Mayoral Candidate Jerry Sanders Announces Ronne Froman to Lead Management Team

SAN DIEGO – Jerry Sanders today announced that retired Rear Admiral Ronne Froman will be the leader of his management team if he is elected mayor of San Diego.

“The transition to strong mayor means the next mayor will be responsible for actually managing the city out of its current crisis,” said Sanders.  “Because of this, voters deserve to know who will be part of each candidate’s management team if they are elected.”

Sanders praised Froman as a “no-nonsense efficiency expert – exactly what city administration needs right now.”

“Her expertise is reorganizing, saving money and improving services,” said Sanders.  “She is not a politician.  She comes from outside the city bureaucracy.  Most important, she’s a superb administrator.  No San Diegan has a better record of successfully turning around large organizations, bringing transparency and accountability,” said Sanders.

Froman is a retired Rear Admiral.  She was Executive Officer of the Navy’s largest installation at Norfolk, Commander of Naval Station Charleston, and “Navy Mayor” of the San Diego region.  At each post, she earned a reputation as one of the Navy’s top administrators.

“When the local chapter of the Red Cross was in trouble because of over-paid administrators and lack of candor in its fundraising, I was appointed to the Board and recruited Ronne as CEO to help us turnaround that organization,” said Sanders.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work with Jerry to turn our city government around,” said Froman.  “As a San Diegan, I’m concerned about the crisis at City Hall, and I want to do what I can to help solve it.”

“I’m not a politician.  I’m not even registered as a Republican or a Democrat.  What I bring to this team is a single-minded focus on organizational efficiency, accountability and transparency,” said Froman.

Ronne Froman’s biography follows:

Ronne Froman serves as Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties. Froman joined the American Red Cross in 2003 and, through her leadership, quickly and decisively developed "The New American Red Cross in San Diego" by refocusing the organization on its core mission of disaster relief and emergency preparedness.

Froman is a retired Navy Rear Admiral and the former "Navy Mayor of San Diego.”  She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties, with over 31 years of service as a Naval Officer leading similar reform efforts.

Froman has received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), and various service and unit awards.

In the civilian community, Froman was recognized as Peacemaker of the Year (2004) and one of the "50 People to Watch in 2004" by San Diego Magazine.  She has received the Girl Scouts Cool Woman Award (2003), YWCA "TWIN" Award, (2002), San Diego Women Who Mean Business Award (1997), San Diego Soroptimists' Woman of Accomplishment (1998), National Association of Women Business Owners' Advocate of the Year (1998), and the San Diego Press Club's Headliner Award (1998). Froman was honored to serve as the Chair of Fleet Week 2003.

                                       ###

— Scott Maloni - Ph: 619-231-0996 x323; C: 858-663-8838