Mr. Braude, an attorney and over-twenty-year 1st dist. resident, finished second to Robert Garcia in an April 2009 winner-take-all special election to fill the Council vacancy created when Bonnie Lowenthal was elected to the state Assembly. Mr. Braude is Ms. Lowenthal's long-time significant-other.

The Commission vacancy is created by the retirement of immediate-past Harbor Commission President Jim Hankla...who was City Manager for much of the period when Braude was LB's 1st dist. Councilman.

Asked why he's seeking the LB Harbor Commission position, Mr. Braude told LBReport.com that to the best of his knowledge, no resident of LB's Port-impacted downtown areas has ever served on LB's Harbor Commission.

"I've urged previous Mayors to appoint someone who lives in the downtown area, and that didn't happen. I am a long-time resident of the downtown area, I understand the Port's impacts as well as its operations. While working for the L.A. City Attorney's office [under then-L.A. City Attorney, later L.A. Mayor, now Superior Court Judge Jim Hahn], I dealt with issues related to L.A.'s Port (and Airport)."

Mr. Braude added that he's worked with both labor and business constituencies and has good contacts and relationships in both areas.

Mr. Braude's mother, Lee Anderson, previously served as a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner.

As LBReport.com was first to report on June 25 [via our "Deep Throat"...actually comprised of multiple sources], former LB-area state Senator/Assemblymember Betty Karnette (a Wrigley area resident) has also submitted an application for the LB Harbor Commission position.

LBReport.com also reported [via "Deep Throat" and now also confirmed] that former LB Fire Chief (and 5th dist. resident) Harold Omel has applied for the position, now confirmed in a dispatch on 5th dist. Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's non-taxpayer-paid blog. "Because of Harold's long-time experience in public safety I thought that would be a great addition to the current Board. Also it would be great to get another 5th District resident on the Board," Councilwoman Schipske wrote.

LBReport.com's "Deep Throat" also indicated that Leo VanderLans, a third district resident, is reportedly also in the running. He's a lawyer/mediator, former Water Replenishment District Director and former LB Water Commissioner who is website-listed as vice-chair of the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation.

[PressTelegram.com reporter Kris Hanson speculates in his "On the Waterfront" column that ILWU Local 13 leader Mike Mitre has also applied.]

Under LB's City Charter, Mayor Foster "appoints" (actually nominates) Harbor Commissioners...and the City Council votes to approve (or not approve) the Mayor's choice.

Mayor Foster's most recent Harbor Commission choice was LB attorney Susan Wise (a third district resident)...whose spouse (also a LB attorney but for a different lawfirm) represented shipping interests in litigation that overturned clean-air rules by the CA Air Resources Board that required ships to use clean fuels within a certain distance from LB. (The City of LB had sided with the CA Air Resources Board in urging the Court to uphold those rules.)