Riverside County Planning Commissioner Jim Porras died early on Friday Aug. 3 after waking up and complaining of chest pains, according to County Supervisor John Benoit’s office.
(Riverside County Planning Department)
The 59-year-old Porras — a teacher at Coachella Valley High School – died about 5 a.m. at a local hospital, after his wife Linda rushed him to the emergency room.
Porras graduated from Coachella Valley High School and Pomona College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations.
He was serving his third term on the planning commission, representing Benoit’s Fourth District.
Porras previously served three years on the now-defunct East Area Planning Council, according to the county planning department.
He had worked as a high school teacher in the Coachella Valley for nine years and served as the head swim coach for Coachella Valley High School, according to the planning department.
Porras is survived by his wife, Linda, their son and three stepchildren.
Plans for services had not yet been announced.
“Jim spent 17 years as an exceptionally dedicated and effective planning commissioner,” Benoit said in a statement. “He worked many evenings, and frequently many long full days, representing his neighbors. He did all this with very little recognition or compensation. He was just a wonderful, caring citizen of the Coachella Valley. We will miss him immensely.”
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