Countywide : Airport Foes’ Ballot Issue May Proceed

A judge Monday refused to prevent the county’s Board of Supervisors from considering a proposed ballot measure to block a civilian airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

A group supporting the planned airport conversion argued that the board should not take up the matter at its meeting today until the court determines the validity of petitions submitted in support of the ballot measure.

“The train is now on the track,” said attorney Darryl R. Wold, who sought the court-ordered delay.

Wold has charged that no one checked to see if the people who circulated the petitions were registered voters in Orange County, which he contends is required by state law.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Francisco F. Firmat scheduled a Dec. 14 hearing to decide whether the petitions are valid. Firmat refused to issue a court order barring supervisors from considering the initiative for a March ballot. It would be up to them, he said, whether to wait until after the hearing.

The measure calls for a repeal of voter-approved Measure A, which mandated the establishment of a civilian airport when the military closes the El Toro base in 1999. The county’s registrar of voters determined last week that the petitions contained enough signatures to qualify--just 143 over the required number.

A spokesman for the group circulating the petition said the legal challenge was a ploy to delay the new vote.

“We want this resolved as fast as possible. We want it resolved in March,” said Norm Grossman, campaign consultant for Taxpayers for Responsible Planning.

Superior Court Judge Tully H. Seymour was assigned the case, but removed himself Monday because he has actively supported the creation of a new civilian airport.