Bonds, Baca and El Toro

One of the nation’s most expensive land-use battles will face its fourth ballot test Tuesday, when Orange County voters will decide whether to replace plans for an airport at El Toro with a land-use designation that calls for a large urban park.

The fate of the airport joins a host of issues in Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including whether L.A. County voters will reelect Sheriff Lee Baca, two county supervisors and, in some areas, members of Congress and city councils.

At least six community college districts, including Santa Monica, Pasadena, Long Beach, Glendale and North Orange County are asking voters to tax themselves from $13 to $23 per $100,000 of a property’s assessed value to repair aging and crowded campuses.

In Ventura County, the two candidates vying for the open district attorney’s seat have spent a combined $1.4 million. Prosecutor Ron Bamieh is challenging Greg Totten, the chief assistant to longtime Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury.

Both sides in the costly El Toro debate have spent a total of almost $100 million--including $50 million spent by the county to plan for the new airport--in the battle over the future of the 4,700-acre Marine base, which closed in 1999.

Measure W on Tuesday’s ballot would rezone the base for non-airport uses; the only way to change that would be by yet another vote.

Airport foes hope this vote will be the last in their eight-year fight, citing shifting political winds and the evaporation of significant financial support from airport boosters. They have waged a nonstop election campaign touting development of a “Great Park” for the base, though the initiative would only change zoning for the property within the county general plan and does not actually call for a park to be built.

Airport backers cite the need for airport expansion throughout Southern California and point out that building a park would require a tax increase. “The election doesn’t stop the need for airport capacity in Orange County,” said Bruce Nestande, chairman of the chief pro-airport group.

“I think everybody is looking at this to be the final decision,” said Cynthia P. Coad, chairwoman of the board of supervisors, which has backed the airport by 3-2 votes.

Also in Orange County, the race for district attorney has become one of the most bitter in recent history as veteran prosecutor Wallace Wade challenges his boss, Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas.

Wade’s campaign is focused almost exclusively on allegations that Rackauckas abused his authority for political gain during his three years in office. Rackauckas, in turn, criticizes Wade’s record as a prosecutor and questions whether he has the skills to run the office.

Not even the judicial elections in Orange County have escaped headlines, becoming an embarrassment for the county bench. That’s because in one race for judge, the only candidate listed on the ballot is Ronald C. Kline, who is charged with child molestation and possession of child pornography.

Since Kline’s arrest, 11 write-in candidates have announced their candidacy. They hope outrage over Kline’s legal troubles will benefit them. Still, political observers say that by not having their names listed on the ballot, they face an uphill battle.

Voters around Los Angeles County will be asked whether to reelect Supervisors Gloria Molina and Zev Yaroslavsky. Baca, who was elected four years ago, is challenged by Sgts. Patrick Gomez and John Stites.

Voters will also choose from among three candidates in the Democratic primary for California’s newest congressional district, located in southeast Los Angeles: attorney Linda Sanchez, South Gate City Councilman Hector De La Torre and Assemblywoman Sally Havice (D-Cerritos).

In the east San Fernando Valley, voters will be asked to select between Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Panorama City) and businesswoman Wendy Greuel to fill the City Council seat that was vacated by longtime Councilman Joel Wachs. Wachs resigned to take a job in New York City.

Los Angeles voters will decide whether to approve bond financing that would pay for two new police stations, repair existing police and fire stations and build facilities that officials say would speed response times.

Los Angeles County is asking voters to decide on a measure that would expand the command staff of the Sheriff’s Department.

Community college district officials are promoting bond proposals prompted by the passage of Proposition 39 in 2000. Under that law, school districts now need only 55% of votes to pass bond measures, instead of the former two-thirds majority.

The bonds would be paid for with increased property taxes in the districts. Districts seeking bond fundings include:

* Glendale: $98 million for parking, plumbing and seismic retrofitting. Property owners would pay about $23 per $100,000 of assessed value.

* Long Beach: $176 million for expansion projects, seismic retrofitting and repairs to aging facilities. Cost would be $14.78 per $100,000 of assessed value.

* Pasadena: $150 million to create new classroom space and improve technology programs. Annual property taxes would rise by up to $14 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

* Santa Monica: $160 million for construction of a new liberal arts building, among other improvements. Cost would be $19.21 per $100,000 of assessed value.

In Ventura County, district attorney candidate Bamieh has been waging an uphill battle against Totten, who is backed by the law enforcement establishment.

Bamieh’s wealthy father, GOP contributor Sam Bamieh, gave his son just over $1 million. Totten has raised about $400,000 from more than 700 backers.

Two Ventura County supervisor seats will also be decided. In the Simi Valley-based 4th District, incumbent Judy Mikels is being challenged by John Lane, a Moorpark fraud investigator. Lane’s chief support has come from law enforcement unions; Mikels is backed by developers, farmers and conservative Republican groups.

In Thousand Oaks, businessman Randy Hoffman will face off with Linda Parks, a city councilwoman and slow-growth supporter. Hoffman ran for Congress two years ago and lost.

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Times staff writers Jean O. Pasco in Orange County, Beth Shuster in Los Angeles and Catherine Saillant in Ventura County contributed to this report.