Women of the Year Awards Given to Rose, McCoy

In honor of Women’s History Month, Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins recognized former Imperial Beach City Councilmembers Diane Rose and Patricia McCoy and six other women from the 78th Assembly District for their commitment to public service.

The women were honored at a March 28 reception in Atkin's San Diego office.

"The women I am honoring today have worked tirelessly to improve their communities and the lives of others," Atkins said. "They are ideal role models for both young women and young men who aspire to make a difference through service. I thank them all for helping to make the 78th Assembly District a vibrant, diverse, and outstanding place to live.”

Rose was the mayor of Imperial Beach from 1998 to 2006. She was then appointed to the Imperial Beach City Council in 2009 following the death of Fred McLean.

She also served on boards for the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the Metropolitan Transit System, the California League of Cities and a federal board to advise President Bill Clinton and Congress on U.S.-Mexico border issues.

McCoy was elected to the Imperial Beach City Council in 1998. Together with her husband Mike McCoy and local concerned citizens, Patricia helped establish the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. McCoy continues a passion for the environment today.

Both Rose and McCoy left city government in 2010.

The former Imperial Beach City Councilmembers were joined by Planned Parenthood supporter Sara Moser, San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center CEO Delores Jacobs, former Coronado City Councilmembers Carrie Downey and Mary Herron, Solana Beach City Councilwoman Lesa Heebner and Del Mar City Councilwoman Lee Haydu.