Rod Diridon, Jr.

"Rod Diridon brings caring, concern and commitment to our city, with rare honesty and integrity. I whole-heartedly endorse him for city clerk!"
-- Sen. John Vasconcelllos

Biography

Rod Diridon, Jr.
for
City Clerk, 2004

822 Camino Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95050


P: 408.985.7204
E:
e-mail Rod

FPPC ID: pending


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

Partial Lists ...
 

Paid for by Rod Diridon for City Clerk
Treasurer Coleen Hurley