Antonovich Again Uses Fire Chopper : Leaders: Spokesman defends trip as good use of supervisor’s time. Deputy county fire chief also calls it ‘appropriate.’

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, criticized in the past for his use of county helicopters for official business, again commandeered a county Fire Department chopper Tuesday, this time to get to a state Transportation Commission meeting in Irvine.

Antonovich left the Hall of Administration in Downtown and later appeared at the commission meeting to seek state highway improvement funding for realigning and widening California 138, said his spokesman, Steven Herbert.

Although Antonovich declined to comment, Herbert said the helicopter trip was one of about 12 the supervisor makes each year, usually to reach to parts of his 5th District in the sprawling Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys.

“This doesn’t take the helicopter out of any emergency, or keep it from official use,” Herbert said. “It’s just a better use of his time.”

Fire Department memos show Antonovich took 11 trips in fiscal 1994-95, costing $6,586.94, usually to get to the Antelope Valley Civic Center, Lake Elizabeth and the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station.

Antonovich’s liaison to the Fire Department, Lori Howard, said county pilots need to be continually flying to meet federal accreditation regulations anyhow--an assertion that fire officials said is not true. Howard also said the helicopters were supposed to stay in use and airborne so they can be ready to respond to wildfires.

Asked how a helicopter sitting idle in the middle of Orange County was ensuring department readiness, spokesman Herbert said: “It’s about as far [to Irvine] as it is to other parts of the county. From Malibu to Whittier is farther.”

None of the other supervisors or their staff used Fire Department helicopters in fiscal 1994-95; the only other non-Fire Department tasks they were used for were ferrying election ballots and surveying and reconnaissance for the Department of Public Works, records show.

“I can guarantee you, [Chief Administrative Officer] Sally Reed would not use a helicopter. I would not, except in an emergency situation,” said Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Sandra Davis. She added, however: “The supervisor has a right to choose his transportation.”

The $6,586.94 includes only the “incremental cost or the additional out-of-pocket” expenses such as mechanics’ overtime, services and supplies, fuel and oil, records show. Wear and tear on the helicopters, routine maintenance and staff time are not included, said Deputy Fire Chief James Corbett.

“It’s appropriate, authorized county business,” Corbett said.

In the past, however, Antonovich’s use of county helicopters has drawn the ire of at least one colleague, Supervisor Gloria Molina. In an unusually contentious board meeting in September, 1994, Molina filed a motion that would have required Antonovich to reimburse fire officials for flights.

“Isn’t his chauffeur-driven car good enough?” Molina asked. “It has a phone in it.”

Antonovich countered that his district is so large that he would have to waste hours getting to parts of it. And to pay for helicopter rides out of his office budget would take away from other important programs, he said at the time.

“That’s a pitiful response,” Molina shot back. “The reality is, we have a budget that everyone is expected to live under. That includes you. You are not special. You are not unique.”

Ultimately, no other supervisor would second Molina’s motion, and it died. She had no comment Tuesday.

Antonovich’s district is larger than the state of Rhode Island, stretching from the San Bernardino County line to Ventura County and north to Kern County.