Statements on the El Toro reuse debate from candidates in this November's election.

We will not accept third part statements describing a candidate's position.

Tom Campbell (R) U.S. Senate

"QUESTION What is your position on the reuse of the old El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Specifically, are you for or against building an international airport at that location. Thank you for your response. Cheryl, Irvine CA, 2/22/2000"

"ANSWER I do not have a position on this issue; I believe the correct answer should be given by the citizens of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties who are most affected. A consensus among those benefited and those harmed might be difficult to reach, but it's preferable to having an answer imposed by a US Senator, or Senate-candidate. I will certainly do my best to assist in obtaining available federal funds for whatever decision those most affected reach: whether that's expansion of Ontario, LAX, or a new airport at El Toro." - from Campbell for Senate website

Diane Feinstein (D) U.S. Senate

See her 1997 message in Letters to the Editor section

John Graham (D) 47th Congressional District

"The majority of voters I have talked with in the 47th Congressional District strongly prefer no airport at El Toro. Indeed, voters loudly expressed this sentiment by passing Measure F last March. Once the El Toro airport option has been dispensed with, then we can begin talking about a much better site -- Camp Pendleton." - Graham website http://www.johngraham4congress.com

Christopher Cox (R) 47th Congressional District

See his two messages in Letters to the Editor section

Darrell Issa (R) 48th Congressional District

"Issa Opposes Airport at El Toro

Dear OC Voter,

One of the most crucial issues facing South Orange County is the proposed conversion of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to a commercial airport.

I oppose a commercial airport at El Toro - period.

The Clinton Administration's decision to shut down El Toro was a bad one in the first place. I opposed the massive shut down of vital defense facilities like El Toro at the time because it left our nation vulnerable.

We must not compound that bad decision by allowing construction of a commercial airport at El Toro.

I recently met with several local leaders in the anti-airport coalition. We discussed strategies to stop the airport and protect our communites in the future, such as County Measure F - the Safe and Healthy Communities measure, which I support.

These dedicated people have volunteered thousands of hours to fight the airport. They, and you, deserve a representative in Washington who will fight side by side to protect our local communities.

I'm running for Congress to be your voice and to make a difference. Working together, we can stop the airport and protect our neighborhoods.

If you feel like I do about El Toro, please be sure to vote on Tuesday, March 7th. Thank you..

Very truly yours,
Darrell Issa"

Ted Crisell, (D) 45th Congressional District

"I 100% oppose turning el toro into a major international airport, I want to see a major park and university!

Rohrabacher and I differ on the use of el toro!

Thanks for asking, please let others know, I need your help.

Candidate for the u.s. congress, Ted Crisell, Nominee, 45th District, Democrat."

Lou Lopez (R) 69th State Assembly District

"Lopez believes that the people of Orange County have spoken out against the El Toro Airport, with their support for the successful Measure F.  Lopez also notes that Correa has enough to keep him busy in his own district, and he should not be wasting time on issues that do not directly pertain to his area.

Lopez is making himself available to those activists and organizations that are opposed to the El Toro Airport, for briefing and consultation. The Lopez campaign web site also notes his opposition to the El Toro Airport, at www.loulopez.org."

Pat Bates (R) 73rd Assembly District

El Toro Airport Backers Turned Away in Last Days of Session - From Pat Bates

"In what has become a tradition during the last days of legislative session, El Toro airport supporters made another attempt to influence the local planning process in their favor through last minute maneuvers in Sacramento.  On August 21st, with just nine working days left in the legislative session, Assemblyman Lou Correa removed the contents of AB 1556, dealing with Outdoor Advertising, and replaced it with language influencing the planning process at El Toro.

Specifically, the new language would have prevented the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) from allowing any city to annex the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station until 2007.  The bill was clearly aimed at the City of Irvine, which has considered applying for annexation.  Rather than work through the normal local planning process, like every other city and county in the state, airport supporters tried to circumvent the process by passing AB 1556.

Luckily, a coordinated lobbying effort between my office, the City of Irvine, and the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) managed to derail the bill at its first hearing.  But the battle loomed for several more days as pro-airport forces explored other options and ideas.  At one point my office obtained a copy of an E-mail from Assemblyman Correa's office containing language for a second proposal they were trying dump into a bill.  This proposal would have required any ballot proposition that would overturn a previous passed proposition to appear on a general election ballot.  The intent was to require an initiative potentially overturning Measure A to appear at the earliest on next November's ballot.  Again, we were able to kill this proposal by dissuading potential authors from amending this language into their bills.

