Ruben Barrales
Encyclopedia
Ruben Barrales is the former Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush and Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He is the current CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
. He is also a former candidate for California State Controller and serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Policy Institute of California. Barrales, a Mexican American, holds a BA from the University of California, Riverside.
immigrants from the City of Mexico City D.F., Mexico
, he currently resides in San Diego, California
, with his wife, Kelly and two children, Ryan and Rachel, along with their pet dog, Mitzi. He was raised in Redwood City, CA.
before his run for San Mateo County Supervisor. In 1992 he was Elected San Mateo County Supervisor, and became the first elected Latino Supervisor in the county. As a county Supervisor he helped curb crime in East Palo Alto by collaborating with Sheriff Don Horsley and other cities in the formation of the Gang Suppression Task Force. This was needed as in 1992 the Federal Bureau of Investigation
considered East Palo Alto the Homicide
capital of the United States when 42 people were killed. He also supported the citizens of Redwood City in bringing the Shot Spotter to Redwood City to reduce random gun fire. Redwood City was instrumental in the development of the Gunshot Location System, which was possible through funding by San Mateo County and the major portion by the City of Redwood City. He served a diverse district that had various social needs. He brought about a fire detector awareness campaign to East Palo Alto after a tragic arson
fire that killed nine family members (three generations). He served one and a half terms before moving to the private sector.
In 1996 he was reelected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. In 1998 Barrales was the Republican candidate for California State Controller
. He failed to unseat Kathleen Connell
. He received 2,652,115 votes (33%) to Connell's 4,874,097 votes (61%).Although he lost, the run for California State Controller gained him national attention. In 2001 he was appointed as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovermental Affairs in the White House by President George W. Bush
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. He is also a former candidate for California State Controller and serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Policy Institute of California. Barrales, a Mexican American, holds a BA from the University of California, Riverside.
Family
Son of MexicanMexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
immigrants from the City of Mexico City D.F., Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, he currently resides in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, with his wife, Kelly and two children, Ryan and Rachel, along with their pet dog, Mitzi. He was raised in Redwood City, CA.
Family tragedy
His immigrant father started a roofing company, accumulating several properties and built a good financial foundation. His father was paralyzed from a fall from a roof during a roofing job. This made a tremendous impression on a young Ruben and he left the roofing company and went to work as a Supervisor Tom Nolan.Education
- Graduated from Nativity Catholic School (grades 1-8) in Menlo Park,California.
- Garfield Charter School Supervisor Ruben Barrales was instrumental in getting Garfield's Charter (formerly Garfield Elementary School), and secured funding for the first years.
- Graduated from Junípero Serra High School (San Mateo, California), in 1980.
- BA University of California, RiversideUniversity of California, RiversideThe University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
Political career
Barrales was first registered as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
before his run for San Mateo County Supervisor. In 1992 he was Elected San Mateo County Supervisor, and became the first elected Latino Supervisor in the county. As a county Supervisor he helped curb crime in East Palo Alto by collaborating with Sheriff Don Horsley and other cities in the formation of the Gang Suppression Task Force. This was needed as in 1992 the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
considered East Palo Alto the Homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
capital of the United States when 42 people were killed. He also supported the citizens of Redwood City in bringing the Shot Spotter to Redwood City to reduce random gun fire. Redwood City was instrumental in the development of the Gunshot Location System, which was possible through funding by San Mateo County and the major portion by the City of Redwood City. He served a diverse district that had various social needs. He brought about a fire detector awareness campaign to East Palo Alto after a tragic arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
fire that killed nine family members (three generations). He served one and a half terms before moving to the private sector.
In 1996 he was reelected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. In 1998 Barrales was the Republican candidate for California State Controller
California State Controller
The State Controller is the Chief Financial Officer of the State of California in the United States. The post has broader responsibilities and authority than the California State Treasurer...
. He failed to unseat Kathleen Connell
Kathleen Connell
Kathleen Connell was the California State Controller from 1995 until 2003. When she was Controller, she:* Ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001 but came in 6th in the April 10, 2001 primary getting 24,062 votes ....
. He received 2,652,115 votes (33%) to Connell's 4,874,097 votes (61%).Although he lost, the run for California State Controller gained him national attention. In 2001 he was appointed as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovermental Affairs in the White House by President George W. Bush
Private sector
- Family Roofing Company
- President and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. - President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce 12/2006.
Notation
- Barrales is listed among the 100 most influential Hispanics/Latinos in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Barrales served as a member of the Speaker's Commission on the California Initiative Process.
- Barrales served as Advisor for the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
- Barrales served as Vice-Chairman of the California Commission on Local Governance for the 21st Century,
- Barrales served as a member of the California Speaker's Commission on State and Local Government Finance.
- Barrales was recently featured in San Diego MagazineSan Diego MagazineSan Diego Magazine is a monthly publication concerning life in the San Diego region. This is the city’s longest running lifestyle publication and has continued to prosper and evolve throughout its 60-year history...
for his contributions to the strength of the Latino community in San Diego.
Community service
- Founding Member of Garfield Charter School, in the Redwood City Elementary School District. Garfield Charter School was one of the first charter schools in California.
- Served as Director of the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center
External links
- Smart Voter Election Results - smartvoter.org
- Full Biography for Ruben Barrales - smartvoter.org
- San Mateo Board of Supervisors
- http://www.shotspotter.com/casestudies/cs_rwcpd.html Redwood City was instrumental in the development of the Gunshot Location System.
- Reversal of Misfortune (East Palo Alto)
- http://www.garfield.rcsd.k12.ca.us/ Garfield Charter School