Port of Oakland commissioners have hired former Oakland City Councilman Danny Wan to be the port's new attorney.

Commissioners appointed Wan at their meeting on Nov. 15 and he will begin work on Dec. 17.

As the port's attorney, Wan will be responsible for advising the port on a broad range of legal affairs involved in the conduct of the port's maritime, aviation, and commercial real estate businesses. 

Port Commission President Gilda Gonzales said in a statement, "Mr.

Wan brings to this position the ideal background -- as a public agency legal counsel and executive manager, as a public servant, and as a former deputy port attorney.  He will help us fulfill our legal duties and responsibilities as a state tidelands trustee in the highly regulated and competitive environment that we face."

Port Executive Director Deborah Ale Flint added, "Mr. Wan is an excellent addition to the port, and I look forward to working with him as part of our new leadership team as we make progress on our path to sustainability, restoring public trust, and continuing to serve our customers and community."

Wan currently is the City Attorney and Risk Manager for the City of Morgan Hill, where he also serves as part of the city's executive management team.

Wan served as a deputy attorney with the Port of Oakland from 2004 to 2008, being primarily responsible for land use, environmental regulatory compliance, city charter compliance and inter-agency agreements.

Wan entered public life in 1996 when he was elected to the East Bay Municipal Utility District's Board of Directors.

He was appointed to the Oakland City Council in 2000 when John Russo resigned after being elected city attorney.

Wan was elected to a four-year term in 2002, but on Jan. 6, 2005, only halfway through his term, he suddenly announced his resignation, saying he wanted to take care of his aging parents and return to practicing law.

His resignation left his District 2 constituents without representation for four months until a special election was held in May 2005 to choose his replacement.

In announcing his resignation, Wan said, "I find it more and more difficult to meet my obligations at City Hall while tending to my financial and family obligations."

Port of Oakland officials said Wan was selected after a six-month competitive recruitment process conducted by a global executive search firm that led to a diverse pool of nearly fifty applicants.