Blog

Whether your politics are on the right, or the left, or in the middle, just about everybody knows Ohio has been a key battle ground state in the last few national elections. In the past CAK has been the host airport for many VIP visits because of these elections; Secretary O'Neil and Presidents Clinton and Bush to name a few. Well it's becoming clear that 2010 isn't going to be any different. For about the last year places all over the state have been receiving these special visitors. Well today was our turn with AF 2, that's Air Force lingo for the "Vice President".

It all started last Tuesday with a phone call, nothing much, something like… you might be getting a visitor. We'll be in touch. On Thursday our deputies get invited to a meeting to discuss the possible visit. Thursday, I'm driving home from work and my phone rings. I'm asked to return CAK and meet with the secret services' airport advance team. This is a group of people tasked with going to the next destination airport to meet with the locals if you will, and plan the visit down to the last minute and the slightest detail. Thursday's meeting lasted several hours and several trips around the airfield were made. Questions like: Where are we going to put this? Can we get in this building? Friday was spent making sure everyone was okay with what we came up with Thursday. On Sunday, September 19, 2010 the cars arrived, under 24 hour guard.Monday, or game day, started at about 10:30 a.m. ended about 9:00 p.m.

Without going into to much detail, all this and a little bit more went into just getting AF2 to the airport. I'll leave the trips, speeches and fundraising up in Akron and down to Canton, to your imagination.