Candidate for
Board Member; San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District

MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SAN MIGUEL FPD (1998+2006;2008-2012).

U.S. Navy Corpsman (1979-83) Life Saving Commendation El Cajon City Council (1993) A.S. Business Administration (1994) Special District Leadership and Management Certificate Program (2000).

Captain Rickards has been with the El Cajon Fire Department (now Heartland Fire Rescue) serving our community since 1987. His current assignment is an Engine Company Officer in the Fletcher Hills community of El Cajon. His past assignments include both Engine and Truck Company officer at the busiest fire station in East County. He was the Strategic Plan Initiative manager for Budget and Finance and is also a Fire Investigator. He is a certified San Diego County Paramedic, and has been for the past 28 years.

During his tenure on the Board of Directors, he led the District as President and Vice President. He was heavily involved with the Emergency Medical Services Committee. He has an extensive knowledge of District operations including budgets, personnel negotiations, service delivery and outside contractors for ambulance transport. His experience helped reduce tax dollar waste and dramatically improved service levels to District residents. Most recently, he voted (7-0) to contract with Cal-Fire in a Cooperative Services Agreement that not only saves an estimated $2.5 million per year, it gives the Fire District long-term financial stability and improved levels of service.

As a professional firefighter, Dave sees the importance of outfitting the department with the best firefighting equipment and safety gear. Grant funding during his time on the Board enabled the District to purchase Thermal Imaging cameras, new fire engines, breathing apparatus and firefighter turn out clothing. This saved the taxpayers several million dollars, while enhancing the firefighters ability to respond to emergencies. In addition, Dave voted to build a Regional state of the art Training Facility using grant funding.

Dave also was an advocate for Public Access Defibrillation. These are the portable defibrillators you see in businesses and large venues. They are a vital link to surviving a heart attack. The Reserve Firefighter program is another area of priority. This program trains reserve firefighters to integrate into the fire service and is a cost effective recruitment tool. The Reserve Firefighters donate thousands of hours annually, allowing for a significant return on investment.

As an El Cajon Fire Captain, he protects District resident's lives and property. Through automatic aid agreements between neighboring jurisdictions, Captain Rickards works with San Miguel and East County firefighters to reduce fire loss and provides life saving care in medical emergencies.

Dave has been a District resident since 1990. He is happily married with 3 children. He has been a member of Christ Lutheran Church in La Mesa since 1984. His eldest son is a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps and a recent graduate of the US Naval Academy. His middle son is a junior at Grossmont College, and youngest is a senior at Grossmont High School. His wife, Laurie, is a schoolteacher and taught kindergarten for 17 years.