Allegations of ethics violations fly during appointment of Airport Authority board members
The Carson City Board of Supervisors appointed three members to the Carson City Airport Authority during the Thursday meeting. Prior to the vote, a citizen came forward stating that one member facing re-election had committed illegal acts by blocking the citizen's business from operating at the airport.
Bryan Stewart and Michael Golden, who currently hold the seat, vied for the Fixed Based Operator Position.
Supervisor Lisa Schuette moved to appoint Bryan Stewart, seconded by Supervisor Stacey Giomi, but the motion failed after Mayor Lori Bagwell and Supervisors Stan Jones and Maurice White voted no.
Golden was then voted in unanimously on a second motion. Golden is a pilot and business owner, and previously served as a member on the Board of Directors of the Truckee-Tahoe Airport District, during which he also served as President of the Airport District.
At the beginning of the meeting, a citizen spoke during public comment asking the board to not re-elect Golden due to what he said were ethical issues. The citizen stated he tried to start a business at the airport earlier this year, during which he was met by two board members, one who has “ethics charges pending by the state,” as well as Golden.
“They both blocked my business from being started at the airport using illegal means, collusion between airport board members,” said the citizen. “Since then I’ve been advised by Michael Golden to operate illegally out of the airport by just flying off to provide flight instruction just a mile away from the airport.”
The citizen asked the board to not reappoint Golden to the board.
Discussions regarding the citizen’s comments did not come up during the reappointment process.
Mayor Bagwell stated that Golden has been working hard on bringing in more funds and has close connections with the FAA, and she doesn’t think a change in leadership is the right decision at this time.
Harlow Norvell was appointed as the Citizen at Large on the Airport Authority. Norvell is a retired military officer and aviator, and has been a corporate pilot for over 23 years since his retirement from the military.
Jon Rogers was reappointed for the Manufacturer position on the Airport Authority. Rogers has worked in the aerospace industry as a manufacturer of turbine engine parts since 1984 and will now be serving his second term on the board.