Friday, September 9, 2011
Page 3
Lester Named Executive Director Of Coastal Commission
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Charles Lester as its executive director, effective yesterday, the commission said in a release.
Lester, a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law, has been serving as the acting executive director since Peter Douglas retired last month. Douglas, who suffers from lung cancer, held the post for 26 years, and Lester becomes the fourth executive director in the commission’s 39-year history.
Lester has worked for the commission since 1997 and was senior deputy director from 2006 until becoming acting executive director . He previously was an assistant professor of political science at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
In addition to his law degree, he holds a doctorate in jurisprudence and social policy from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in geochemistry from Columbia University.
“The entire Commission recognized and appreciates the unique experience, unwavering integrity, and clear vision Dr. Lester brings to this position, Commission Chair Mary Shallenberger said in a statement. “While Peter Douglas leaves very large shoes to fill, Charles fits into them quite comfortably.”
Lester takes the helm of an agency with 142 authorized staff positions and an annual budget of approximately $16 million.
“I am deeply committed to implementing the Coastal Act, but I am also a problem-solver, and I look forward to bringing people together around environmentally sustainable solutions that protect coastal resources and provide maximum public access to the coast for all Californians,” he said in a statement.
Copyright 2011, Metropolitan News Company