Port Official Resigns Amid Criticism

SAN DIEGO — A member of the San Diego Port Commission resigned Friday after he was criticized for working as a consultant to an energy company while serving on a board that oversees the firm’s contract to manage a power plant.

David Malcolm said in his resignation letter that he could no longer serve effectively given what he called the “unfair and untrue” accusations of a conflict of interest.

The Port Commission manages San Diego Harbor, San Diego International Airport and the surrounding land. Its seven members represent five cities.

Duke Energy has a contract with the commission to operate the South Bay Power Plant on port-controlled property.

Malcolm, who was appointed in 1995 by the Chula Vista City Council, received $20,000 a month in consulting fees from Duke between May 2000 and April 2001.

He abstained from voting on any issues related to Duke or the power plant, but critics of the company’s contract called on Malcolm to resign.

In his letter, Malcolm insisted that he did not break any laws. Port attorney David Chapman previously concluded that Malcolm’s actions were not illegal, because he abstained from votes and discussions regarding Duke after becoming a consultant.

Chula Vista Councilman Stephen Padilla said Malcolm had lost the trust of those he represented.

“This was an exercise in poor judgment,” Padilla said. “This thing was going to become a political issue that did not serve the city well.”