Balentine Returns to Mojave Air and Space Port Board

Jim Balentine

By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor

On Tuesday, the Mojave Air and Space Port governing body appointed Jim Balentine to a two-year term to fill an empty seat on the Board of Directors.

Balentine, who had served on the board since 1995, left the body last month after losing his bid for re-election. In November, he came in fourth in a race for three seats in a field that included challenger Allen Peterson and incumbents Dick Rutan and Cathy Hansen.

Although Hansen was re-elected, she had resigned her seat a month earlier for personal reasons. That left an open position on the five-member board.

Two California City residents, Thomas Ross and Shawn Sprague, also applied for the open board seat along with another person who subsequently withdrew. Ross is a licensed pilot who has been active in the development of California City Airport. Sprague is a local business owner and has served as a member of the Mojave Unified School District Board of Trustees for 14 years.

A two-member committee composed of board members Rutan and Maria Walker interviewed the candidates and ultimately recommended that Balentine fill the seat.

Rutan, Walker and Joann Painter voted in favor of Balentine’s appointment. Petersen abstained.

Balentine was given the oath of office and took his seat on the board during the meeting. He thanked his fellow board members for the appointment and looked forward to working with them.

The board also elected Painter as president, Rutan as vice president, Walker as secretary, and Peterson as treasurer.