Candidate for
County Supervisor; San Joaquin County; Supervisorial District 4

Lodi native Russ Munson, successful local businessman, community volunteer and former Naval Aviator; seeks to focus his leadership and business experience on the challenges facing San Joaquin County as our 4th District County Supervisor.

Born and raised in Lodi, Russ attended local schools and graduated from San Jose State with a degree in Business Administration. He is the managing general partner for Wine & Roses Hotel Restaurant Spa, one of the first and most notable landmarks in Lodi's effort to establish itself as a destination in the Agri-tourism industry.

Following graduation from San Jose State, Munson entered military service as an officer candidate in 1969. He completed flight training and received his gold wings as a Naval Aviator in 1972. Russ served on two aircraft carriers, the USS Roosevelt and the USS America, and made over 300 carrier landings. He also served as a flight instructor for air to air gunnery, carrier flight instruction and jet flight instruction.

Munson returned to California in January of 1976 and held several sales management positions supplying integrated editorial, circulation and classified computer systems for newspapers as they transitioned from traditional typesetting to computerized systems.

In 1984, Russ left the computer industry to manage various real estate properties as a partner in the Anderson-Munson Company. In 1987 he joined the Verner Group as an investor-partner with responsibility for acquisitions, purchases and sales throughout the Central Valley.

In 1999, Munson committed to the Lodi Winegrape Commission to expand Wine & Roses Country Inn to support the region's growing wine industry. Under Munson's leadership, