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]
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)
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]
