Politics has a way of stifling good business decisions. That’s why the Sanford Airport Authority was intended to be as independent as possible of Sanford’s city commission.
So much for good intentions.
This week the commission dumped what many people thought were the airport authority’s three strongest business members. They were the very people who had turned the airport into something to be proud of. Yet, politics won the day.
Never mind that the authority had built an operation that is the envy of airports around the world. The authority finally had turned a relatively dormant, little airport into a gold mine for Seminole County’s economy – without risking tax dollars.
Sanford Mayor Larry Dale, however, didn’t like the airport authority’s independence. He didn’t like the airport authority’s changing the airport’s name to Orlando Sanford Airport two years ago without consulting the City Commission. He didn’t like it that the three members whose terms were expiring weren’t keen on changing the name again – to Sanford Orlando Airport.
Mr. Dale, in office less than a year, is strong-willed and has little trouble keeping a weak city commission in line. Thus, electing his close friend and political ally, Ken Wright, to the authority was a piece of cake. Now it appears that Airport Director Steve Cooke’s job is on the line. Mr. Cooke hasn’t danced smartly enough to Mr. Dale’s tune.
Meantime, Mr. Dale dances to a tune called by Bob Hattaway. Mr. Hattaway, chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, has wielded his considerable political muscle in opposing the “theft” of Orlando’s name by the Sanford airport.
The big loser in this grab for power is the public trust. Cronyism has reared its ugly head. Political payback is the route to the airport authority. Pandering to friendships is in. The luster of an economic miracle has been tarnished.
All this is especially sad. Mr. Dale was thought to have uncommon abilities, boundless energy, a vision for Sanford. Today, he is just another politician.
