Claudia Figueroa
Measure F may be the biggest local election issue today, but primary
contests for the presidential race, statewide offices and a host of state
propositions will also be vying for equal time in voting booths.
Still, Measure F is certainly the most important of the bunch, with
probably the biggest land-use issue facing the county at stake -- the
proposed airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps base.
Local El Toro advocates have been campaigning against the measure, saying
that if it passes, it could block the development of a second county
airport but not future expansion at John Wayne Airport.
Airport activist Tom Naughton said Monday that he feels good about the
"No on F" campaign, which will continue today throughout polling hours.
"We'll continue with what we have been doing all along," said Naughton,
who is president of the Newport Beach-based Airport Working Group. "We'll
be answering the phones, explaining Measure F. There's still a lot of
confusion out there."
In the evening, the volunteers who have helped campaign against the
measure will watch the results at an election party.
But South County's Measure F activists said they will be the ones
celebrating.
"We're optimistic about the outcome," said Leonard Kranser, a volunteer
with the "Yes on F" campaign. "The concept that voters should make the
final choice on where we put airports and jails is very popular
countywide."
Measure F, which was designed to block the El Toro airport, would require
a two-thirds majority of voters before the county could build airports,
jails and hazardous waste landfills.
In a broader scope, the California primary is a key battle between Texas
Gov. George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain in the contest for the
Republican presidential nomination. Also vying for the GOP ticket is
Allan Keyes.
Vice President Al Gore and Sen. Bill Bradley are the choices for the
Democratic nomination.
The ballot also includes races for two seats on the Orange County Board
of Supervisors. Charles "Chuck" Smith, of the 1st District, and Todd
Spitzer, who represents the 3rd District, are up for reelection. There
are two seats open for the county Board of Education as well as several
races for superior court judge posts.
There are also several federal and state government races. Rep. Chris Cox
(R-Newport Beach) is running for reelection in the 47th Congressional
District.
In the 45th District, longtime incumbent Rep. Dana Rohrabacher
(R-Huntington Beach) is squaring off against Long K. Pham, a Republican
