Francine Busby has stepped down as executive director of Run Women Run.
Busby is also chairwoman of the local Democratic Party.
An email obtained by Voice of San Diego last month revealed possible tensions between Busby’s dual roles, especially as the scandal surrounding Mayor Bob Filner unfolded.
In the email, Busby had raised questions about a male Democratic City Council candidate who was, at the time, competing against another Democrat supported by Run Women Run, a group that works to elect women candidates. The email could be interpreted as Busby supporting the woman in the race, even though the Democratic Party had not yet endorsed either candidate.
Busby told VOSD Thursday that it was time – not any tensions between her two positions – that ultimately forced her hand.
“With the Filner thing taking up so much of my time and the party taking up so much of my time, it was just time for me to step back. … I just couldn’t do both any longer,” she said.
Busby said Run Women Run has recently been building up its support system, including bringing on a new communications director and membership chair, which made her decision to step back easier.
“I put two years into it, and it was the right time for me, I just can’t do both things,” she said.
Busby said she informed Run Women Run about her plans several weeks ago, and she officially stepped down July 31.
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