Candidate for
Member; Santa Clara County Board of Education; Trustee Area 4

Gary Rummelhoff currently serves as Governing Board Member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education (SCCOE). He was elected to the Board in 2004 and represents Trustee Area 4, which includes the area bounded by San Jose Unified and Orchard School Districts. He served as the Board's President 2007 and has served on various Board committees and commissions during his tenure including budget advisory, policy, strategic planning, Head Start Policy Council, Joint Child Care Commission (chair in 2007 and 2008), Santa Clara County School Board Association (SCCSBA) Executive Committee and Fit For Leaning Advisory Council.

During his tenure on the County Board of Education, Gary has focused on expanding critical student programs, increasing accountability and transparency of the Superintendent and the Board, modeling effective leadership, nurturing Board teamwork and strengthening and expanding relationships with critical community partners. During his term as President, Superintendent Dr. Colleen Wilcox retired following 14 years of service. A search committee was launched immediately to seek new leadership and in April 2008, Dr. Chuck Weis, a distinguished County Superintendent from Ventura County was appointed to serve as SCCOE's new Superintendent effective July 1, 2008.

Prior to serving on the County Board, Gary served on the Board of Trustees for San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD). He was elected to the Board in 1996, completing two terms in 2004. He was President of the Board in 2001 and 2004. Gary represented Trustee Area 5, which includes the area served by Allen, Graystone, Los Alamitos, Randol, Simonds and Williams Elementary Schools, Bret Harte, Castillero and Steinbeck Middle Schools, and Leland High School.

While on SJUSD Board, Gary's primary focus was on the District's fiscal matters, academic accountability, quality management, public engagement and team leadership. He was a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, participating in passing two bond issues to refurbish aging schools. He championed the establishment of a quality management system in 1998, for which the District has received state and national recognition. He is proud of re-establishing strong community relations which has led to the end of a court ordered desegregation plan and monitoring.

In addition to local efforts, Gary has been an active leader in state and regional educational efforts. He has been a delegate to the California School Board Association (CSBA) serving in this capacity for 6 years. He has chaired CSBA's Urban Council, served on the Legislative Committee and as a Government Relations Chair. For the past 11 years, Gary has been a representative to the SCCSBA, serving as the Association's President in 2003-04. He has been an active participant on regional matters involving alternative education programs and the County Superintendent's Blue Ribbon Task Force.

Gary has been involved in community and public service for many years. He began these activities when he led a team of volunteer employees to prepare income tax returns for low-income and disadvantaged individuals. Since arriving in San Jose he has served on the Board of the Shadow Brook Homeowners Association (two years as President), Board of Almaden Valley Counseling Service and co-founded the Leland Foundation for Educational Excellence.

Gary is currently Vice President of Operations and CFO at United Way Silicon Valley, a position he has held since March 2002. Gary earned his B.S. in Accounting from University of Missouri, Columbia and his M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Formerly a licensed CPA, he began his professional career in public accounting at KPMG. Before joining United Way Silicon Valley, he has held senior financial positions in private industry including several high tech companies in Silicon Valley, including Analog Devices, Logistix, Advantest and @pos.com.

Gary and his wife, Jean, are 21-year residents of Almaden Valley. Jean is also an active community member with several non-profit organizations, schools and church. She is a past-President of the Junior League of San Jose (1998-99) and was recognized by the California Assembly as Woman of the Year for her efforts. Currently, Gary and Jean are active volunteers at St. Anthony parish. Gary participates in the church choir and Jean chairs the parish council. Gary and Jean have two children. Gary enjoys cycling, running and swimming and frequents the Almaden Valley Athletic Club where he has been a member for 20 years.