Rich Rudolf - Chairperson

I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and finished high school in Geneva, Illinois. After graduation from Gettysburg College and the University of Virginia School of Law, I came to San Diego in Navy JAG in 1966. Admitted to Maryland and California bars, I worked for Legal Aid, was a Deputy County Counsel for 13 years, and Assistant City Attorney for Chula Vista and then Carlsbad for the next 13 years. I spent the last half of my legal career advising the Planning and Engineering Departments, Planning Commissions, and City Councils on planning and land use matters, CEQA, and Conflict of Interest.

We moved to Valley Center in 1994. My family consists of my wife of 43 years, Jo-Ellen; daughter Jessica Hallisey, 37 (husband Matt, daughter Ryan 9), living in Linda Vista; and our son Alexei Rudolf, 31, living in Oakland. I coached both our kids’ soccer teams, and then played soccer as an adult until I was 55.  Family vacations focused around camping and hiking, leading to my interest in creating trails for Valley Center.

I was a Member of the Valley Center Community Planning Group from 2001-2004, and its Secretary for 2002-3. In November 2008, I was elected once more to serve another 4 years on the VCCPG starting in January 2009. I am still a Member of the North Village and GPU Committees. I am a VC Friends of the Library Board Member and its Recording Secretary; Chairperson, VC Trails Association; and Secretary for Heart of Valley Center, Inc.

We need trails in Valley Center to allow our kids to safely walk or ride their bikes to school, have a safe place for our cross country runners to practice without getting run over, a safe place to ride a bike away from auto traffic, and a place to get our many, many horse owners long-distance routes to truly enjoy the “country life.” There just is no substitute for the slow pace of life in direct contact with the beauty of the earth and breathing clean air, away from our cars!