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El Toro Marine Base Conversion The level of support was similar to the 1993 survey, when 48 percent of Orange County adult residents said they would favor converting the El Toro Marine Base into a commercial airport. Among Orange County voters, 51percent were in favor and 33 percent were opposed, while 16 percent were undecided. The issue sharply divided voters along geographic lines. A majority in the North/Central County (57%) favored a civilian airport in El Toro, while most in the South County (55%) were opposed. In August, few local voters had strongly-held beliefs on the impacts an El Toro airport would have on jobs and the economy, noise for nearby residents, and local government budgets. About seven in 10 (72%) agreed that the airport would help create local jobs and improve the Orange County economy, but only 36 percent strongly agreed. Residents in the North/Central areas were more likely than South County residents to strongly believe in the airport's economic benefits (40% to 27%). Seventy percent agreed that the airport would create excessive noise for nearby residents, with 42 percent strongly agreeing. Residents in the South County were much more likely to strongly agree that the airport would be noisy for neighbors than were those living in the North County (57% to 36%). About half (53%) agreed that an airport is the most fiscally sound approach to the base conversion, with 24 percent strongly agreeing. Those in the South County were much more likely than those in the North to disagree with this assumption (52% to 23%). Most who strongly believed the airport would create jobs (78%) and be fiscally sound (81%) said they intended to vote for the airport. However, a majority of those who strongly agreed that the airport would create excessive noise said they would vote against it (55%). In November, when all of the votes were counted, Measure A was supported by 51 percent of the Orange County electorate. The overall level of voter support was unchanged from the August survey. |
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