Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, D-San Diego, has been appointed to the California Commission for Economic Development, announced Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.
The commission, composed of legislative and gubernatorial appointees, was established by statute in 1971. It serves as a bipartisan advisory board on economic development issues to the executive and legislative leadership of California. Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante serves as commission chairman.
“I look forward to participating in the commission’s efforts to influence economic policy in the state,” said Saldana, 46. “I also look forward to strengthening California’s ties with our trading partners in the Pacific Rim during the Legislature’s trade mission to China and Vietnam this fall.”
The San Diego-Tijuana region is a crossroads for Pacific Rim economic activity, with both sides of the border attracting considerable investment from China, Japan and Vietnam, she said. Saldana’s district lies in one of the largest concentrations of economic activity in the state, including San Diego’s Downtown business and tourism districts, the waterfront, airport, and several military installations.
Before her election to office, Saldana was a business technology and work-force development professor at Mesa College. She also developed and managed several educational and technical job skills programs, including a $1.5 million technology work-force development grant for the San Diego Community College Education Coalition, which seeks to improve work-force development through legislation promoting technical education in the state’s schools.
The commission issues an annual report on California’s economic outlook, along with policy recommendations to address the state’s economic needs.
Saldana represents the 76th Assembly District, including the communities of City Heights, Clairemont, Downtown, Kearny Mesa, Mission Valley, Hillcrest, Point Loma and Pacific Beach.
Pat Broderick
