AIKEN, S.C. — The city advisory board that oversees flying at Aiken Regional Airport takes up a politically touchy question Tuesday: whether the airport should carry the name of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The General Aviation Commission meets at 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at City Hall, the Cavanaugh municipal building on Chesterfield Street, where council chambers sit on the third floor. Members plan to draft a formal recommendation and vote on it, then send it to Aiken City Council.
Council had a resolution to name the airport for Graham in front of it on Oct. 12. Instead of deciding, members voted 5-2 to hold the item until Oct. 26 so the aviation board could weigh in first. Council member Braylen Waldo, who made that motion, floated other options, such as putting the name on the terminal building alone. Kay Brohl and Peter Messina voted against waiting.
Graham began representing Aiken in the U.S. House in January 1995. He jumped to the Senate eight years later and served there until his death on July 11.
The timing is part of the debate. His sister, Sen. Darline Graham, was appointed to finish his term and is now seeking a full one on the Nov. 3 ballot against Democrat Annie Andrews. Early voting is already underway across the state. Some residents told council that acting before the election would look like an endorsement, while Brohl said the idea was first raised in July and has nothing to do with the race.
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