4:01pm | Long Beach Harbor Commissioner Mike Walter Ph.D.’s six year term on the commission is up effective today, Thursday, June 30, but he will continue to serve on the commission until he is either re-appointed to a second six-year term or a new commissioner is appointed, according to the Mayor’s Office.
Port of Long Beach Communications Director Art Wong verified Thursday afternoon that June 30 is “technically” Walter’s last day as a commissioner. However, Wong was not aware of how the situation would be handled moving forward because the Mayor’s Office not yet taken any action on the matter.
“There hasn’t been an announcement yet as to whether he is going to be reappointed,” Wong said.
According to the city charter, the mayor is responsible for appointing or reappointing harbor commissioners to their six-year terms. All appointments and reappointments must have the backing of the City Council before they become official.
Section 509 specifically states:
At the expiration of the term of each member of the commission established by this charter, the mayor shall appoint a successor, subject to confirmation by an affirmative vote of of a majority of the council members in office at that time.
Mayor Bob Foster, however, has yet to make any formal or public announcement relative to Walter Being reappointed or a successor being chosen.
Stacey Toda, the mayor’s assistant, said that despite Walter’s term being up, he will continue to serve on the commission until his membership is either reconfirmed or a successor is named.
Toda said this is how the city has handled similar situations in the past.
The charter states in Section 506 that “all officers elected under this Charter shall take office on the third Tuesday of July after their election and shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.”
Due to the departure of former Commissioner Mario Cordero, who recently stepped down after his nomination and confirmation to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission, Foster must make two appointments.
In its annual board officers reorganization held Monday, Walter was appointed by his peers on the commission to serve as the board secretary.
Walter was first appointed to the commission in 2005 by then-Mayor Beverly O’Neill, a move that was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the City Council. He serves as the executive assistant to the president of Cal State Long Beach, where he is also a professor of international business in the university’s College of Business Administration.