The ‘Fabulous Fifth’ After Riley

In a recent report sponsored by the Orange County Business Council and others, urban planner Joel Kotkin wrote of a complex and highly sophisticated Orange County economy. A crucial component of what was described as the “post-suburban paradigm” was a concentration of suburban and economic growth in South County and along the coast.

This crucial area includes much of the district represented for years by Thomas F. Riley, who died last week. He was the accidental supervisor, plucked from political obscurity to fill a seat left vacant when Ronald W. Caspers drowned in 1974. Riley held the seat for 20 years, representing what he invariably called the “Fabulous Fifth” district and helping shape the development of South County. The memorial to Riley is not just in the John Wayne Airport terminal that bears his name; it’s in the way South County looks today.

Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed Riley supervisor. He was a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, World War II combat veteran, retired U.S. Marine Corps general. He often seemed more military man than politico, counting on his staff to keep him briefed, working through a chain of command, angry at surprises.

Unfortunately for him, he was on the board when the county declared bankruptcy in December 1994, serving out the remaining weeks of his term. Already in ill health, he had decided not to seek reelection.

Critics said Riley gave in to developers too often, allowing them to build bigger projects than warranted. But developers complained that he demanded too many concessions, from schools to parks to roads. He appreciated open space and fought to preserve it as much as he could. Trails, parks and greenery through a large swath of his district, which included the sparkling miles of coast from Newport Beach to San Clemente, are an important part of his legacy.

Because of term limits, Orange County is unlikely to have another supervisor with Riley’s impact. Much of the area is now mapped out, and many have moved there to stake their claim on the California Dream. The area he represented now stands as crucial turf in Orange County’s future. How his successors manage his legacy will say much about what kind of place this will be in the 21st century.