Run Women Run started out making a significant impact on San Diego's political scene and the impact lasted throughout 2009, which was our first year:

• A Candidates' Forum in October 2008, moderated by Congresswoman Susan Davis, featured seven women in hotly contested local races. Each described her position on the issues important in her race, and answered questions. A few weeks later, each participant won her race. Congratulations to:
  
  • Pamela Bensoussan, Chula Vista City Council
  • Olga Diaz, Escondido City Council
  • Marti Emerald, San Diego City Council
  • Sherri Lightner, San Diego City Council
  • Esther Sanchez, Oceanside City Council
  • Carol Skiljan, Encinitas Union School Board
  • Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, National City City Council
• The March program, The Landscape: California Women in Public Office, featured former State Senator Dede Alpert, long-time political leader Midge Costanza, Del Mar Mayor Crystal Crawford, Assembly Member Mary Salas, and former Congresswoman Lynn Schenk. They spoke about the history of women in government, the practicalities, the successes and "the dirt." The program was significant enough to be taped for UCSD-TV and aired several times.
• In June, Laura Liswood, co-founder of the Council on Women World Leaders, talked about closing the gender gap in business and politics. Liswood spoke candidly about the challenges women world leaders face and their assent to power.
• In July, California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass participated in an informal, intimate Q&A with RWR in which our members were provided the opportunity to ask direct questions to Madame Speaker about the state's challenges.
• In August, Run Women Run held a political happy hour for women under 40 at Confidential. The goal was to actively engage our peers in Run Women Run's mission to inspire, identify, mentor and support qualified pro-choice San Diego women who run for office or seek appointed government positions.
• In October, RWR co-sponsored a Political Boot Camp with the Lawyers Club and the San Diego County Bar Association, which provided information on the facets of running for political office from campaign fundraising to honing your message. And the Advisory Board met to celebrate accomplishments in 2009 and to hone RWR's goals for 2010.
• In November we hosted an opportunity to meet and talk with Assembly Member Janice Hahn, who is the only woman running for Lieutenant Governor of California. If elected, she would be the first woman to hold the position.
• In December, Run Women Run celebrated its one-year anniversary at an intimate and exclusive opportunity to socialize and network with San Diego's elected officials and one another.