Safe and Healthy - February 28, 2000 Press Release - Yes on F Committee Demands Withdrawal of Deceptive Ads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities - YES on Measure F

February 28, 2000

Contact: Leonard Kranser, CSHC Communications Director 949-499-5567 Or Jeff Metzger, CSHC Chairman 949-454-1196

Yes on F Committee Demands Withdrawal of Deceptive Ads

Supporters of Yes on Measure F, the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, are demanding that opponents withdraw their deceptive ads. Opponents claim - in their television ads and mailers - that Measure F is opposed by the Orange County Register and the League of Women Voters.

In fact, the Orange County Register has taken an official editorial position in support of Measure F. After analyzing the airport and jail issues and the initiative, the Register concluded in an editorial this weekend, "That's why we're urging Orange Countians to vote 'Yes' on Measure F."

The President of the League of Women Voters of Orange County issued a press release on Saturday stating in part, "The League of Women Voters today expressed its outrage over the unauthorized use of its name in an ad [by the No on F campaign]… 'The ad is totally misleading', said League President Jean Askham. 'The League has no position at all on the siting of jails and no position on whether the closed El Toro Marine base should be used for a commercial airport.'"

Jeffrey Metzger, Chairman of the Yes on F committee, demanded that the George Argyros-funded opposition group stop their deceptive ads. "We deplore this type of dirty campaigning by opponents of Measure F. Stripping away the false endorsements, most of their support is from those that hope to benefit from the construction and operation of an El Toro airport or more jails. These special interests are reluctant to let the voters choose whether these costly projects should be built."

"The Yes on F campaign only publishes quotes received in writing and only lists endorsements with permission", he said. Endorsees include Congressman Ron Packard, State Senator Bill Morrow, Assembly Members Pat Bates and Bill Campbell, Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer, former Chairmen of the OC Democratic and Republican parties, several School Boards, the Sierra Club of Orange County, Los Amigos, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Group.