California Code, Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6240.5

The Santa Cruz Port District shall be governed by a board of port commissioners consisting of five members, elected by the district at large, each of whom shall be an elector of the district at the time of his or her nomination or appointment and during his or her entire term. The Uniform District Election Law (Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code) shall govern all district elections for port commissioners.

All members of the board of port commissioners of the district shall be elected at the general district election to be held in 1979 and shall take office as provided in the Uniform District Election Law. The district shall continue to be governed by a board of port commissioners appointed in accordance with this chapter until succeeded by the board of port commissioners elected at such general district election at noon on the last Friday in November next following the election. The term of office of each commissioner is four years, and as provided in the Uniform District Election Law, except that the commissioners elected at the first general district election shall classify themselves by lot so that the initial term of office of two commissioners shall be two years and the initial term of office of three commissioners shall be four years.

All vacancies occurring in the office of commissioner shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the remaining commissioners and as provided in Section 1780 of the Government Code.

At the first meeting of the board of port commissioners following the general district election, the board shall organize by electing one of its members chairperson. The members of the board of port commissioners shall annually elect a chairperson. A chairperson shall not succeed himself or herself in office.