Tuesday, October 18, 2005 | Editor’s note: Every week leading up to the Nov. 8 election, Voice will pose a reader’s question to the candidates. The answers have not been edited. This week’s question for the mayoral candidates:
What is your position on uses for Brown Field? Would you consider reviving the cargo airport plan?
Jerry Sanders
I support the highest and best use of all city assets, including airports. The media has recently uncovered the very poor management of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the city’s land holdings, including Brown Field. This airport needs to be turned into a performing asset or put back on the property tax rolls.
Donna Frye
Brown Field is considered an airport of importance to the national airspace infrastructure and the City must bring the airport back up to FAA standards.
We must work with the community to create a plan to achieve compliance with bench marks. In part, this would take working to relocate non-aeronautical business off the property. I will work with the business community to make the transition. In this way, the FAA will see the City’s genuine efforts in working with them to restore eligibility for federal funding. In the next five to ten years, the airport should be brought up to code, functioning safely and efficiently, enhancing industry, trade and commerce.