Harbor Commissioner Resigns; Bradley Appoints Replacement

Joseph J. Zaninovich, a retired Star-Kist Tuna executive and an active member of the Yugoslav-American community in San Pedro, has resigned from the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, Mayor Tom Bradley’s office announced last week.

Bradley named Ira T. Distenfield, an investment executive, to complete Zaninovich’s term, which expires in June. Distenfield, who lives in Brentwood, was vice chairman of Bradley’s unsuccessful 1986 gubernatorial campaign.

Zaninovich, 73, who was appointed to the board in 1981, said that his departure is voluntary and that he decided “quite some time ago” to leave. He submitted his resignation about two weeks ago, he said, at the same time Bradley asked him to serve on a recently formed commission set up to organize the city’s celebration of the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Zaninovich said he accepted the appointment.

“I thought it was about time for somebody else to serve,” Zaninovich said.