There was even a rumor of another proposal that would have nullified Measure F.  This was never confirmed, but based on prior behavior by the pro-airport group, we could not afford to ignore these rumors.  In 1986, the County of Orange successfully slipped language into a bill in the last days of session removing public vote requirements required before bonds could be used to finance the expansion of airports.  As a result, the people of Newport Beach lost their voice and the expansion of John Wayne Airport proceeded with out a public vote.

In later years, the County again made a last minute amendment to a bill so they would be recognized as the official reuse authority for El Toro.  Without this change in law the State or a combination of various effected local governments would have served as the reuse authority.  Again, a last minute secret maneuver circumvented the traditional planning processes and took away the people's voice.

Since my arrival in Sacramento we have been able to turn away several attempts by airport supporters to influence the planning process.  These attempts are never made through the traditional legislative process with full committee hearings or review.  Rather, these attempts always come very late in the session and are quietly slipped into another bill without notice or proper policy debate.  I remain committed to protecting South County's quality of life and combating the pro-airport forces at every turn as they attempt to circumvent accepted planning processes and the voice of the people."

"I have been working to prevent an airport at El Toro since 1994 when the idea was first proposed.  As mayor of Laguna Niguel, past Vice Chair of ETRPA, and now as a State Assemblymember, opposing an airport at El Toro remains my number one priority.  Preserving South Orange County's voice in the planning process and preserving our quality of life are paramount."

Also see Bates' message in the Letters to the Editor Section regarding support for Measure F.

Mike Ward, Irvine City Council

"... I am also a founding member and former chair of ETRPA. As a 20-year resident I have seen Irvine grow into one of the safest and finest cities in the United States. We have had some tough fights over the past years with the closure of El Toro, but we have turned the corner and are now on the verge of winning the war."

Gail Reavis, Mission Viejo City Council

"Gail Reavis is the only Mission Viejo Candidate to receive the Unsung Heroes award from Spitzer and Wilson.  Also, is the only candidate to receive commendation from the Mayor for work on the last election (Measure F).  A Six year member of the Restoration Advisory Board (worked with Spernak on environmental issues before Spitzer got involved).

Past Member of TRP Advisory Board (quit to work on Sullivan campaign).  Founder, Palmia Anti-Airport Coalition (1500 strong). Frequent speaker at all county meetings involving airport issues, and contributor to EIR questions.  Debated Tom Wall on KOCE and been interviewed several times on OCN.

As a volunteer, has logged hundreds of hours engaging pro-airport activists.  Please remind your friends in Mission Viejo who was in the trenches for the past 6 years. GailReavis.com."

Roger Faubel, Mission Viejo City Council

"Council member Roger Faubel is the principal consultant with the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), an 11-city organization formed to stop the El Toro airport.  He and his firm, Waters & Faubel, have been credited with moving public opinion in opposition of the airport with hard hitting, fact-based, media, community outreach and direct mail programs.  Roger also raised over $20,000 in support of Measure F to help deliver a 67.3% knockout punch to the pro-airport forces on March 7, 2000.

Earlier this year, Waters & Faubel and the El Toro Web Site were honored by the Public Relations Society of America with a half dozen of the organizations top honors, the Protos Award, for their work to stop the airport at El Toro.

Roger is endorsed by the Executive Director of Taxpayers for Responsible Planning (TRP), Bill Kogerman and President of Clear the Air/No Jets, Jim Davy.  Anti-airport leaders including Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer, Assembly Members Bill Campbell and Patricia Bates, and Senators John Lewis and Bill Morrow also support him.

For more information, click onto Roger's web site at www.votefaubel2000.com "

William Craycraft, Mission Viejo City Council

"No Airport at El Toro, Period!.  The number one issue facing Mission Viejo residents is the proposed airport at the El Toro Marine Base.  Bill's first vote AGAINST the proposed airport was in 1988 (City of Mission Viejo Resolution 88-92). His stand AGAINST the noise, air, and traffic pollution that would be created by an airport at El Toro has been firm for twelve years.  NO AIRPORT, NEVER!!!!

Bill serves as the city's alternate representative to the ETRPA coalition of south county cities fighting the proposed airport.  Bill Craycraft endorsed and supported Measure F last March.  Bill is endorsed by Anti-airport leaders Supervisor Todd Spitzer and Supervisor Tom Wilson." - William S. (Bill) Craycraft

Other Letters of interest from elected officials.

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