Legislators approved legislation earlier this year that would replace the five-member Jackson-appointed board of commissioners with a nine-member commission, which was appointed by the governor, lieutenant Governor, Jackson officials, and supervisors from Madison and Rankin Counties. The Rev. Jeffery Stallworth is a Jackson resident who was once the airport commissioner. Along with the members of each city council, the city of Jackson joined the suit later as plaintiffs in Stallworth’s federal lawsuit. The Jackson motion stated that the city of Jackson joined the federal lawsuit in June. Jacksonians hoped to retain control of the airport, but they also hoped that a Democrat would be elected to the White House, and appoint the next head of the Transportation Department, which oversees Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is the agency that approves airport operator licenses. Tyrone Hendrix is the president of Jackson City Council. He said that the city is waiting to see who Trump will appoint as the new transportation secretary and chief FAA officer. Both of them are President Barack Obama’s appointees. Hendrix stated that it would be a lengthy and difficult fight to keep the airport under our control. The three top Republicans on the Capitol, Governor Philip Gunn and Speaker Phil Bryant are the defendants. Phil Bryant and Speaker Philip Gunn were also named as defendants. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves — agreed that the status quo would be maintained for the moment. Reeves’ and Gunn’s spokespersons declined to comment due to the litigation pending. Reeves denied most of the allegations made by the city and responded to the lawsuit this week. Bryant’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment. In recent years, the FAA has been prominent in at least one other fight for airport control. State leaders in North Carolina passed a bill to transfer control of the Charlotte-run airport to the state in 2013. Charlotte sued the state, but the matter remains in legal limbo. The FAA determined that Charlotte would continue to control the airport until the matter is settled by the courts. Christa Fornarotto is an associate administrator for airports at the FAA. She wrote to the North Carolina attorney general and Charlotte’s manager expressing “concerns” about the state’s airport transfer bill. Fornarotto stated that any new sponsor of the airport’s certificate must prove that it is financially and legally able to run the airport. North Carolina must also submit an official opinion from the attorney general on the legality and legality of the legislation. If it is not, “must provide specific assurances to FAA that good title will soon be acquired” Attorney General Jim Hood represents several state officials in Jackson’s lawsuit. However, he has not issued any public opinions or made public statements regarding the legality and legality Mississippi’s airport control bill. Rachael Ring spokeswoman for Hood and said that no requests have been made for an opinion from the Attorney General. Hendrix stated that he hopes that the city’s ownership will be enough to prevent the legislation from going into effect. De’Keither Stamps was another Jackson council member who attended the presidential Transition Roundtable Discussion at the White House with members of the new Trump Administration earlier this week. Stamps stated that even if the president is changed, the precedent the FAA would set would be national. He was referring to the approval of the Jackson airport transfer. “A precedent such as that would affect America significantly.” Josh Harkins (R-Flowood), who sponsored the airport bill at the Legislature, stated that Trump’s win likely helped the state’s chances for victory. However, he believes that the courts will decide the matter. “My view was that the law was on my side all along. He stated that we had the right do what we did, and that a judge would give us a ruling and send it to the FAA. Friday’s FAA response was not immediate.