DEL MAR — The Governor’s Office has appointed two new members to serve on the board of directors for the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which oversees the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the annual San Diego County Fair.
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Ted Miyahara and Elsa Morales-Roth on March 20, and they will formally take their seats on the board at the April 14 meeting. They are replacing board members Joyce Rowland and Michael Gelfand, who were both appointed to the board in 2020.
Morales-Roth is the executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation, which provides support to children battling cancer and other illnesses, and Miyahara is the president and CEO of the San Diego Community Housing Corporation and a San Diego Planning Commissioner.
22nd DAA CEO Carlene Moore said the new board members’ backgrounds with various community organizations will benefit the Fairgrounds.
“As a community-focused institution, we are always seeking fresh ideas and diverse perspectives. Elsa Morales-Roth and Ted Miyahara have led vital organizations in our community, and the 22nd DAA and our Board will benefit from their insights,” Moore said.
Along with her work at the Emilio Nares Foundation, Morales-Roth is involved in several other philanthropic and advocacy organizations. She is the chair of the International Community Foundation, co-chair of the Cancer Committee of the Health Consortium of the Californias, and a LEAD San Diego board member.
She has also led local educational and leadership development initiatives, including co-designing a scholarship in partnership with the Mexican Consulate in San Diego for first-generation Latino college students and mentoring emerging leaders at local institutions.
Morales-Roth holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California and a master’s in nonprofit management and leadership from the University of San Diego.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed by Governor Newsom to the 22nd District Agricultural Association,” Morales-Roth said. “I look forward to serving and helping steward a space that brings people together, honors our agricultural heritage, and reflects the richness and diversity of our region through meaningful experiences for all.”
Miyahara has a background in affordable housing development via his leadership of the San Diego Community Housing Corporation since 2018, overseeing housing production and initiatives. He also previously served as vice president of multifamily housing at the San Diego Housing Commission.
Miyahara has served on the San Diego Planning Commission since 2022, reviewing proposed developments and land use matters before the city. He also has been a board member for the Asian Business Association of San Diego and the San Diego Housing Federation.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Jose State University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Redlands.
“I want to thank Governor Newsom for the opportunity to serve on the 22nd DAA Board,” said Miyahara. “The Fairgrounds and the Fair are cornerstones and reflections of our San Diego County community, and I am excited to contribute to their success and to help shape their future.”
All members of the nine-person board are appointed by the Governor’s Office.
