San Diego entrepreneur and community leader Barbara Bry on Monday announced her candidacy for District 1 on the San Diego City Council.
“As an entrepreneur, I know we can only sustain and enhance the things we love about San Diego with a healthy economy, a strong tax base and good-paying jobs,” said Bry. “The city council needs someone who knows what it takes to create successful businesses and to grow our local economy. That’s why I decided to run to represent District 1.”
The district includes La Jolla, University City and Carmel Valley, which Bry pointed out is home to many high-tech companies. The district is currently represented by Sheri Lightner, who is finishing her second term and cannot run again.
“Throughout my life, I have demonstrated the ability to find solutions, to collaborate, and to improve my community,” said Bry. “That’s what I will do at City Hall on behalf of District 1 — to ensure that we are safe, our beaches are clean, our businesses thrive, our communities are well planned, and public services and infrastructure receive the necessary support.”
Bry said her supporters include Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs, former UCSD Chancellor Richard C. Atkinson and former county Supervisor Pam Slater Price.
A resident of San Diego for more than 30 years, Barbara Bry is an entrepreneur in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She was on the founding team of ProFlowers.com and is currently chief operating officer of Blackbird Ventures, a firm that invests in early stage technology companies. Bry founded Athena San Diego, an organization that supports the advancement of women in the technology and life sciences sectors, and Run Women Run, a non-partisan organization that advocates for encouraging and supporting qualified women to run for public office.
Bry has a BA in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in business administration degree from Harvard University. She is married to entrepreneur Neil Senturia, and their blended family includes four children between the ages of 29 and 33 and a 6-month-old grandson.
