2008 Slate of Officers Sworn in at Board of Port Commissioners Meeting

Tuesday, 08 January 2008

Michael B. Bixler, who represents the City of Imperial Beach on the Port Commission, was sworn in as chairman for 2008. Bixler delivered an inauguration speech highlighting his vision and goals for the coming year. First appointed to the board in June 2002, Bixler is a vice president of Merrill Lynch Private Client Group.

Bixler has many years of political experience, having served as Imperial Beach mayor from 1990 to 1998. He is a past Chairman of the San Diego Association of Governments and past president of the California Council of Governments. A Naval aviator, he earned his masters degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. and is a graduate of UC Berkeley. He lives in Imperial Beach with his wife, Sally.

In addition to the new Chairman, the oath of office was administered to Vice-Chairman-elect Stephen P. Cushman and Secretary-elect Robert "Dukie" Valderrama.

Following the swearing in, the board met in an afternoon session.

The Port of San Diego is a public benefit corporation and special government entity. Created in 1963 by an act of the California legislature, the Port manages San Diego harbor and administers the public lands along San Diego Bay. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. With a $10.6 billion economic impact on the San Diego region, the Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 16 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police department and the leases of over 600 tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.