NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Gov. David Paterson has picked a former city environmental commissioner and ports executive to become the next director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The governor's office said Friday that he has recommended Christopher Ward to succeed Anthony Shorris as the Port Authority's executive director.
Ward is currently the managing director of the General Contractors Association of New York, a group that represents builders. He was previously an executive at American Stevedoring, the company that operates the Port Authority's Red Hook Container Terminal in Brooklyn.
The appointment would mark a return to public service for Ward. He was Commissioner of New York City's Department of Environmental Protection from 2002 to 2005 and worked for the Port Authority as chief of planning and director of port development from 1997 to 2002.
His earlier career included work for the city's economic development corporation, its department of telecommunications and energy and its department of consumer affairs.
The appointment still needs to be confirmed by the Port Authority's board.
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