The drama around appointing commissioners to the Port of Oakland continues.

The nomination of progressive-leader Jakada Imani to the commission was dealt a serious set back after the Oakland City Council voted 5-3 to delay his appointment as a way to pressure Mayor Jean Quan to reconsider nominating current Commissioner Margaret Gordon.

City Council members said last week that although they strongly admired Imani, the executive director of the Ella Baker Center, they would not confirm his nomination by Quan in large part because they support current commissioner Gordon.

A celebrated leader of West Oakland, at Tuesday's meeting, speaker after speaker testified to Gordon's importance to the community and the city as a whole.

"She represents in West Oakland the voice of environmental justice," said Ray Kidd, co-chair of West Oakland Neighbors. "(She is) the voice of health in this heavily polluted community, the voice of local hire in this high unemployment community. Nobody else brings that voice to the Port Commission; and if we no longer have that voice on the commission, then it will represent another broken promise to West Oakland in a decades long string of broken promises."

Gordon is a nationally-recognized champion of environmental justice. She received a $100,000 Civic Ventures’ Purpose Prize in 2010 for making "an extraodinary impact on society’s biggest challenges." Gordon's work was also highlighted this year in O Magazine.

At the Council meeting, Imani called the occasion, "a most awkward moment for me."

"Margaret Gordon is a giant, there's no denying it," he said. "What makes still me willing to do this, be in this uncomfortable moment, is because I came from fighting ... Now we have a moment to come together ... And we have to come together, but it must be based on principles, principles where everyone can win." [sic]

Another major reason cited for the Council's action is their frustration over how Quan carried out the process, including how she treated Gordon.

"I'm very disappointed that the mayor has pretty much set progressive constituents against each other on this issue and we don't need that type of conflict, we have enough conflict already," Councilwoman Nancy Nadel said.

Quan, however, refuted the allegation.

"(The nomination of Imani) was not meant to be disrespectful of Margaret," Quan said at the meeting. "It was not meant to be disrespectful of West Oakland."

Council President Larry Reid said he was told by the mayor when she was elected that she would "most likely" re-appoint Gordon.

"I'm hoping the mayor will extend an opportunity to Commissioner Gordon, that she has not extended so far, and that is to talk to her, or at least return her phone calls," Reid said.

As things now stand, Gordon will stay in role as a commissioner until Quan sends the City  Council another nominee.

Snagged in this whole issue is the renomination of Victor Uno, whose re-appointment was connected to the motion to nominate Imani. Uno also will continue as commissioner until his renomination is approved. It's unclear if the mayor will heed the Council's request or stick with Imani.

A call and email to the mayor's office for a response was not returned.

Council is expected to take up the port appointments again - for the third time - on Oct. 18.