Candidate for
City Clerk; City of Santa Clara

Rod Diridon, Jr. was raised in Santa Clara, attending Westwood Elementary School, Buchser Junior High School and Santa Clara High School. He then worked his way through San Jose State as a mechanic, earning a degree in Political Science.

After college, Rod workes as a substitute teacher before embarking on a career in the high-tech industry. Rod gained valuable private sector expertise working as a Global Program Manager with a major high-tech company and as the General Manager of a regional start-up.

Active in the community, Diridon served on the Board of Directors of the City of Santa Clara Library, the Board of Directors of KTEH public television, and the Board of Fellows of Santa Clara University. He was also the founder and President of Opus 21, an organization supporting the arts in Santa Clara County.

Diridon has been honored for his professional and community work by 3Com Corporation, the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, the San Jose Exchange Club, and the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

First elected to the Santa Clara City Council in November of 1996 and re-elected in 2000, Rod Diridon Jr. has distinguished himself as one of the top policymakers in Silicon Valley. Working in the diverse areas of education, campaign finance reform and public safety, Diridon has been a force for legislative and political change. He has also served as Vice-Mayor and Chaplain.

In 1997, Diridon co-chaired the successful $145 million Santa Clara school bond measure, providing money to fund new state-of-the-art science buildings and performing arts centers at each city high school.

Diridon conceived and crafted groundbreaking campaign finance reform for the City as well as a clean-air vehicle policy for the city's automotive fleet. Diridon has also proposed and chaired Santa Clara's Downtown Revitalization Committee and spearheaded the effort to create a park along the San Tomas Creek.

In his spare time, Rod enjoys working on his home, composing music and restoring automobiles. He is also a tireless advocate for the arts and enjoys giving time back to the community which gave so much to him. Diridon is 35 and owns a home in Santa Clara. He is unmarried and without children.

A brief outline of Rod's past and present work and community history:

• Work Experience: Santa Clara City Councilmember, Seat 4 General Manager, Flexcar - San Jose Global Community Realtions Manager, 3Com Corporation Substitute Teacher, Lincoln High School Campaign Manager, Local Efforts Mechanic, T&D Performance Construction Laborer, The Villages Autobody Technician, CalCar

• Awards and Honors: 3Com Certificate of Excellence Baer Award for Outstanding Activism Exchange Club Distinguished Citizen Award Junior Chamber of Commerce Presidential Appreciation Award Junior Chamber of Commerce Regional All-Star Award Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group Commendation

• City Council Service: Santa Clara City Council, Councilmember: Campaign Finance Reform Committee, Founder and Chair Childcare Committee, Member City/School Liaison Committee, Member Clean Water Financing Authority, Chair Commission Review Committee, Member Downtown Revitalization Committee, Chair Ethics Ordinance Committee, Founding Member San Jose/Santa Clara Treatment Plant Advisory Committee, Chair Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee, Vice Chair

• Community: Citizens Police Academy, Graduate Democratic Activists for Women Now, Member Downtown San Jose Rotary Club, Member Friends of the Santa Clara Soccer Park, Vice President Italian American Heritage Foundation, Member Junior Chamber of Commerce, VP of Individual Development KTEH Public Television, Board of Directors La Raza Roundtable, Member Library Board of Trustees, Trustee NAACP, Member National Women's Political Caucus, Member OPUS 21 Arts Foundation, Founder and President Planned Parenthood, Member San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Streamside Trail Commission, Chair and Vice Chair Santa Clara Unified School District, SCUSD Bond Oversight Committee, Member Friends of SCUSD, Chair of school bond measure Facilities Needs Task Force, Technology Committee Member Santa Clara University Board of Fellows, Fellow San Jose Symphony, Board of Directors Sierra Club, Life Member Silicon Valley Commonwealth Club of California, Program Board