Harbor Commissioner Bonnie Lowenthal was elected president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the five-member board overseeing the Port of Long Beach (POLB).
The board also appointed Frank Colonna as vice president and Steven Neal as secretary. Each July, Commissioners choose a president and two board officers for one-year terms. The new officers will begin their terms on 5 August, when outgoing president Bobby Olvera Jr. will pass the gavel to Lowenthal at the Board’s meeting.
Lowenthal previously served as president from 2019-20 and is currently the vice president. Her long history of public service in Long Beach includes roles as a Long Beach Unified School District Board member, city councilwoman, vice mayor, and state assembly member. Before her elected positions, she worked as a licensed family counsellor and mental health consultant.
“It is an honour to be elected and serve as President of the Long Beach Harbor Commission. I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners as we build a port to better serve the residents of Southern California in the decades to come and continue to pursue our trailblazing environmental programs, innovative capital improvements and our ongoing investment in workforce development,” stated Lowenthal.
Under the City Charter, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners sets policy for the Californian port and oversees POLB CEO, who manages about 550 employees dedicated to developing and promoting the Port of Long Beach. Board members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, with each eligible to serve up to two six-year terms.
