Even the Founding Fathers Figure Into El Toro Controversy

Re: “Lobbyists’ Role in an El Toro Airport” (Jan. 14): Complaints fill our media about public officials ignoring voters on many political questions, including El Toro. I don’t like aircraft noise either, but this particular complaint is never valid. You complainers should read American history. Officeholders have absolutely no obligation to follow voters’ wishes. They do have a very positive obligation to work and vote only for what they deem best, regardless of voters’ wishes.

Our Founding Fathers deliberately set up our government this way--to be a representative rather than a “town hall” system. They were right.

Many were knowledgeable historians and they knew that “direct-voter participation” governments had almost never been successful. One reason for this is that few voters have the time and education necessary to understand most proposed laws.

JOHN HAMAKER

Laguna Niguel

* Communities around John Wayne Airport need to work with the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority and others to push for airport capacity at Pendleton, March, George, Norton, etc. Those communities have to believe that there does not appear to be much momentum for an airport at El Toro and the communities around El Toro are solidly against any kind of airport. It appears that ETRPA and the Safe and Healthy Communities folks wrote Measure F to protect all Orange County residents. I think the ball is in the court of Newport Beach. Do they keep on extending the fight or work with the majority of Orange County residents?

ANDREW MAY

Lake Forest

* Those against the use of the El Toro facility as an international airport are losing credibility and wasting an opportunity. Measure F was about jails, landfills and an airport. To continue to claim that the vote outcome was only about an airport is untrue and it detracts from the anti-airport effort.

Measure F appears to have been composed with other issues in order to get more votes. It is not a matter of if an airport will be built, it is more likely when and what kind. Until then all money and words trying to legitimize Measure F are wasted.

Those opposed to the airport should be devoting their attention to the conditions under which the airport would operate.

DENNIS ROHN

San Clemente

* While the Orange County supervisors continue to use their triumvirate to spend post-bankruptcy money how, where and when they choose, we the people will remain powerless. They feel that they are justified since Measure F is no longer law. The latest expenditures for lobbyists is a crowning example of them ignoring the voters.

Measure F was a great educational tool for all of Orange County as shown by the two-thirds majority vote. Do the supervisors think that all these voters have given up and Measure F was just a fluke at the polls? They had better think again, because the next initiative will be from an already-educated public. Supervisors Cynthia Coad, Jim Silva and Chuck Smith may have this year to squander more money for an airport, but for them to consider other land uses for the former El Toro Marine base it will take burying Measure A.

MARY SCHWARTZ

Santa Ana

* Sometimes it is best not to rock the boat. By going to court to rescind “Measure F” the pro-airport people also rejected the law that would have stopped the expansion of John Wayne Airport without voter approval.

We are committed to fight the construction of El Toro International for years to come.

John Wayne, with its beautiful terminal and new parking structure, is unprotected by law. That is what I call shooting yourself in the foot. Ever heard of the closed March Air Force Base? The people there are ready, willing and eager for the business.

The toll road from Orange County to Riverside is in place and operational.

MARGOT ROSEMAN

Mission Viejo