By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Primary elections are coming next June and two Jewish Democrats are already campaigning hard. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs this week announced her candidacy for reelection in a recently reapportioned district that includes a large part of her old district. Former San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry meanwhile has garnered the endorsement of the San Diego County Democratic Party in her bid to become the county’s next Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk.
In announcing her bid for a second term, Jacobs noted that following the decennial redrawing of district lines following the U.S. census, the 53rd Congressional District in which she lives will be renumbered as the 51st Congressional District. That new district includes the San Diego neighborhoods of Normal Heights, Kensington, Talmadge, College Area, Rolando, Linda Vista, Serra Mesa, Allied Gardens, San Carlos, Grantville, Del Cerro, University City, Clairemont, Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Scripps Ranch – as well as Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Spring Valley, La Presa, and the Cities of Lemon Grove, La Mesa, and El Cajon.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of California’s 53rd Congressional District, and with these new maps, I am excited to continue to serve so many of my current constituents and a number of new communities that mean so much to San Diego in the 51st District,” Jacobs stated. This first year in Congress has been historic on many fronts, and through it all, we’ve shown that you don’t have to settle for the way things have always been done. From historic investments in infrastructure, to expanding the Child Tax Credit and benefits for military families, we’ve succeeded in so much during this Congress, and there’s still more to do. I’m eager to continue working to build a future that works for all Americans.”
She commented that in her first year in Congress, she “helped pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which has already delivered millions of dollars in infrastructure funding to San Diego; fought for 129,000 children in 83,000 households in her district to receive $192 million through the expanded Child Tax Credit; and secured the creation of the Basic Needs Allowance for low-income military families as part of the National Defense Authorization Act to help the most vulnerable military families make ends meet.”
The announcement of Bry’s endorsement for the combined office of County Assessor/ Recorder/ County Clerk was made by Will Rodriguez Kennedy, chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party. He said, “The Democratic Party is proud to endorse Barbara Bry because she’s an effective leader and a proven reformer who always fights for the values of our party. Barbara is a lifelong Democrat, and her experiences in both business and local government make her uniquely qualified to modernize the office of Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. We trust Barbara to increase transparency and govern with integrity, and we look forward to playing an active role in her historic campaign for countywide office.”
Rodriguez-Kennedy also noted that “If elected, Bry would be the first Democrat and the first woman to ever serve as San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 14% margin in the county. ”
The current occupant of the office is Republican Ernest Dronenburg, who is termed out. A member of his staff, Jordan Marks, a Jewish community member who is listed as a taxpayer advocate, has been raising money at private gatherings. As of last August, he had $313,912.71 on hand, much of it raised from Republicans, including County Supervisor Joel Anderson and former Assessor-Recorder-Clerk Greg Smith, as well as from members of the Jewish community, including Bob Shillman and family members of Chabad Rabbis Yonah Fradkin and Yeruchem Eilfort. His media presence, thus far, has been low key.
Bry had served as the 1st District City Councilwoman and ran for mayor in 2020, losing in the runoff election to the current mayor, Todd Gloria, whom the San Diego Democratic Party had endorsed. Rodriguez-Kennedy said the endorsement of Bry healed an “old conflict.”
In a campaign news release, Bry was credited for being “the first elected official to demand an independent investigation into the botched 101 Ash Street purchase, which the City bought prior to her election. She also called for an independent audit of the Public Utilities Department when hundreds of customers received higher than normal water bills. This audit led to significant changes and customer refunds. Bry was the first Councilmember and the first elected official to stand up in support of the SDSU West ballot measure, because she realized that it could transform Mission Valley and our region.”
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com