Central City Business Group Elects President

James R. Hunter, former coordinator for development of the California Mart, this week was elected president and chief executive officer of the Central City Assn. of Los Angeles--an organization of business leaders who promote downtown development.

A graduate of Yale University, Hunter taught urban planning for eight years and was vice president of the New York State Development Corp. before coming to California in 1982. He served as a development consultant here before joining the apparel industry’s California Mart three years ago.

Hunter urged the association to work with government agencies to create a “24-hour downtown,” and persuade employees and residents to use mass transit systems in an effort to reduce congestion and air pollution.