Security matters: in addition to a full slate of problems he faces locally, County Supervisor Don Knabe now advises the White House on homeland defense. (People).

NOT many county officials hold court with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge. But L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe finds himself in that unusual role as a member of an advisory committee on homeland security. Appointed in October, Knabe is one of eight members on the panel and one of only a few officials from California giving advice on local and national security strategies. Matters of local interest to be addressed include securing Los Angeles International Airport, the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach and the Alameda Corridor, Knabe, a Republican, also has non-security issues to deal with, including a huge state budget deficit and its effect on health care. He is also battling plans to overhaul LAX.

Question: Where do we need improvements in security locally?

Answer: That's a difficult thing to discuss. I don't want to tell people where to strike. We can't be at all places, but I think from an overall regional security standpoint, this part of the country is in better shape than most.

Q: What are the specific goals for the committee and what has been accomplished so far?

A: Our focus will be on security of potential targets and funding formulas--all of the kinds of things that affect local governments. We'll be making sure we get the resources, training and equipment. Communication issues are also important--upgrading the codes for systems that alert local and state governments. At some point, there has to be some pretty common ground on these alert systems. Right now, local governments are somewhat confused on how to interpret these things.

Q: How often does the committee meet and what other things is it looking at?

A: We originally met in October when we were sworn in. We have another meeting scheduled in January. We have about eight or nine meetings scheduled next year in Washington. We are subject to meet at a moment's notice anywhere in the United States. Our primary charge is to study technologies that help provide security. We also give feedback on ideas the Homeland Security Department has and how they impact state and local governments.

Q: Any specific examples?

A: We want to make sure the flow of information is good from Homeland Security to the FBI to the sheriff's department to the police, firefighters and military. That's going to be a big issue with all of us.

Q: Why and how were you tapped?

A: As a George Bush supporter, I have some ties with some people in the administration. I know Ruben Barrales, the director of intergovernmental affairs, and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. One of the big factors, at least from my view, in being selected, is the fact that I do represent both ports, that I do have LAX and the defense industry within the confines of my district. The county of Los Angeles is also on the cuffing edge of the antiterrorist warning system.

Q: The Southern California Regional Airport Authority that you resurrected three years ago to promote greater use of regional airports in lieu of LAX expansion seems to have died on the vine. Why?

A: It's still there. One of my frustrations is that until the city of Los Angeles comes to the table it's really an ineffective organization. L.A. owns three of the critical airports--Palmdale, Ontario and LAX. The city of Los Angeles knows that we can be a viable voice at the proper time. Either they come to the table or we will be their worst enemy. I think we did a good job of raising the level of attention to at least get the city of Los Angeles to talk about regionalization.

Q: What are your concerns about the LAX plan that Mayor James Hahn is working on?

A: Access. Security points. It's hard for me to comment on it because until it's the official plan and it's been officially released, you're talking about a moving target. I know what they want me to know. I met with them and they finally discussed the plan with me. Parts are very reasonable and other parts are obviously, from an access standpoint, problematic.

Q: What would be your game plan for access to regional airports?

A: El Toro seems to be out of the picture, but maybe there's a tie-in between some Orange County transportation dollars and Ontario (for) a light rail system. It's not a high-speed kind of a thing, but you've got a basis for potential access between here and Palmdale through Metrolink. You've also got a population base moving to North County. But you have to have the flights and they must be convenient. If you have just three or four (daily) flights out there, it's meaningless.

Q: It would seem that health care would be at the top of your agenda.

A: Here in Los Angeles County, we have the largest uninsured population in America - close to 3 million people. About 800,000 of those are children. In the old days, county hospitals took Medicare and Medi-Cal patients and the uninsured. The (private) hospitals took the paying customers. Today, we're in competition with even the private hospitals and private providers for Medicare and Medi-Cal insurance. So we're being left with the non-paying customer. It would be great if we got reimbursed for the undocumented worker. That's a big hit on us. But our fastest growing population here in the county is the working poor--people who have a job and no health care. What we're asking for is obviously reimbursements and flexibility in how those dollars are paid.

Q: County supervisors voted to close Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Will you still go through with that?

A: The board has hired independent auditors to look at the whole situation of Rancho and whether it's viable to keep it in the county family or do something else with it. There's a built-in cost at Rancho because no matter whether we have a Rancho or nothing, we still have to pay for the indigent population that needs to be rehabilitated. It would be ludicrous to close it. You either privatize it or look to sell it.

Q: With the state facing a deficit that could run as high as $30 billion next year, what county programs, in addition to health care, do you want to make sure keep their funding levels?

A: Mental health issues, libraries--the straight general fund program dollars that are always impacted. The state balanced its budget on the backs of counties and cities 10 years ago when it shifted $3 billion a year in property tax revenues destined for local governments to state coffers. Those are property tax dollars and they just took them straight out of programs. Our fight will be to protect the safety net.

Q: With the Democrats' Nov. 5 sweep of statewide offices, what should Republicans do to remain relevant?

A: The Republicans, at least from my perspective, are going to have to go back to the basics and remember how they used to win elections. As long as the Republicans want to continue to in-fight and talk about guns and abortion and nothing else, we are going to have a difficult time winning elections here in the state of California. There's no vision for this state. They don't understand health care. They don't understand the economy.

Q: There have been attempts to expand the five-member Board of Supervisors by those who believe it's absurd for one person to represent two million people. Where do you stand?

A: Representing two million people and getting out and around as much as I do, I've had people ask me for more police, more firefighters, more parks, more libraries. No one's ever asked me for more politicians. Ever.

RELATED ARTICLE: INTERVIEW

Don Knabe

Title: 4th District Supervisor

Organization: Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 

Born: Rock Island, Ill., 1943

Education: Bachelor of Arts in business administration, Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, 1967

Career Turning Point: Joining then-county Supervisor Deane Dana's staff

Most Admired Person: Former Gov.

George Deukmejian

Personal: Married, two children