Efforts Pay Big Dividends For Supporters In Elections

Anti-airport publicity didn't win over voters in Martin County (FL). On August 31, voters rejected all three of the county commission candidates running on a platform of downsizing Stuart's Witham Field.

Thanks largely to the National Air Transportation Association's (NATA) efforts, including a Town Hall meeting and editorials in the local newspapers, the three incumbents (Smith, DiTerlizzi and Weberman) -- who were supportive of keeping Witham Field open -- defeated their challenging candidate in each district election. The opposing candidates were openly opposed to the airport and funded by the anti-airport group called "WAAM."
NATA president James K. Coyne countered the WAAM propaganda with editorials in the local newspaper, carefully laying out the facts about the airport and the benefits that it provides to the community.

"Witham Field is a significant economic and community asset benefiting the citizens of Martin County," Coyne wrote in the editorial. "It is not, as a small, extremely vocal minority of the county believes and would have others agree, an economic burden, a safety hazard or - especially when compared to other activities in the county - a major source of noise."

The voters in Martin County supported the three incumbent county commissioners who all are in favor of continuing to take state and federal funds to improve and continue Witham Field operations.
"We are pleased with the election results in Martin County," stated Coyne. "The current commission is mindful of the sensitivity of the community to noise issues and their course of action in solving the problem is appropriate."

NATA hopes that the re-election of the incumbents will put the airport issue to rest in Martin County.

FMI: www.nata.org