Roseburg Airport Commission chair resigns

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By Warren Wells

Story Published: Feb 12, 2008 at 6:53 PM PST

Roseburg - The Roseburg city council shook up the Airport Commission when they confirmed Gary Crowe, husband of Councilor Stacey Crowe, for the commission Monday night.

The 5-to-3 vote ended a potentially tense moment between airport commission chairman Mel Cheney and Mayor Larry Rich over two different prospects.

Both nominees were lauded for being qualified to sit on the commission by all parties on the panel.

The councilors first confirmed John Ward on the airport commission without controversy, and then discussed the merits of the other two men for the remaining seat.

Cheney's opening statement praised both men.

"The good news is all the applicants are well-qualified to serve, I know and like each one of them, any of them would make a fine member for the commission. The bad news is that all applicants are well-qualified to serve, I know and like each of them, and any one of them would make a fine member of the commission."

Councilor Cheney, the airport commission chair, nominated Gary Gray to take the remaining seat while Mayor Rich nominated Gary Crowe, the husband of Councilor Stacey Crowe to take the remaining seat on the airport commission.

"They're both quality people," said Mayor Larry Rich. "The reason I give Gary Crowe the nod, is because Gary Crowe is the one who's the licensed pilot, he's the one that has the plane parked at the airport, he's the one that has the business, his FCC furniture business, using that airport."

In the end, the council chose Gary Crowe 5-to-3 to take the seat on the airport commission, going against Cheney's recommendation.

Cheney resigned from the commission at the end of the session after some on the panel questioned the propriety of his wife working at the airport.

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