Airport a Topic at BOC Chair Candidates Forum

If the candidates for chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners had any doubts about the importance of the airport to the voting public, those doubts were erased at Tuesday night’s forum.

More than 125 people gathered at The Bridge Community Church in Buford for the Feb. 15 candidate forum sponsored by the Alliance of Concerned Citizens of Old Peachtree (ACCOP). After making their opening speeches, the candidates were asked questions submitted by audience members.

While the candidates -  – were quizzed on a number of topics, a significant portion of time was spent fielding questions regarding the.

All four candidates said they oppose airport expansion. Previously, Gause had favored expansion as a way to create economic growth. Gause said he changed his position after realizing the impact expansion would have on nearby neighborhoods.

“It’s going to diminish the values of homes,” he said. Gause said he has also studied plans for the runways and is concerned about the proposed flight path which he said would take planes above Gwinnett Medical Center.

“Driving down 316, you don’t see all the house, you don’t understand how many people it affects,” he said. “In the last two weeks as I’ve been going around, I realized this is not a good deal.”

Gause also expressed doubts regarding privatizing the airport – a plan he had previously favored. Gause said he is concerned that without adequate government oversight, a private company might attempt to make changes that are not in the best interests of county residents.

“I know expansion is wrong and I know that commercialization is wrong and I was wrong when I first thought of it,” he said. “I apologize for that.”

Nash said her position on the airport remains unchanged. While there might be a place for privatization, Nash said, commercialization would not be a viable option given the detrimental impact it would have on the surrounding community.

“The area that is closest to the airport has to be my priority,” Nash said. “I know there are other parts of the county that have different opinions, but I can’t turn my back on this part of the county. I cannot support commercialization as long as this community feels the way it does.”

Kissel said he also opposes commercialization, but would support privatization under certain conditions.

“I would support privatization as long as it worked better for the county,” he said but added that the function of the airport should remain as is.

“This airport is what it is,” Kissel said. “If they want a new mini Hartsfield, they need to go north of here and buy themselves a big old chunk of land that has nothing around it and build it there.”

Costa, who previously said privatization would keep government officials from  being “distracted with the day-to-day operations and the temptation of unethical behavior,” said he favors selling the airport to a private entity.

“There is no reason we cannot sell the airport to a private firm and say ‘this is how its going to operate’ and put it in the contract,” he said. “Government does not need to be running private entities.”

Costa said the county could also require private companies to clean up the airport and add more sound barriers.

In another airport-related question, the candidates were asked if they would sponsor a resolution to permanently prohibit passenger or freight service at the airport.

Costa said he would be willing to prohibit expansion for the next 25 to 30 years, but would be reluctant to impose further conditions on future governing bodies.

Gause, however, said he was more than willing to permanently ban expansion.

“I’m fine with saying never on that,” he said. “Let’s make an end to it. We don’t want the houses there. We just need to take it off the table.”

Both Nash and Kissel said they would support such a resolution, but pointed out that laws can be changed and a permanent solution may not be possible or practical.

“I would be happy to sponsor such a resolution, however we need to be practical from the standpoint that there are limits as to what one commission can do to bind the next commission,” Nash said. “I think we better have our back up plans."

In addition to questions about the airport, the two-hour forum included questions concerning , the  and .

The public will have another chance to meet the candidates later this month when the Lilburn Woman’s Club hosts a question and answer forum at . The event will be held Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.

Absentee voting for the March 15 special election began on Feb. 14. Advanced voting will be held March 7-11 at the Gwinnett County Elections Office, 455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200, Lawrenceville. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On March 15, voters will cast ballots at their assigned precinct. A runoff, if necessary, will be held April 12.

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