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Elect Councilmember RICHARD ADLER

It is an honor and a privilege to represent the San Ramon residents of District 2 as your City Councilmember, since my appointment to serve the remaining two years of Mark Armstrong’s term after he was elected mayor in 2024. I am a graduate of UC Berkeley and have resided in San Ramon with my wife Melinda and our two sons Matthew and Cameron since 1997. We appreciate that we were able to enroll them in our outstanding award-winning San Ramon schools.

I am asking for your vote to be elected for a full term because I want to work to continue to provide the high quality of life that makes our city such a desirable place to live, work and raise a family. My top priority is to ensure the public safety of our growing and diverse community. I will continue to ensure that our police, firefighters and other first responders are fully resourced, trained and equipped to protect our neighborhoods, schools, parks and retail centers. I am also committed to ensuring our residents have access to mental health resources and support services that promote the well-being of our community members, especially to our children who are exposed to negative social media influence.

I am committed to providing the city services that our residents expect by maintaining our 63 beautiful parks, trails, community centers, libraries, recreational centers, and art and cultural programs. These important services can only be provided by making sure our city has an effective and sensible long-term financial plan, by using budget practices that protect taxpayer dollars.

San Ramon’s safe neighborhoods, award-winning schools, and abundant recreational opportunities make it one of the finest places in California to raise a family, and I am dedicated to preserving those qualities for generations to come.

Councilmember Richard Adler

About Councilmember
RICHARD ADLER

I have called San Ramon home since 1997. I was born in Ann Arbor, MI.  I lived in Plymouth, MI for 9 years before my father was selected to teach at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills and our family moved to Los Altos.  I attended high school at Awalt High (later called Mountain View High) and was elected Student Body President my Senior year.  I graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Political Science. During my time there I was the Student Representative of the Faculty Senate. The next year I served as an intern for Congressman Pete McCloskey. I attended night school for 4 years and received my JD degree from Peninsula University College of Law. The college later merged with Lincoln Law School in San Jose.

I worked for State Farm Insurance for 30 years primarily in the Auto Claims and Litigation unit.  I have been married to my wife Melinda McDonald since 1981.  We moved to San Ramon from Palo Alto in 1997.  Mel was the preschool director at Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton for 20 years and continues to teach there.

We have two adult sons, Matthew and Cameron who attended Neil Armstrong Elementary School, Pine Valley Middle School and Cal High. During that time, I coached little league and was a Co-Den Cub Scout leader. I am an artist. My oil painting of Mickey Mantle hitting a home run at Yankee Stadium in game 5 of the 1956 World Series was featured at the George Krevsky Gallery in San Francisco at the 12th Annual Art of Baseball Exhibition.

After my retirement from State Farm, I wrote and illustrated a children’s book called “White House Mockingbird” about Thomas Jefferson’s favorite pet that he let fly around his study at the White House and was his constant companion.

I served on the Oakridge at Greystone Ranch Association HOA Board of Directors and got more involved in my community. I took classes offered by the City of San Ramon including Government 101, Planning Academy, Citizens Police Academy, and Leadership San Ramon Valley.

I was Chair of the San Ramon Senior Advisory in 2024.  I am president of the Dougherty Valley San Ramon Rotary Club in 2024-25. I am proud of the service the Club and Foundation provide to the community.

All these organizations have given me a much better understanding of my city. Just as important are the friendships I have made which are very meaningful. 

I applied for the District 2 council seat which opened up after Mark Armstrong was elected Mayor in November 2024. I was appointed to the San Ramon City Council in January 2025 after four candidate finalists were interviewed. I am very appreciative and humbled by my selection and look forward to working with Mayor Armstrong and my fellow council members to serve the residents of San Ramon.

My wife Melinda and our two sons Matthew and Cameron have resided in San Ramon since 1997. We appreciate that we were able to enroll them in our outstanding award-winning San Ramon schools.

Leadership for San Ramon

Selected Professional, Public & Community Leadership/Advocacy:

  • Oakridge at Greystone Ranch Association HOA Board of Directors
  • President, Dougherty Valley San Ramon Rotary Club (2024-25)
  • Chair, San Ramon Senior Advisory (2024)
  • Graduated from Government 101, Planning Academy, Citizens Police Academy, and Leadership San Ramon Valley
  • 30 years at State Farm Insurance
  • Author and Illustrator of a children’s book, “White House Mockingbird”

Selected 2026 Committee Assignments & Appointments

  • Open Space Advisory Committee
  • Sustainability Advisory Committee
  • Teen Council
  • Infrastructure Committee
  • Iron Horse Trail Advisory Committee
  • Tri-Valley Affordable Housing Committee
  • Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD)
  • Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD)
  • East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) & Water Issues

Richard being sworn in as a San Ramon City Councilmember

Priorities

I am asking for your vote to be elected for a full term because I want to work to continue to provide the high quality of life that makes our city such a desirable place to live, work and raise a family. San Ramon’s safe neighborhoods, award-winning schools, and abundant recreational opportunities make it one of the finest places in California to raise a family, and I am dedicated to preserving those qualities for generations to come.

Key Platform Priorities

  • Public Safety and Well-being: Ensuring that police, firefighters, and first responders are fully resourced, trained, and equipped to protect neighborhoods, schools, parks, and retail centers, alongside providing access to mental health resources and support services for community members and children.
  • City Services and Financial Responsibility: Maintaining the city’s 63 parks, trails, community centers, libraries, recreational centers, and cultural programs through an effective, sensible long-term financial plan and budget practices that protect taxpayer dollars, while strategically planning ahead for the eventual sunsetting of temporary Measure N funding.
  • Environmental Sustainability: Guiding environmental policies through a Sustainability Advisory Committee and partnerships with groups like Sustainable San Ramon to promote green building, waste reduction, and resource conservation to protect the physical environment.

Join Us! Re-Elect
RICHARD ADLER
to the San Ramon City Council

 

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Richard Adler for San Ramon City Council
18 Chapparal Court
San Ramon, CA 94583

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Richard Adler to San Ramon City Council!
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