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Jacob: Airport Authority Chairman Should Resign

POSTED: 7:18 pm PDT October 1, 2009
UPDATED: 7:54 pm PDT October 1, 2009

The 10News I-Team recently uncovered lavish spending by San Diego Airport Authority executives that included expensive and questionable airfares, hotel stays and business meals.

After facing harsh criticism for their spending, the Airport Authority announced several changes Thursday.

Airport Authority Chairman Bob Watkins has had much to deal with lately, especially after the I-Team learned of an $8,000 business class airline ticket to Switzerland for CEO Thella Bowens -- when a coach seat would have cost one-tenth as much.

Other bills rung up at taxpayer expense were labeled as lavish, and then code violations and unpaid license fees for Watkins and the businesses he ran out of a townhouse under the Lindbergh Field flight path were revealed.

Watkins said he is resolving those issues, and added, "We are reviewing with the city at the moment and the various accusations about non-business businesses, and hopefully we'll get that resolved in a few days."

San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said, "I believe, unfortunately, Bob is at the point of no return. The important issue here is can Bob Watkins restore public confidence in his ability to serve on the Airport Authority board. I believe it's beyond that point. He needs to resign."

Watkins' fate is in the hands of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who has been keeping up with recent developments.

"Bob is a volunteer, like all the people in the Airport Authority, and I appreciate the fact that he's stepped up and he continues to work on some of the issues that need to be worked on, and I'll be working with him on those," said Sanders.

Watkins' business affairs aside, there's also the issue of Airport Authority spending. The Airport Authority voted Thursday to only reimburse board and employee expenses that are "actual and necessary."

"The question comes back: Are you willing to defend that from a public scrutiny perspective? That's the issue," said Watkins.

"It sounds like they're headed in the right direction. But are these actions only because they got caught?" said Jacob.

Jacob also told 10News that the Airport Authority needs a housecleaning.
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