Ledford plans to run for space authority board

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 22, 2001.

By DON JERGLER
Valley Press Aerospace Writer

PALMDALE - Mayor Jim Ledford says he plans to run for the board of the newly created California Space Authority, a position that will allow him to protect local aerospace projects.

Acting as the state's official spaceport agency, the nonprofit organization is a combination of the Western Commercial Space Center and the California Space and Technology Alliance.

The CSA was formed to work toward one primary objective: to achieve worldwide recognition of California as the dominant global portal for space activities.

Ledford currently serves on the transition board charged with putting together the framework for the merger of the two space organizations, which includes writing bylaws and establishing membership criteria and the organizational structure.

The nine-member transition board recently met for the third time since its establishment in late January. Ledford said he expects to have the organization established by early summer.

The board was formed from existing CSTA and WSC board members. Ledford is a member of the latter.

Ledford is also chairman of the Los Angeles Space and Technology Alliance, an advocate group for stakeholders in the space industry.

Ledford said he hopes to use his position on the transition board to launch himself into a spot on the CSA's board.

"I would hope to be able to represent our region on the new California Space Authority. That is one of my goals," Ledford said. "I think my involvement with the transition team puts me in a good position to secure that."

If he gets on the board, Ledford said he would use his position to lobby for the projection of space infrastructure within the Valley.

"We want to have an advocacy not only to keep those facilities in place, but to get them improved," he said. "I think it would give us a voice in regards to the space infrastructure we have right now in the Antelope Valley."

Ledford said the aim is to have an election for board members sometime in May or June.

Presenting a united front will give the state a stronger presence in the nation's space framework.