What’s Argyros’ Real Aim With Airport?

He started with nothing and became rich. Anecdotes abound that he can be prickly, yet he and his wife are major philanthropists. He’s owned a baseball team and an airline, but most Orange County residents have never seen him on TV and probably think of him only when they see his name in print.

All and all, he’s the embodiment of the rich, powerful and somewhat mysterious figure. No one invites more conflicting opinions than the rich, and he would fit easily in that “upper 1%” that Al Gore talked so much about during the presidential campaign.

So it’s not surprising that people wonder what George Argyros--the man and the money behind the proposed El Toro airport--really means when he says he favors a much smaller airport than the one now on the books.

Argyros, 63, gave a rare interview recently to The Times’ Jean Pasco in which he urged the three-member Board of Supervisors majority to downsize the airport by 50% to have any hope of selling it to the public.

Given his longtime insistence that Orange County needs an international airport and the $3.5 million he’s poured into the effort, Argyros’ comments prompted dueling thoughts:

* Does he mean it?

* Is it a setup?

The grassy-knoll theorists believe Argyros wants to lull the public into accepting a smaller airport--perhaps serving around 15 million passengers a year--with the ultimate aim of doubling its size.

Hey, wouldn’t that be clever?

The Future’s on His Radar Scope

Sorry, I don’t have access to Argyros’ inner thoughts or his private diaries. The closest I can come is James Doti, president of Chapman University, an Argyros friend and indirect beneficiary of his fortune.

Argyros, a Chapman grad, has given millions to the school as it continues to sprout wings.

Doti is clearly not the most objective Argyros watcher, but neither are the anti-airport forces. Doti has known Argyros for 25 years, and as long as I’m asking his opinion, he says he has no problems offering his thoughts on Argyros’ motives.

“From my vantage point, he has no personal gain, no monetary gain that would come about as result of the airport,” Doti said. “I’m absolutely convinced that his strong support and advocacy is based on his belief that this is something that Orange County will need in the future.

“I know George, from our working relationship at Chapman, is not worried about what happens tomorrow or next month or, sometimes, even next year. He’s really concerned about long-run kind of things--five, 10, he’s even 25 years out as far as Chapman is concerned.”

Doti said he talks to Argyros about once a week. Of Argyros’ many interests, he said, “the airport is right up there.”

That raises a question.

Why is this man so airport-nutty? Baseball, we can understand. Business, we get it. But an airport?

The anti-Georges see two obvious answers. Because Argyros’ money-making roots included commercial real estate development, people figure he must have a financial stake in a new airport. And because he lives in Newport Beach, they argue that he’s doing what he can either to eliminate John Wayne Airport or to ensure it doesn’t expand.

Makes sense to me.

Nah, Doti said.

Why an airport? “No. 1, he believes in it so passionately because he believes it’s absolutely essential for Orange County’s future if it’s to maintain economic viability. And No. 2 is because no one else really has come up to the plate to be a leader.”

Whatever his motivation, Argyros knows the momentum for a new airport has ground to a halt. The only hope for getting any airport built at the closed Marine air station lies with downsizing the project.

Maybe Argyros’ comments were the curtain-raiser on a new full-bore airport strategy. Sort of a “smaller-is-better” campaign.

Or is it possible that with $3.5 million of his money appeared headed for a rat hole, Argyros is simply making one final bet before throwing in?

*

Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Parsons by calling (714) 966-7821, by writing to him at The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or by e-mail at dana.parsons@latimes.com.