Springfield airport to now participate in TSA PreCheck program
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Illinois residents poised to return to air travel over Fourth of July
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By WMAY Newsroom
May 11, 2021 | 1:05 PM
Another showdown is looming between Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder and the head of the Springfield Airport Authority board.
Langfelder sought to oust Frank Vala (VAL-uh) last year and replace him with former mayor Mike Houston, but couldn’t muster the votes. Now Langfelder is about to replace a board member with a new appointee who could be the deciding vote to get rid of Vala. Vala says he’s been successful in the post he’s held for nearly 15 years, and accuses Langfelder of not really understanding how the airport – or government in general – works.
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.