Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority
Encyclopedia
The Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority (SMEAA) is the elected board that governs the Prairie Capital Convention Center
in downtown Springfield, Illinois
.
granted the board the following rights and powers:
(a) To purchase, own, construct, lease as lessee or in any other way acquire, improve, extend, repair, reconstruct, regulate, operate, equip and maintain fair and exposition grounds, convention or exhibition centers and civic auditoriums, including sites and parking areas and facilities therefor located within the metropolitan area;
(b) To plan for such grounds, centers and auditoriums and to plan, sponsor, hold, arrange and finance fairs, industrial, cultural, educational, trade and scientific exhibits, shows and events and to use or allow the use of such grounds, centers and auditoriums for the holding of fairs, exhibits, shows and events whether conducted by the Authority or some other person or governmental agency;
(c) To exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire sites for such grounds, centers and auditoriums, and parking areas and facilities in the manner provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act;
(d) To fix and collect just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory charges for the use of such parking areas and facilities, grounds, centers and auditoriums and admission charges to fairs, shows, exhibits and events sponsored or held by the Authority. The charges collected may be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the Authority and to pay the principal of and the interest on any bonds issued by the Authority;
(e) To enter into contracts treating in any manner with the objects and purposes of this Article.
Eleven SMEAA board members are elected from five districts, which encompass the Springfield
metropolitan area. The SMEAA board has four officers: a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
, though the Republican
and Democratic
parties of Sangamon County typically endorse candidates running for this board whom they favor. Republican-backed candidates have usually enjoyed a strong majority on the SMEAA board. However, in the 2007 elections, three of the candidates endorsed by Republican Party of Sangamon County were disqualified from the ballot, due to errors made when filing their candidate petitions. One of those Republicans sought election as a write-in candidate
, and garnered a narrow victory, retaining a SMEAA majority for Republican-supported candidates, but only by a margin of six out of eleven. (As of 2010 however, Republicans hold an 8 to 3 majority, on the board.) And, following the April 2011 elections, Democratic candidates will hold only 2 of the 11 elected positions.
Also in 2007, there was discussion about whether SMEAA, which had previously been involved in administering only the Prairie Capital Convention Center
, should also become involved in the hotel business. A recent offer had been made by SMEAA Chairman Mike Coffey, Jr. and Springfield Mayor Timothy Davlin
, to purchase the mortgage
of the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center, so as to prevent foreclosure
proceedings against that establishment. Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias
rejected this proposal.
Prairie Capital Convention Center
The Prairie Capital Convention Center is a 7,700-seat multi-purpose arena in Springfield, Illinois.It was built in 1978 and is governed by the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority ....
in downtown Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
.
History and Composition
SMEAA was created pursuant to state statute, in which the General AssemblyIllinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
granted the board the following rights and powers:
(a) To purchase, own, construct, lease as lessee or in any other way acquire, improve, extend, repair, reconstruct, regulate, operate, equip and maintain fair and exposition grounds, convention or exhibition centers and civic auditoriums, including sites and parking areas and facilities therefor located within the metropolitan area;
(b) To plan for such grounds, centers and auditoriums and to plan, sponsor, hold, arrange and finance fairs, industrial, cultural, educational, trade and scientific exhibits, shows and events and to use or allow the use of such grounds, centers and auditoriums for the holding of fairs, exhibits, shows and events whether conducted by the Authority or some other person or governmental agency;
(c) To exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire sites for such grounds, centers and auditoriums, and parking areas and facilities in the manner provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act;
(d) To fix and collect just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory charges for the use of such parking areas and facilities, grounds, centers and auditoriums and admission charges to fairs, shows, exhibits and events sponsored or held by the Authority. The charges collected may be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the Authority and to pay the principal of and the interest on any bonds issued by the Authority;
(e) To enter into contracts treating in any manner with the objects and purposes of this Article.
Eleven SMEAA board members are elected from five districts, which encompass the Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
metropolitan area. The SMEAA board has four officers: a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
Recent developments
The SMEAA Board is officially nonpartisanNonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
, though the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
parties of Sangamon County typically endorse candidates running for this board whom they favor. Republican-backed candidates have usually enjoyed a strong majority on the SMEAA board. However, in the 2007 elections, three of the candidates endorsed by Republican Party of Sangamon County were disqualified from the ballot, due to errors made when filing their candidate petitions. One of those Republicans sought election as a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
, and garnered a narrow victory, retaining a SMEAA majority for Republican-supported candidates, but only by a margin of six out of eleven. (As of 2010 however, Republicans hold an 8 to 3 majority, on the board.) And, following the April 2011 elections, Democratic candidates will hold only 2 of the 11 elected positions.
Also in 2007, there was discussion about whether SMEAA, which had previously been involved in administering only the Prairie Capital Convention Center
Prairie Capital Convention Center
The Prairie Capital Convention Center is a 7,700-seat multi-purpose arena in Springfield, Illinois.It was built in 1978 and is governed by the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority ....
, should also become involved in the hotel business. A recent offer had been made by SMEAA Chairman Mike Coffey, Jr. and Springfield Mayor Timothy Davlin
Timothy Davlin
Timothy J. Davlin was the mayor of the U.S. city of Springfield, Illinois, from April 2003 until his suicide in December 2010. Though the Mayor's office is officially non-partisan, the Illinois capital has a strong tradition of partisanship, even for municipal races, and both major parties of...
, to purchase the mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
of the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center, so as to prevent foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
proceedings against that establishment. Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias
Alexi Giannoulias
Alexander "Alexi" Giannoulias is an American politician who served as Illinois Treasurer from 2007 to 2011. A Democrat, Giannoulias defeated Republican candidate State Senator Christine Radogno in November 2006 with 54 percent of the vote, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office in 12...
rejected this proposal.