News 12 at 6 o'clock, November 4, 2009

AUGUSTA---A runoff is set for December to decide who will take over the district one seat on the Augusta Commission. Matt Aitken and William Fennoy will face off. Aitken got 40 percent of the vote compared to Fennoy's 32 percent.

This change on the Augusta Commission could have a big effect on plans for the Trade, Exhibit and Events Center.

Augusta mayor Deke Copenhaver met with his TEE Center subcommittee today. Hyatt Place hotel developers said if the city does not approve the TEE center the hotel deal is off.

News 12 asked, what do the district 1 runoff candidates think of the TEE Center?

"We ought to move forward with it," said Matt Aitken. "I think that it will spur on economic development. It will build something on the river."

"This is what I am hearing from the community," said William Fennoy. "Nobody is saying we need to build a TEE Center. Everybody is saying we need to do something about crime. We need to do something about these raggedy streets. We need to tear down some of these houses that can't be repaired, but nobody is saying we need to build a TEE Center."

Mayor Copenhaver says a no vote on the TEE Center will cost the city a $25 million Hyatt Place hotel, redevelopment in Laney Walker, and larger convention space to boost traffic downtown.