Gainesville Sun - August 21, 2001

For years, Clerkin's administration has been dogged by critics, most of them on the general aviation side of airport operations. Private pilots have relentlessly faulted Clerkin and the authority for placing too much emphasis, and too much investment, on the commercial side. The firing of Clerkin seems to indicate that the private pilots have prevailed; at least for the moment. Now the authority must get on with the business of finding a new airport director; presumably one who will be more responsive to the demands of general aviation.

But the airport's major problems remain on the commercial aviation side of the runway. Gainesville's airport has been losing business for years, as major airlines have pulled their services back into larger hubs, like Atlanta. Faced with fewer choices and higher ticket prices, most Gainesville-area travelers choose to fly out of Jacksonville, Tampa or Orlando.

Gainesville's challenge remains the same as it was before Clerkin was abruptly fired; to find ways to lure additional carriers to the airport. Clerkin wasn't solely responsible for the airport's decline, and his successor will be hard pressed to turn the dismal situation around. Nonetheless, continuing efforts must be made to recruit new carriers.

But one thing that should help would be a major restructuring of the airport authority itself. The authority has for too long been an embarrassment to the community; its members forever engaged in petty squabbling, personal feuds and political power struggles.

Recognizing that the airport deserves more stable leadership, the city and county last year asked their legislative delegation to approve a bill to restructure the airport authority. But as it turned out, the delegation itself was caught up in petty squabbling, and its members were unable to united behind a single local bill.

On Sept. 6, the delegation will hold its annual legislative hearing, and the city and county commissions should once again request passage of the bill to restructure the airport authority. The proposal to have representatives from both the city and county commissions - as well as from the University of Florida - serve on the authority would make local elected officials more directly accountable for what happens at the airport.

Passage of the local bill won't solve the airport's problems. But it should provide for more stable and responsible decision making. Shame on the delegation if it continues to ignore the airport's leadership problems.

See August 21, 2001, issue of Gainesville Sun for original article.