Port People: Stockton

Stockton Port Commissioners Elect Dr. Blanchard Chair

Stockton Port Commission Chair Elizabeth Blanchard.
Photo/Port of Stockton

Dr. Elizabeth "Liz" Blanchard was recently elected chair of the Stockton Port District Commission, the seven-member governing body of the Port of Stockton.

Dr. Blanchard, who holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of the Pacific, has been a port commissioner since 2008. She was reappointed to a third four-year term in January 2016 by the San Juaquin County Board of Supervisors. She was previously elected port district chair in 2012.

Dr. Blanchard worked for eight years on the Stockton City Planning Commission and two years on the San Joaquin County Planning Commission. She is past president of the San Joaquin Delta College California Teachers Association, professor at San Joaquin Delta College and administrator at the School of Education at the University of the Pacific. She serves on the executive committee of the Association of Pacific Ports and is active an active member of the AAPA Maritime Economic Development and Public Relations committees.

At the same February 6 meeting, the board also elected Michael Patrick Duffy vice chair. Mr. Duffy has been president and chief executive officer of Financial Center Credit Union since 1999. He graduated cum laude from San Francisco State University with a degree in International Relations and subsequently earned an MBA from Pepperdine University. He was appointed to the board in 2013 by the Stockton City Council.

Stockton port commissioners are appointed to four-year terms – four by the Stockton City Council and three by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and receive no compensation for their services to the port. Officers are elected to one-year terms.

The other commissioners are Sylvester Aguillar, R. Jay Allen, Gary Christopherson, Stephen Griffen, and Victor Mow.

Stockton Port Commission Vice Chair Michael P. Duffy.