Not to threadjack, but why be against it? Being named for a mayor? Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta is named after 2 mayors.
Political influence? Look at Thurgood Marshall Int'l airport in Baltimore, McCarran Int'l in Vegas (named for Sen. Patrick McCarran), or Ted Stevens Int'l Airport in Anchorage.
There was actually no reason that it couldn't be renamed, as it would only be on a marquee. As far as the airport being against it, there was a nice debate on this, and the fact, while you were right that 60% of the people were against it, the airport was welcome to it, on KQED's
Forum.
BL.