Newly ensconced California Governor Jerry Brown has announced several new appointments related to transportation and maritime shipping.
John Cronin, of Marin, has been appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun.
The board licenses and regulates the 60 maritime pilots who guide vessels entering or leaving those bays. The eight members of the Board are appointed by the Governor, and except for the ex-officio member who is the state Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, require confirmation by the State Senate.
Cronin, a 27-year maritime veteran, is currently a vessel manager for Matson Navigation Company, where he has worked since 2005. He served as a deck officer from 1979 to 2005, as a licensed officer with the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. Cronin is also a member of the San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee and currently sits on the Rules and Regulations Committee of the Board of Pilot Commissioners.
Cronin, a Democrat, still requires State Senate confirmation to serve in the uncompensated position.
Governor Brown also announced the re-appointment of both James Earp and Carl Guardino to the California Transportation Commission.
The CTC, consisting of 11 voting members and two non-voting ex-officio members, is responsible for the programming and allocating of funds for the construction of highway, passenger rail and transit improvements throughout California. The Governor appoints nine members of the CTC, one is appointed by the State Senate Rules Committee, and one is appointed by the Speaker of the California Assembly. The two ex-officio non-voting members are appointed from the State Senate and Assembly, usually by the respective chairs of the transportation policy committee in each house.
Earp, who has served on the CTC since 2007, has been the executive director of the California Alliance for Jobs since 1998. Prior to this he served as public relations director for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 3, a heavy construction union, from 1976 to 1998.
Carl Guardino, who has served on the CTC since 2007, has been re-appointed to the commission by Governor Brown.
Guardino has served as president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG), a public policy trade association that represents more than 350 Silicon Valley companies, since 1997. He served as government affairs director for Hewlett Packard from 1995 to 1997 and was the vice president of the SVLG from 1991 to 1995.
Both Earp and Guardino are Democrats who were previously appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Each appointment requires confirmation by the State Senate.
Friday, April 8, 2011
