Jackson Offers Airport Commission Seats to Will County Board, "Iron Ring"

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is recommending that the two vacant seats on the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission (ALNAC) be filled by Will County Executive Larry Walsh and a mayor from the so-called "Iron Ring" communities that surround the airport.

"This is a regional project and we want regional representation from all stakeholders on the Commission's Board of Directors. Public-private partnerships work best when the governance includes a broad base of leadership from all affected communities. That is the underlying philosophy of the Commission and our developers, and it is consistent with successful partnerships worldwide." Jackson said.

"ALNAC's Board currently has two vacant seats. One is an appointment by the Governor. I wrote Governor Blagojevich this week and asked him to appoint Will County Executive Larry Walsh, and to name Will County Board Chairman Jim Moustis as the alternate," Jackson said.

"I also wrote State Senator Debbie Halvorson and asked her to work with the so-called Iron Ring mayors to fill the seventh and final seat on the Board. . The Commission is chaired by one Iron-Ring Mayor, Al McCowan of University Park. But the Iron Ring deserves a second seat because those municipalities will be the most impacted by the airport," Jackson said.

"If Executive Walsh and a second Iron Ring Mayor join the board, five of the seven members will be elected officials who represent all or part of Will County. I'd call that local control."

Jackson added that the two remaining Board members, the mayors of Bensenville and Elk Grove Village, leave the Board once the airport opens. "After opening day, all five Board members would represent all or part of Will County."

Last week Governor Blagojevich announced that the State was adopting the ALNAC plan and would send it to the Federal Aviation Administration this spring for approval. Transportation Secretary Tim Martin and members of ALNAC will meet with Walsh and Halvorson on Monday.

* Will County community

** Border Will/Cook County community

Current Make-up (Seven Members, through Opening Day)

1) University Park *

2) Park Forest **

3) Elk Grove Village

4) Bensenville

5) South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Appointment

Currently Sauk Village**

6) Iron-Ring Communities Appointment

(One member from Crete, Beecher, Monee or Peotone) * Currently Vacant

7) Governor's Appointment Currently vacant

Under this plan, 3 of 5 Board members are Will County or Will/Cook border communities.

Filling vacant seats with Mr. Walsh and Iron-Ring Mayor would mean 5 of 7 from Will or Will/Cook.

1) University Park *

2) Park Forest **

3) South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Appointee **

4) Iron-Ring Appointee *

5) Governor's Appointee

Under this plan, at least 4 of 5 Board members after Opening Day would be from Will or Will/Cook. Mr. Walsh would make it 5 of 5 from Will or Will/Cook.