Bob Nelson has assumed a seat on the Port District Board of Commissioners after winning a 6-2 vote from the San Diego City Council.
Nelson, a past chairman of The LGBT Center, boasts a long list of involvement in city affairs and is the current chair of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation.
Nelson replaced Steve Cush-man, whose term expired Jan. 2. He recently appeared before the Council in another role as the head of the Citizens Revenue Review and Economic Compe-ti-tive-ness Commission. Nelson went over commission’s report to the Council.
Nelson was nominated by 3rd District Councilmember Todd Gloria, and it was seconded by 7th District Councilmember Marti Emerald at the Jan. 10 meeting. Others who voted for him include Lorie Zapf, Kevin Faul-con-er, Sherri Lightner, and David Alvarez.
Faulconer told Nelson he is “a man of upmost integrity” and “I think you’re the right person at the right time.” Nelson was praised by other speakers including Robert Gleason, the San Diego Airport Authority chairman.
Andrea Johnson, a Har-vard trained law professor at the California Western School of Law, was nominated by Council President Tony Young. She drew votes from Young and 5th District Council-member Carl DeMaio.
Young said he nominated Johnson in part “to include people who have not been included” in the past. She is African American.
Most councilmembers praised both Nelson and Johnson, with DeMaio saying “two great people” had been nominated for the Port District seat.
“Because of my discomfort for the position on project labor agreements that Mr. Nelson presented today, I will be voting for Miss Johnson, whom I believe has a more thoughtful approach to allowing developers to enter into private voluntary agreements,” said DeMaio.
“We should never use the heavy hand of government to compel a private developer to enter into a labor contract. That’s not right,” said DeMaio. “That’s a misuse of government. So I hope you take those comments into mind when you do address private labor agreements on a project by project basis.
“Again thanks to both of you. You’ve been wonderful civic volunteers. Mr. Nelson, if the votes are yours today, if you get appointed, I think you’ll do a very, very good job for the citizens of San Diego, and I appreciate your willingness to serve,” concluded DeMaio.
Nelson has worked as secretary-treasurer of San Diego Theatres, Inc., which operates the Civic and Balboa Theaters. He is president and owner of Bob Nelson Associates, where he handles public relations and advertising.
