Retired Marine as El Toro Caretaker? Spitzer Objects

Orange County plans to bring in a high-ranking Marine officer to manage the El Toro Marine air base once it converts to county ownership next year, a move that one supervisor says raises a possible conflict of interest.

The county, which plans to build an international airport at the base, would essentially hire Col. Jim Ritchie as property manager for the site. Ritchie would then retire from the military to do the job for the county. He is now in charge of the military’s procedure for closing the Marine bases at El Toro and Tustin.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer said he is concerned about hiring Ritchie because the county’s interests might conflict with the military’s needs.

“I don’t see how he can today be their advocate . . . and six months from now argue on behalf of the county and still maintain credibility,” Spitzer said. “He has been a vigorous defender of the Marines’ positions, and there are bound to be other issues that arise where we have a disagreement.”

Ritchie would take on the role as a member of Cabaco Inc., a Yuma, Ariz., consulting firm that the county wants to include on its site management team.

Although Ritchie is expected to resign his military post as soon as the county approves a contract with Cabaco, Spitzer doesn’t

think that’s enough to avoid a conflict.

On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors will discuss whether to award Cabaco a one-year contract worth more than $1 million.

Under the contract, Ritchie’s duties would include help in gathering the base’s property records and taking stock of hazardous materials, such as asbestos in the buildings. The evaluation for the county would be done before the Marines turn the property over in the fall of 1999.

Once the county gains possession, Ritchie would then manage it.

Spitzer said he is also concerned that Ritchie did not go through an interview process with county officials.

*

George Martin, a 26-year Marine veteran, had been Cabaco’s candidate for the position. Based partly upon Martin’s presentation, the firm was chosen ahead of Boeing on the selection list, according to officials.

But a few days later, Ritchie was brought in to replace Martin.

Spitzer’s support for the contract may be necessary because Supervisors Thomas W. Wilson and Charles V. Smith have conflicts and cannot take part in the vote.

Supervisor William G. Steiner said Ritchie would be an asset.

“Obviously, Jim Ritchie has a tremendous amount of expertise,” said Steiner. “He has a depth of knowledge that is really unparalleled.”

Supervisor Jim Silva wasn’t available for comment.

Gary Simon, head of the county team overseeing the conversion, said Ritchie was a natural for the position because of his familiarity with the property. Taking over the base is a complicated and drawn-out process that could be facilitated with Ritchie’s expertise, Simon said.

“His knowledge about the base closure process is helpful for everybody,” he said.

Ritchie, a 30-year Marine veteran who piloted helicopters during the Vietnam War, said military lawyers reviewing his request to work for Cabaco did not find any conflict of interest.

Cabaco said in a letter to Spitzer that it has been hired for various consulting jobs by a dozen military bases, including El Toro. It also has been hired by the Marine air base in Okinawa, Japan.

Usually, the firm said in its letter, it has hired retired military officers to head their management teams because of their intimate knowledge of the process and the military bureaucracy.