Peoria Station

It had to happen sooner or later. Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria director Ken Spirito is taking the helm of Peninsula Airport Commission, which runs the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Virginia. Spirito’s move is effective January 5. Newport News’ Daily Press has an excellent article here.

During his nearly three-year term as airport director, Spirito has helped the airport increase its nonstop destinations from five to eleven (though since settling to nine), oversaw ramp and taxiway reconfiguration and improvements and started the process of building a new $65 million terminal.

It’s hard for an airport like Peoria’s to keep someone of Spirito’s talents. There will be some who will criticize him for expanding the airport authority’s taxing district, and while the need for even the slightest increase in taxes is questionable in this day and age of massive, runaway government spending on so many non-necessities (recreational trails, museums, statues, memorials, etc.), a good argument can me made for the expansion of the airport authority’s taxing district. 

I wish Mr. Spirito the best in his new position.

- David P. Jordan