Washington D.C. To Aid With El Toro

"The Clinton administration told Orange County officials at a White House meeting Wednesday that they will try to smooth the transfer of the former El Toro air base from the Navy to the county. Charles Smith, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and other county officials had expressed frustration that telephone calls to the Navy were not being returned and meetings with military executives were being postponed.” . . . “Most county officials attending the private meeting are working toward building a commercial airport at El Toro. But Smith invited staffers of Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer -- airport opponents. The meeting was about getting the 4,700-acre base into the county's hands, he said, not about how it's used.”