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Ottawa County rejects Erie nominee for joint Airport Board; Erie commissioners question imbalance
Summary
Erie County’s clerk reported Ottawa County Commissioners voted against appointing Erie nominee Doug Galloway to the joint Airport Board; Erie commissioners noted no Erie resident has held the seat for about 15 years and expressed concern about board balance.
Clerk of the Board Erin Paolano told the commissioners that at Ottawa County’s April 8 meeting all three Ottawa County Commissioners voted against appointing Erie County nominee Doug Galloway to the joint Airport Board and did not offer a public explanation for the vote.
Paolano said Galloway had completed a positive in‑person interview and appeared to be a qualified candidate, but Ottawa County may wish to select its own candidate. The board noted that for roughly 15 years the joint appointee has been an Ottawa County resident (historically Dick Biro) and that Erie County did not reappoint Biro this year.
Commissioners expressed concern about what they described as an imbalanced appointment process for the joint Airport Board and said the board will continue to monitor the matter; Erie County subsequently submitted a second candidate (Treasurer Caleb Stidham) for consideration after Galloway was not appointed. No formal action was taken by the Erie County Commissioners at the April 9 meeting.
