Victors Part Company on Plans for El Toro Base

Two jubilant underdogs who captured Orange County Board of Supervisors seats outlined their hopes for a newly restructured county government Wednesday. But substantive change for the bankruptcy-ravaged board could prove elusive, with no clear majority and no money for new projects.

Already, the two new supervisors, who take office in January, disagree over the issue dividing North and South County: an airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

“There will be an El Toro Airport,” declared 1st District victor Charles V. Smith, a veteran, soft-spoken public servant who edged out opponent Mark Leyes by 2,200 votes. “The people of South County need to accept that and begin to work with us on what concessions they would like to see.”

But over in the 3rd District, victor Todd Spitzer, a deputy district attorney, countered: “The El Toro Airport would have a devastating effect on residents in the southern part of the county,” he said. “I will not support it.”

The men share some common ground, however. Each promised to work together to slash the timetable for paying off bankruptcy bonds from 30 years to 10 years. They also vowed to allow willing unincorporated areas to become cities, and to privatize or streamline county services. Smith also wants to end the county’s policy of letting the treasurer invest money and farm it out to private bankers.

Spitzer, who defeated Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) by 26,000 votes in a bitter race, said character was an important issue in the campaign. He admitted some of the votes he received were anti-Conroy more than anything. Conroy is facing a civil suit alleging sexual harassment, charges he denies.

“They would have voted for me if I was a potato,” said Spitzer. But he also said he thought his message of change had been heard.

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Spitzer said he looked forward to working with Smith. “I get to take my energy and my creativeness and learn from a guy like Chuck Smith, who will be a mentor for me.”

Smith, the mayor of Westminster who headed the Orange County Transportation Authority and League of California Cities during the bankruptcy, is expected to assume a quiet, traditional leadership role along with Supervisor William G. Steiner, who will become chairman.

But Spitzer vowed to keep things lively.

“I’d be naive to think people are not concerned about my leadership style,” the deputy district attorney said. “I will bring a calm demeanor, but when necessary . . . the ability to kick in and be aggressive is very effective.”

With reduced staff and reduced budgets since the bankruptcy two years ago, analysts predicted the newcomers, along with an expected appointee in the 5th District seat being vacated by Marian Bergeson, would have a tough time making changes.

“The reality is leaner and meaner,” said political consultant Dan Wooldridge, a former county staffer.

But Susan Withrow, who ran a close third in the 3rd District primary and endorsed Spitzer, said she thought it could be a time of tremendous positive change.

“It’s an unprecedented time,” she said. “I think there’s going to be a concerted, genuine effort to reshape county government.”

Meetings probably will be noisier than in the past.

“Spitzer’s personality is in-your-face. With him on the board, there’s going to be a lot more conflict,” said Mark Thompson, political consultant for Conroy.

Conroy, who had been widely expected to clinch the seat after being the top vote-getter in the March primary, said he would not seek office again, but would pursue slander and libel lawsuits against Spitzer.

“It was the most despicable campaign I’ve ever seen,” said Conroy, whose Assembly term expires in January. “I’ll see my name cleared.”

Spitzer’s campaign featured fliers saying that Conroy had been found guilty of sexual harassment. Conroy has been sued for sexual harassment, but the case has not gone to trial. An Assembly Rules Committee found he violated the lower house’s sexual harassment policy.

Conroy’s consultant, Thompson, said that while he loved and admired his client, polls had showed serious negatives against him, including voter distaste for his proposed legislation to paddle convicted juvenile graffiti vandals.

In the 1st District, Thompson said, Smith was “more of a plodder” who went street to street, door to door, canvassing for votes. “He’s the tortoise and Leyes was the hare,” he said.

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Leyes, who was backed by his childhood friend Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove), and outspent Smith, pointed out that his opponent had plenty of endorsements too, from local law enforcement and municipal unions.

“He’s a plodder, all right,” Leyes said. “That’s what I’m worried about. He’s going to keep plodding along, business as usual . . . in a county with tremendous bureaucracy and tremendous expenses.”

Smith said he was committed to privatizing landfills, combining county water and sewer districts and implementing other measures to cut government spending.

Wooldridge said that while the reshaped board faced tough challenges, there was also tremendous potential to be creative in the wake of recent crises.

“I think everything and everybody in the county is on the table for discussion,” he said. “Why anybody in their right mind would want the job of supervisor is beyond me . . . but it is a potentially win-win situation for ambitious politicians who are willing and able to make a mark.”

* JUDGESHIPS

Nancy A. Pollard holds lead in Superior Court race. B5