Council May Hire 2 Firms for Airport Advocacy
Opting for a double-barreled approach in the publicity war over a proposed airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, the city of Newport Beach is poised to hire two high-powered public relations firms in an effort to build support for an airport.
With polls indicating that a large number of Orange County residents remain undecided on whether they want a second airport, and calls for a third ballot initiative to help decide the matter, airport boosters are moving quickly to convince voters of the benefits that commercial aviation would bring.
Two Los Angeles-based firms, Fleishman Hillard and Hill & Knowlton, were selected last week by a panel of Newport Beach consultants that included former county Supervisor Don Saltarelli and elections law attorney Dana Reed.
The proposals will now be turned over to the City Council, which is expected to make a decision on the matter at its meeting Monday.
Though some airport boosters have questioned the wisdom of paying millions for the two international firms, Newport officials said they were confident the publicity campaign would yield results.
Though the city has not finished negotiating the length or cost of the contract, the bill could total as much as $1.5 million.
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