By WMAY Newsroom
May 8, 2021 7:30 AM
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder is gearing up for a new battle with Springfield Airport Authority chair Frank Vala.
Langfelder has already tried to replace Vala once, but failed to secure the votes on the airport board. Now Langfelder has declined to renew the appointment for a board member who did not vote on Vala’s chairmanship, citing a conflict of interest.
That board member has since resigned, and airport authority minutes say he blamed “harassment” from the mayor’s office. Langfelder denies that, but says he will be naming a replacement in the coming weeks… and says he hopes that person will vote to replace Vala with Langfelder’s preference, former Mayor Mike Houston.