By Erika Couric / Reposted from the OB Rag

Former federal prosecutor Sarah Boot is Run Women Run’s endorsed candidate for San Diego City Council District 2.

Boot left the U.S. Attorney’s Office to run for this seat and explains her motivation as follows: “I’m running for office because I’m passionate about public service and I’m committed to making my community a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Boot has extensive experience in law enforcement prosecuting bank robbers, drug dealers and child sex traffickers. She also has private law practice experience representing local technology businesses, internet companies and non-profits. She has been a community leader for many years with much of her work dedicated to advancing the status of women.

As the President of Lawyers Club of San Diego, the women’s bar association, she spearheaded numerous initiatives to advance women in the workplace and under her leadership this past year, the membership has grown by 30% to an all-time high of 1,200 members.

Prior to running for office, Boot immersed herself in the communities of District 2, enjoying their unique culture and focusing on the issues most important to residents. Currently, she attends town council and planning board meetings, patronizes area businesses and has her rescue dogs on a local dog park rotation.

Her mission is clear: ensure District 2 gets its fair share of resources by refusing to allow investments to focus solely on downtown. She embraces and supports “OBecians” concern for the preservation of neighborhood character and admires its strong sense of community.

With the potential to significantly impact local businesses and tourism economy, she recognizes crime, an increasing homeless population, a crumbling infrastructure, and beach preservation as major issues in District 2. She plans to use her community advocacy experience to tackle them.

Jamie Quient, co-chair of Run Women Run’s Political Action Committee, stated:

“We are grateful and excited that Sarah has stepped up to run in a district that is ready for her type of bold, inclusive leadership. The City Council needs Sarah, and Run Women Run will be doing everything we can to ensure she is successful.”

Run Women Run was founded in 2008 with the mission to inspire, recruit, train, mentor and support pro-choice women for elected office in San Diego County. The non-partisan, membership association believes a critical mass of women’s voices is needed in order to bring balance, rationality and accountability back to the government.

The group’s other endorsed candidates are San Diego City Council candidates Carol Kim in District 6, incumbent Councilwoman Myrtle Cole in District 4, Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz for mayor in Escondido, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis for re-election, Councilwoman Mary Salas for mayor in Chula Vista and Nora Vargas for Southwest Community College Board of Trustees.

Run Women Run’s next endorsement meeting on March 1, 2014 will focus on State Assembly and local races.