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Commission splits delegation appointments; confirms one nominee, rejects ports nominee 6–5
Summary
After debate about whether the legislative delegation recommends or the commission appoints, commissioners split a pair of delegation recommendations, unanimously approved Kevin Mack for the general aviation commission and then rejected the ports authority nominee by a 6–5 vote.
The commission on May 21 divided a package of legislative‑delegation nominations into separate votes after debate about whether the delegation simply recommends nominees or actually appoints members to certain boards and authorities.
Once the item was split, the commission approved Kevin Mack’s appointment to the general aviation commission by unanimous vote. When the body then considered the ports authority nominee (Clarence Tompkins), a substitute motion to deny his appointment passed 6–5, rejecting that nomination.
Legal counsel and commissioners discussed differing statutory language across boards (some sections "shall be recommended" by the delegation and "appointed by the commission"), producing uncertainty about whether the commission simply memorializes the legislative delegation’s choices or has discretion to reject and request another name. Attorney Jim Plunkett said he would research the specific statutory language for the ports authority and report back.
Commissioner Don Clark said the matter reveals a need to clean up historical ordinance language and documentation so appointment processes are unambiguous going forward.
Next steps: legal to research statutory authority and provide clarifying guidance on appointment language for affected boards.
