Two people have so far applied for an open seat on the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau board.
Incumbent board member Sonic Johnson has applied to be re-appointed, and Fred Kinder has also applied for the post.
Johnson was appointed in March 2020 to fill the remainder of Gen. Thomas “Tango” Moore’s term after Moore resigned.
Johnson is a 37-year veteran of the Air Force, retiring in 2019. For 15 years he was the chief of public affairs at Columbus Air Force Base.
“I’ve been working with the CVB for the past 20 years,” he told The Dispatch Thursday afternoon. “I see it’s an amazing organization, and I see its value. I came on board because I want to serve the community, and to stay connected after I retired. I’ve lived in Columbus for longer than I’ve lived anywhere in my life.”
Johnson said he wants to increase transparency and the CVB’s relationship with all levels of the community.
“I want to increase understanding and transparency of this organization and what it does,” he said. “I want to increase harmony with the city, the county, the (Golden Triangle Development LINK), with everybody.”
Johnson, during his tenure at CAFB, helped organize the 2001 and 2003 Wings Over Columbus airshows. He currently co-owns Healthy Home Solutions.
Kinder told The Dispatch he applied because he wants to help broaden the CVB’s focus beyond just festivals.
“I appreciate festivals, but I think we need to go after more sporting events,” he said. “The Magnolia Tennis Club used to have a southeastern tournament here, and it would bring people from Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky.”
He said he thought the organization needed to go after soccer, softball, Dizzy Dean and even fishing tournaments.
“These are people who spend two or three days in a hotel and eat out,” he said. “These people have money. I just don’t think we do enough (recruiting sports tournaments). I think that focus needs to change a little bit.”
Kinder has been on many local boards, including for the Columbus Arts Council, Community Theater, Mississippi Theater Association, and the Friends of the Library. He also is a member of the Lee Home Foundation. He served as treasurer for Camp Rising Sun for 19 years.
Johnson’s term expires Oct. 1. This seat is the only seat that is a joint appointment made by the president of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and the mayor of Columbus.
The city and the county appoint four members each to fill out the nine-member board.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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