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Barbara Bry[a] (born April 9, 1949) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as a member of the San Diego City Council representing District 1 from 2016 to 2020. A member of the Democratic Party,[1] she previously served as President Pro Tem of the San Diego City Council from 2017 to 2020 and was a candidate for mayor of San Diego in the 2020 election.[2][3]

Early life and education

Bry was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor's and master's degree. She later attended Harvard Business School, where received a Master of Business Administration degree.[4]

Career

Prior to running for elected office, Bry worked at Connect, a venture capital group.[5] She later became an entrepreneur and served on the initial management team of ProFlowers.[6]

In 1998, Bry founded Athena San Diego, an organization for women in the tech and life sciences community. In 2008, Bry founded Run Women Run, an organization that recruits and trains pro-choice women seeking elected and appointed office.[7]

San Diego City Council

Bry was a candidate for the city council's first district in the 2016 San Diego City Council election, as incumbent Sherri Lightner was ineligible to run due to term limits. Bry, a Democrat, was expected to run against Republican Ray Ellis and Democrat Joe LaCava to replace Lightner. [8]

Since no candidate received a majority of the votes in the June primary, Bry and Ellis were slated to advance to the November runoff election.[9] However, on August 12, 2016, Ellis announced that he would be withdrawing from the election.[10] Despite effectively conceding the race, Ellis's name still appeared on November ballot.[11] Bry was then elected to the City Council in November.

Bry served as Council President Pro Tem beginning in December 2017.[12] She has taken action on several issues including short term vacation rentals,[13] dockless vehicles,[14] community choice energy,[15] and establishing the Workplace Equity Initiative.[16]

In 2020, as part of her campaign for Mayor of San Diego, Bry sent a mass email to donors with the inflammatory subject line, "They're coming for our homes!" This message, intended to criticize the YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) movement as a threat to the rights of homeowners, and the city's neighborhood character. This triggered immediate criticism from the local Democratic Party organizations. In addition, the chair of the San Diego Climate Action Campaign responded that "Housing policy is climate policy. You cannot be a NIMBY and be a climate champion or comply with our Climate Action Plan.”[17]

Committee assignments

  • Budget and Government Efficiency Committee (chair)
    • Budget Review Committee (chair)
  • Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
  • Environment Committee
  • Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee (Vice Chair)
  • Rules Committee (Vice Chair)[18]

Personal life

Bry has lived in San Diego for 40 years and is married to entrepreneur Neil Senturia. They have raised two daughters and are now grandparents. They are of Jewish faith. [19]

Electoral history

2016 San Diego City Council

2016 San Diego City Council, District 1 [9]
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Barbara Bry 18,559 48%
Ray Ellis 12,982 34%
Bruce D. Lightner 3,711 10%
Kyle Heiskala 2,344 6%
Louis A. Rodolico 707 2%
Total votes 38,303 100%
General election
Barbara Bry 38,470 65%
Ray Ellis 20,305 35%
Total votes 58,775 100%

2020 Mayor of San Diego

2020 San Diego mayoral election[20]
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Todd Gloria 147,654 41.5%
Barbara Bry 81,541 22.9%
Scott Sherman 80,352 22.6%
Tasha Williamson 25,629 7.2%
Gita Applebaum Singh 12,716 3.6%
Rich Riel 8,067 2.3%
Jarvis Gandy (Write-in candidate) 3 0.0%
Total votes 355,994 100%
General election
Todd Gloria 346,662 55.95%
Barbara Bry 272,887 44.05%
Total votes 619,549 100%

Notes

  1. ^ Pronounced /bri/, like brie.

References

  1. ^ Levitan, Corey (February 20, 2020). "Mayoral candidate Barbara Bry sits down with La Jolla Light; explains why she wants to lead San Diego". La Jolla Light. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. ^ City News Service (January 2, 2019). "Councilwoman Barbara Bry announces 2020 bid for San Diego mayor". fox5sandiego.com. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  3. ^ Jennewein, Chris (January 3, 2019). "Barbara Bry Promises to Bring High Tech Experience to Mayor's Job". Times of San Diego. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  4. ^ "Barbara Bry". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "Xconomy: Connect, San Diego Venture Group Announce Plan to Merge Operations". Xconomy. April 26, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Barbara Bry for City Council 2016". Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  7. ^ "Run Women Run". Run Women Run. Run Women Run. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Bowen, Andrew. "Lightner Staffer Moves To Enter District 1 City Council Race". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Election History – Council District 1" (PDF). City of San Diego. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  10. ^ Jenkins, Logan (August 12, 2016). "Ellis concedes council race to Bry". The San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  11. ^ Bowen, Andrew; Ruth, Brooke (August 12, 2016). "Ray Ellis Drops Out Of District 1 San Diego City Council Race". KPBS. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Nguyen, Alexander (December 17, 2018). "City Council Re-Appoints Bry as Pro Tem, Approves Committee Rosters". Times of San Diego. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  13. ^ BRY, BARBARA. "Why San Diego needs limits on vacation rentals". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  14. ^ Garrick, David. "San Diego considering crackdown on dockless bikes, including fees, new rules". sandiegouniontribune.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  15. ^ "You searched for "rayman khan" – Voice of San Diego". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  16. ^ "How I'm Empowering Women in the Workplace". Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  17. ^ Lewis, Scott (June 26, 2019). "'They're Coming for Our Homes': Bry Blasts YIMBY Movement". Voice of San Diego. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "City Council Committees | City Council Committees | City of San Diego Official Website". www.sandiego.gov. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Smith, Erin Chambers. "Plus One: Neil Senturia & Barbara Bry". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "Election Night Results". March 2, 2020 Presidential Primary. San Diego County Registrar of Voters. Retrieved March 6, 2020.

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