"Kennard Connection May Make LA Job Candidates Wary"

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Kennard Connection May Make LA Job Candidates Wary 
BY RICK ORLOV 
The Daily News of Los Angeles (CA)


The shadow of former airport chief Lydia Kennard appears to be affecting the
search for the next director of Los Angeles World Airports.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa -- who invited several City Council members to
join him last week in interviewing three finalists for the post -- is said
to be nearing a decision on an appointment.

The three candidates are Gina Marie Lindsay from Seattle-Tacoma Airport;
Thella Bowens, president of the San Diego Airport Authority; and Susan
Kurland, a former associate administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration.

All three are said to have done well in interviews, but several have
questioned the continuing presence of Kennard and how much freedom they
would have running LAX and the city's other airports.

Kennard has served twice as executive director of LAWA and was credited with
helping resolve lawsuits over a massive modernization plan for Los Angeles
International Airport. At the same time, however, she has not won any
friends among the airlines, which are suing LAX over proposed rent
increases.

For Villaraigosa, Kennard is seen as a valuable adviser, and the Airport
Commission recently awarded her a $200,000-a-year consulting contract on
matters involving LAX.

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