The chairman of Rockford’s airport authority apparently doesn’t mince words.

The governor didn’t mention that city’s airport in his State of the State address yesterday, instead throwing his support behind building a third airport in the south suburbs. Rockford’s airport is growing, but is still a backwater enterprise.

“It’s hard for me to believe that any governor could be less informed about the potential of the Rockford airport than George Ryan. However, here comes Rod Blagojevich,” said Mike Dunn, airport authority board chairman.

“I would recommend to the governor that he spend less time on political patronage with Jesse Jackson, senior and junior, and concern himself more with the population growth in the northwest suburbs along the Interstate 90 and 88 corridors,” Dunn said.

Harsh.

Mayor Doug Scott, a former state Rep. and a friend of the governor’s, was more diplomatic (although it wouldn’t be hard to be more diplomatic than Dunn).

“I think there are things the state will do with our airport, and the fact that it didn’t merit a mention in the State of the State speech doesn’t mean they’re not going to work with us,” Scott said.