Park Campaign Dollar Edge Over Airport Tallied

Groups supporting a ballot measure to turn the former El Toro Marine base into a giant park have raised more than three times the money of those fighting to turn it into an international airport.

With the election 10 days away, supporters of Measure W, which would rezone the 4,700 acres primarily as a park, have raised about $970,000. The anti-Measure W forces have raised about $288,000.

The anti-W forces’ financial situation was severely hurt when a San Diego County judge ruled that Orange County supervisors could not spend the $6 million they had pledged for mailers and forums detailing the pro-airport plans.Similarly, Newport Beach’s plans to spend $3.7 million on a campaign for an alternative to nearby John Wayne Airport also were halted.

However, Len Kranser, a spokesman for the Committee for Safe and Healthy Communities-Yes on Measure W, said rumors are that a wealthy pro-airport supporter has offered to match whatever the No on Measure W forces can raise.

Asked about the rumor, Dave Ellis, a consultant for the “No on W” Airport Working Group, said, “I don’t know that to be a fact,” although he would not deny it outright. If the rumor were true, it would mean a last-minute infusion of cash for the campaign.

In the past, developer George Argyros has been perhaps the most important financial backer of the airport effort, but after he was nominated as U.S. ambassador to Spain, he said he would end his active involvement in the campaign.

Recent polls have shown Measure W leading with the public.

The proposed airport has become the primary issue in the race for supervisor between pro-airport incumbent Cynthia P. Coad and Fullerton Councilman Chris Norby, who opposes an airport.

Coad is part of the pro-airport majority on the Board of Supervisors, along with Jim Silva and Chuck Smith. A Norby victory would transform the board after years of support for the airport.

The latest campaign statements show Coad receiving about nine times more money than her opponent. Most of the funding for Coad’s race has come from loans, much from her own pocket.

During the reporting period covering Jan. 20 through Feb. 16, she has loaned her campaign $250,000 and raised nearly $21,000. Campaign disclosure statements show her campaign receiving contributions of $925,000, all but $27,000 of that in loans. Of those loans, at least $390,000 has come from Coad, who is married to a retired dentist and wealthy investor.

Norby has received $103,000 in contributions, none of it in loans. Most of his support has come from South County, where anti-airport feeling is highest.

While Norby ended the reporting period with $23,000 in cash, Coad had $203,000 on hand.

Fund-raising in the district attorney’s race between incumbent Tony Rackauckas and veteran prosecutor Wally Wade is much more closely matched. Both men have made loans to their campaigns.

Rackauckas raised $139,000 in the last reporting period, with $70,000 of that coming from his loan.

Wade raised $51,000 the last six weeks. He has also given his campaign $55,000 in loans.

The numbers show Rackauckas spending more money, $190,000, to Wade’s $125,000.

Little money is being raised by any of the candidates for the Superior Court seat held by Judge Ronald C. Kline. Kline has pleaded not guilty to child molestation and possession of child pornography.

Kline is the only candidate listed on the ballot for judicial office No. 21, but he faces a passel of write-in challengers.

If no one receives more than 50% of the votes, the top two vote-getters will meet in a runoff in November.

Several candidates, including Kline, filed forms saying they will raise less than $1,000. The others are Dale Peroutka, Dan C. Dutcher, Marilyn W. Mirano and Terese S. Oliver. James Stone filed a campaign statement that showed he had not raised any money.

Most of the other candidates for Kline’s seat were financing most of their own campaigns.

Karen Robinson, a Costa Mesa city councilwoman running for Kline’s seat, had raised the most money, $33,000, with $20,000 of it coming as a loan from herself.

Other candidates for Kline’s seat include: John Adams, who had raised $32,000, including his $28,000 loan; Harris E. Kershnar, who loaned himself $25,000 of the $30,000 he has raised; and Gay Sandoval, who has raised nearly $13,000. Her husband, Joe Sandoval, had loaned her campaign $11,500.