BARBARA BRY SEEKS TO MODERNIZE COUNTY RECORDER, ASSESSOR, AND CLERK’S OFFICE TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR PUBLIC

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By Miriam Raftery

September 28, 2022 (Alpine) – Barbara Bry has a long history of empowering women to break glass ceilings. Now she’s set her sights on becoming San Diego County’s first woman to serve as the County Recorder, Assessor and County Clerk.

Speaking at the Candidates to Constituents Townhall on Sept. 18 in Alpine, Bry pledged her priority will be “excellent service” to the public as well applying her skills in business, high tech, journalism and local government to “bring new technology and innovation” to the office.

She’s running against the Chief Deputy Assessor for the seat being vacated due to the retirement of Ernie Dronenberg.

The tax assessor’s office is important to all County residents, she notes, since taxes fund schools, fire protection, Sheriff’s services, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure, and more.

“The assessor is slow to get new construction onto the tax rolls fast enough,” she says. Bry wants to assure that all properties are appraised at fair value on a timely basis and that corporate owners are paying a fair share. She says the current assessor is leaving tax dollars on the table, and notes that he is supported by “major property owners.”

She also wants to modernize the website to make it easier to use, increase transparency, and use new technology to better track and produce public records, as well as improving customer service in person, on the phone and online, according to her website.

Bry grew up in Philadelphia, where she recalls her mother working in a job where she was paid less than a man. She earned a masters in business administration (MBA) degree from Harvard Business School at a time when few women had such opportunities. 

She became a journalist, working as a business reporter for the Sacramento Bee and Los Angeles Times newspapers, later serving as founding editor and CEO at Voice of Sdan Diego. As a journalist, she says she learned to be “relentless in getting my story,” asking probing questions. That skill in tenacity has served her well in other positions, notably in her tenure on the San Diego City Council. She was the first elected official to call for an independent investigation of the 101 Ash Street project approved before she came on the Council.  She calls her opposition to the Soccer City ballot measure “a terrible deal for all of us” and considers its defeat her legacy. Later, the SDSU West ballot measure passed, providing investments in the San Diego Riverpark and education as well as soccer.

Bry also started  a successful e-commerce company that went public and sold.  In addition, she was president of a Planned Parenthood chapter and the Children’s Museum, also serving on other nonprofit boards. 

In addition, she started three organizations to empower women: Athena, Run Women Run, Workplace Equity and Civility Institute. President Barack Obama appointed her to also serve on the National Commission on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

She says she was recruited to run because of her business and tech background as well as her City Council governing experience. She is supported by the San Diego County Democratic Party, labor groups, and Planned Parenthood.

“My diversity of life experiences prepared me to handle a $78 million budget,” she said , adding that she believes she is the most qualified candidate to lead the Record/Assessor/Clerk office.

“I want to give back to the community that has done so much for me,” she concludes.

 


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