LONG BEACH : Businessman Named to Harbor Commission

George Murchison, a local businessman and longtime community leader, was appointed this week to a seat on the city’s Board of Harbor Commissioners.

Mayor Beverly O’Neill nominated Murchison for the position, which has been vacant since former commissioner Joel Friedland resigned in December. The City Council confirmed the nomination Tuesday.

O’Neill said she chose Murchison primarily because of his extensive business experience and nearly 35 years of community involvement.

Murchison, 58, is president of Murchison & Marek, a Long Beach-based public accounting firm that he established in 1973. He was recently elected chairman of Queen City Bank and serves as a director of the Long Beach Transportation Co.

Until recently Murchison had been president of Long Beach Community Partnership, a nonprofit advisory group that explores ways to improve the city’s business climate.

Murchison said he sees the port, which generated $134.6 million in revenues last year, as a vehicle to create jobs. He will serve the remainder of Friedland’s term, which expires in June, 1999.

Friedland gave up his seat after feuding with the city’s Redevelopment Agency over a property deal. He has filed a claim against the city asking to be reinstated and is seeking monetary compensation for damages.

Friedland claims that several agency board members and other city officials demanded his resignation before the agency would purchase property he owned. Board members denied any wrongdoing.