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The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce extended the contract of President and CEO Ruben Barrales for three more years last month.
The 47-year-old said he wants to continue leading the area's primary business organization, made up of mainly small-business owners.
"The No. 1 issue is how we can more effectively help small businesses in San Diego through this tough economy," Barrales said.
Hired in December 2006, Barrales came to San Diego after working for five years at the White House as a deputy assistant to then-President George W. Bush.Barrales said he's proud about several achievements by the chamber since he took the job, including helping support the passage of water legislation in Sacramento and getting a bond issue on the ballot this year; working with San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and the City Council on addressing budget reductions; advocating for the passage of the Sunrise Powerlink energy project and the Carlsbad water desalinization project; and helping to secure...