GOP Pair ‘Instrumental’ in England’s Decision to Run for State Assembly

Updated at 5:50 p.m. Jan. 13, 2012

Lemon Grove Councilwoman Mary England says Assemblyman Brian Jones and state Sen. Joel Anderson were “instrumental” in her decision to run for state Assembly in the new 79th District.

“I had coffee with (Jones) a couple times,” she said, and talked with the first-term lawmaker on the phone several times. “And I said: You know what? I’m going to go on vacation … and I said: Let me give this some thought.”

After returning from an eight-day trip to London—England’s first vacation from her La Mesa Chamber of Commerce job in 2½ years—she talked to others and decided: “You know what—why not?  Service over self. And I do love to serve.”

England, a council member since 2000, said former Santee councilman Jones has been telling her “how things are changing up there [in Sacramento] and how we need to have strong leadership and people that bring common sense and some business-savvy experience to the state capitol.”

“So I decided after meeting with some people that I would do it,” England said in a phone interview Wednesday night.

England says she realizes that running as a Republican in a Democratic-leaning district will be a challenge, but: “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.”

She’s counting on the advantages of the new open primary system—in which voters of all parties as well as “decline-to-states” pick the top two candidates in the June primary for a November runoff.

“I’m hopeful that people will now have the opportunity to vote for the person, not just the party,” England said. “We’re all going to be in [the same] lineup.”

England, meeting with a newly hired campaign consultant on Friday, is hopeful that the June vote is split among the four* Democratic candidates in the 79th District, helping her finish in the top 2.

At least four Democrats are running in the 79th: Shirley Weber, Pat Washington, Sid Voorokkara and Rudy Ramirez.

Clovis Honore, another Democrat, reportedly left the race about three months ago. Shelia Jackson also decided not to run, said one Democratic Party source.

If June’s vote propels England to a November runoff, she won’t be able to seek re-election in Lemon Grove when the filing period opens in mid-July. She is one of three council members, including Mayor Mary Sessom, whose terms expire in 2012.

“If I don’t make it in November, I’m not on the council and I’m not in the Assembly,” she noted, likening her situation to that of Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who is seeking the San Diego mayoralty.

“If for some reason I don’t make it [past] June, it’s no harm, no foul,” she said. She’ll run for a fourth term on council.

England was expected to meet with her Chamber of Commerce board today [Thursday] to discuss her new circumstances and answer questions. She said she’ll keep her CEO job and “won’t campaign on my chamber time.”

“I’m a salaried employee,” she said. “I won’t campaign on their dime. That isn’t what I’m about. I work seven days a week anyway.”

England is heartened by signals of support she’s received since sending out word Wednesday that she’s in the race.

“I’ve got people already sending me resumes—to be quite honest—to work on my team,” she said, later declaring: “I did surprise a few people.”

A self-professed “political junkie” and active in GOP circles, England says she has been watching the 79th District race evolve ever since learning about its creation and inclusion of La Mesa and Lemon Grove, which “are close to my heart.”

And since both cities are affected by the state Legislature, she said, “I’ve been very much aware of Sacramento being broken.”

Having seen La Mesa Councilman Dave Allan jump into, and then out of, the 79th District race, England said she spoke to Assemblyman Jones, who highlighted her business experience. She worked for Pacific Bell for three decades.

In an October 2011 interview with Patch editors: Jones said: “Right now I’m focused on building the Republican membership in the Assembly so that we can get more seats. We’re at 28. My goal in 2012 is to get 32, at least, and then build it from there. So that’s what I’m focused on right now.”

On Wednesday, England said: “Brian Jones was instrumental [in her decision to run]. Sen. Joel Anderson was instrumental.”

Jones, who currently represents La Mesa, also told England “how he is still energized and excited every day about the job he is doing,” she said.

England is in her late 60s and single—having divorced her husband, Dennis, in 2009—and is planning a Feb. 2 campaign kickoff.

“I’m optimistic,” she said. “I’m excited about the challenge. I’m anxious to start my race.”