SAN DIEGO, Jan. 19, 2011 – Jessie J. Knight, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer for San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), has been named co-chair of the Southern California Leadership Council (SCLC).  The SCLC serves as a platform for business and community leaders to speak as one voice as they solve critical public policy issues confronting Southern California.  Knight will begin his new role along side former Gov. of California Gray Davis on Jan. 19.
  
“It is an honor to assume this role as California faces unprecedented economic challenges,” said Knight.  “This is a very trying time for the state.  There is a lot of work to do, but I am confident we will continue to identify opportunities and tangible solutions for increasing our state’s economic competitiveness and create conditions for permanent and productive job creation and retention.”

Knight was one of the founding charter members when SCLC was formed in 2005.  During his tenure with SCLC, Knight has worked along side business leaders and all past living California governors to tackle such issues as California’s economic recovery, goods movements solutions, sustainable climate change strategies, and reliable water supply for the state. 

“It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of Jessie J. Knight, Jr. as the co-chair of the Southern California Leadership Council for 2011,” said Lee Harrington, executive director of SCLC.  “Jessie has demonstrated his steadfast commitment to working with leaders across the region to help identify solutions and make recommendations on how we can restore jobs in California and return this state to the economic powerhouse it once was, and it can be.”
  
Knight is in good company.  Former Gov. Pete Wilson led the formation of the council with help and support from then, former Governors Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian and Gray Davis and a select group of business and community leaders from all seven counties in Southern California as charter members of the council.
 
The SCLC is a business-led-and-sponsored public policy partnership for the Southern California region.  Founded in 2005, the council serves as a voice for the region’s business community and like-minded individuals to focus and combine their efforts to help enable public sector officials, policy makers and other civic leaders to address and solve public policy issues critical to the region’s economic vitality and quality of life.
 
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 845,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.  The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles.  SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help our customers save energy and money every day.  SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.

###