May 21st Meeting

We have been waiting to announce our May speaker, San Diego Democratic Party Chair Francine Busby, so we could also share the name and address of our new meeting place.  We hope that you can join us at our new venue, MJ’s Restaurant, 576 North Second Street, on our regular third Thursday meeting night, May 21, 2015, at 7 p.m. (If you come at 6 p.m., you can join us in dining and socializing, as usual.)

Co-president Diana Picone found this new venue, tried the cuisine, and discovered that the spacious quarters will suit us to a T!!! (The menu features American, Mexican, and Greek food!)  Party Chair Busby willingly rescheduled her appearance from the fourth Thursday, so we could use this new place ASAP!!  Thanks to both Diana and Chair Busby!

Some of you may know that Chair Busby has been active in politics for long time; however, others may not.   So, here’s some information about her that you may wish to share with others:  (Credits for some of this information go to Wikipedia.org)

Busby was born in Los Angeles, California, to an Italian American family, and grew up in nearby Arcadia. She graduated with a BA in Humanities from UC Irvine. From 1974–1981 Busby was a travel manager and marketer for the Walt Disney Travel Company. She married her husband David Busby in 1978. They had two children, Maria and Michael, and Busby quit her job to raise them. In 1988 the family moved to Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California.

Busby is fluent in Italian, and has written a book on Bosconero, the town of her ancestors on her mother’s side.

She ran two successful school bond campaigns in 1998 and 2000, became president of the Cardiff Education Foundation in 2000, was appointed to fill a vacancy to the Cardiff School Board, and, in 2002, was elected for a full school board term. In January 2013 she was chosen as chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party.^[2] She was also the executive director of Run Women Run, an organization that trains, mentors, and supports pro-choice women candidates for elective office.^[2]

Prior to becoming party chair, Busby ran for congress against high odds in a red district.  She ran and lost  one time against Randy “Duke” Cunningham, now a convicted felon. and three times to Brian Bilbray, now former congressman and current lobbyist.

If anyone knows politics, it is Party Chair Busby!   Come to hear her and bring friends who are dispirited about the political process. Chair Busby will rejuvenate their spirits and renew their willingness to participate in our democracy!!

We hope to see you on May 21, 2015, at our new venue!!

Democratically yours,

Bonnie Price and Diana Picone
Co-presidents, ECDC
P.O. Box 972
El Cajon, CA 92022-0972