Entrepreneur and political activist Barbara Bry announced Monday that she'll run for the seat of San Diego City Council President Sherri Lightner, who is being termed out.
Bry is the chief operating officer of Blackbird Ventures, a firm that invests in fledgling technology companies, and was one of the founders of ProFlowers.com. She also founded Athena San Diego, an organization that supports the advancement of women in the technology and life sciences sectors, and Run Women Run, a nonpartisan organization that encourages and backs female political candidates.
"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," Bry said. "The City Council needs someone who knows what it takes to create successful businesses and to grow our local economy."
She plans to run in District 1, which includes La Jolla, University City and Carmel Valley. The area is the heart of the region's high-tech and biotech industries.
Bry announced endorsements from Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and his wife Joan, and former University of California President Richard Atkinson, among others.
The seat is one of three that will be open in the 2016 election cycle as Councilman Todd Gloria, who represents downtown, Hillcrest and North Park, is also being termed out, and Councilwoman Marti Emerald, who represents a swath of the city running from San Diego State University to Southcrest, has chosen not to run again.
