The Port of Los Angeles has announced that John A. Pérez will join the five-member Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, after unanimous approval by the Los Angeles City Council.
Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, endorsed Pérez as the city’s new port commissioner.
Mayor Bass said: “Mr. Pérez is a dedicated public servant who brings decades of expertise to this important role. I worked with Mr. Pérez as we helped protect Californians and Angelenos from the greatest economic threat to the state since the Great Depression.
“He has unwavering passion for bettering our city and I’m confident that he will be a champion for the San Pedro and Wilmington communities and also work to support the port’s vital function as the number one port in the country.
“40 per cent of all imports come into the country through the port complex. Tens of millions of people depend on the port’s success every day. I look forward to working together to ensure that our Port continues to deliver for L.A. and beyond.”
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Pérez originally joined the Board of Regents as an ex officio member while serving as Speaker of the Assembly.
Then, in 2014, former California Governor, Jerry Brown, named him to the Board of Regents. In 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom reappointed him.
Pérez served as Board Chair from 2019 to 2021 and now chairs the Regents’ Health Services Committee.
He was elected to the California Assembly in November 2008, representing Downtown Los Angeles and the neighboring areas, and then served as Assembly Speaker from 2010 to 2014.
In that position, he handled 1,300 employees and a $156 million budget. During his time in the Assembly, Pérez was well-known for his efforts to design and promote legislation targeted at job creation and economic growth.
In August, the Port of Los Angeles named Erica M. Calhoun as its new Deputy Executive Director.
