Mojave Spaceport CEO Witt Corrects Bill Richardson Story

Mojave Air and Space Port CEO/General Manager Stu Witt has set the record straight about the hiring of former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

It had been widely reported that the East Kern Airport District (EKAD) Board of Directors would be meeting on Wednesday to consider an agreement to hire Richardson to help strengthen California’s informed consent law, which covers commercial spaceflights.

Witt told the EKAD board that these reports are incorrect. The Mojave spaceport did hire Richardson earlier this year as a consultant to help get the original legislation approved. That work is now over, and there are no current plans to hire Richardson, who was paid $10,000 for his services.

The EKAD board did meet in special session on Wednesday to approve an expenditure for improvement work on two of the airport’s main roads. Witt said there’s a need to get the work done now because Mojave is currently experiencing a spell of warm weather that will make the repairs more effective.

The EKAD board will meet for a regularly scheduled session next Tuesday.