In a surprise move, the Blaine County Commission voted Thursday to replace Mary Ann Mix on the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority and on the airport site selection committee.
Mix has been chair of the authority and the county representative on the site committee.
Newly sworn in County Commissioner Tom Bowman, who was elected in November, following his Democratic Primary victory against Mix in May, will replace her.
The change, announced in a statement by County Commission chair Sarah Michael, is effective immediately, in time for the authority's next meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the courthouse.
Curiously, Mix was absent from Tuesday night's meeting of the site selection committee. But Michael showed up, announcing she was filling in for Mix who, Michael said, was ill.
Mix also showed up last week at a special briefing for county commissioners about the airport site search, but clearly felt strained and uncomfortable reporting to former colleagues and the man who beat her at the polls.
Mix has had a long political career. She was on the Hailey City Council and then on the county commission for nine years, beginning in 1996.
The sudden change came even after the Hailey City Council recently wrote the county commission unanimously supporting Mix's continued role with the airport authority until at least June, when her term would have expired.
One rationale expressed in the letter was that Mix had been involved in the crucial launch of a study for a new airport and would be valuable as the study is completed.
The site issue has grown slowly into a controversy involving Hailey and Bellevue residents who want the present facility closed because of noise, residents in other areas who object to potential sites in their locales, and major Wood River Valley business interests who oppose a new airport distant from the valley.
In announcing the change, Michael said she and her commission colleagues believe a county officeholder "should serve in decision-making capacities on the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority and on the (site) advisory committee at this time."
She said that having a member of the commission on the authority allows county commissioners to be constantly briefed on airport developments, whereas a non-commissioner must be scheduled for updates.
Former county commissioner Len Harlig is Blaine's north county representative on the authority.
Mix could not be immediately reached for comment.
The five-member authority elects its chair. The chair and each member receives $3,600 per year, or $300 per meeting.
Other members are Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant; Hailey City Councilmember Martha Burke; Harlig, and Dr. Ron Fairfax, a Hailey dentist and aircraft owner and pilot who is an at-large representative.
Michael's statement included a quote from Bowman promising to be "an active participant, soliciting input" from throughout the county.
The commission in the statement "extends its appreciation and sincere gratitude" to Mix, saying "the board plans to solicit her continuing input on this issue."
