vital for us not to attempt to do whatever is possible to get this thing back on track,” said Paul S. Nussbaum, county Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy’s top trouble-shooter. “What we basically told him is that we look for his guidance and advice for the best way that these bills can be crafted to assure that the efforts are successful.”

Craven, whose district includes a large swath of south Orange County, wrote to Popejoy on Wednesday, saying he was frustrated with the county’s legislative efforts and suggesting that Popejoy find another sponsor for bills Craven was carrying.

But Thursday, the 73-year-old senator was given wide latitude by county officials to rewrite language in the bills, bringing him back on board.

At issue are two bills, one establishing a tax-intercept program and another waiving state environmental reviews of a trash-hauling program designed to yield $360 million in revenue.