Letter: Watchdog leader sorry for letter's tone

In a recent letter to the editor, referring to the 25-year lease of the Corning airport, I asked the question, "Is it possible that this sweetheart deal might have anything to do with the chairperson of the Airport Commission being the mother of one of the lessees?"

I have since been assured by a respected and reliable source that the chairperson removed herself from the room whenever any discussions of the lease or the Fixed Base Operator's business occurred at Airport Commission meetings.

That being the case — and since the objections to the lease are really about the city failing to get competitive bids before awarding the lease — I offer my sincere apologies to the chairperson and her family for posing the question and for any embarrassment that it may have caused.

We have never questioned the competence of Rainbow Aviation, and have no intention of doing so. In fact, had the lease gone out to bid as we believe it should have,the Carpenters might well have been the successful bidders. Under those circumstances, we would have had no problem with Rainbow Aviation being awarded the lease. We wish Rainbow Aviation and the Carpenters well in their continued stewardship of our airport.

Dean Cofer

Corning Concerned Citizens