State Trade Agency Chief Resigns

Julie Meier Wright resigned effective Aug. 1 as secretary of the California Trade and Commerce Agency to become president of the San Diego Economic Development Corp., a quasi-government agency charged with attracting jobs to the San Diego area. To replace her in his Cabinet, Gov. Pete Wilson named Lee A. Grissom, 54, his senior economic advisor and former head of the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Wright, 52, the only secretary the agency has had since it became a Cabinet-level department in 1992, has worked to strengthen the state’s trade ties to Mexico and the Far East. San Diego’s cross-border trade involvement with Mexico made the new job especially appealing, she said. Wright’s office said she is making the switch to take advantage of a career opportunity. Her new base salary is $200,000, nearly double the $104,000 she was paid by the state.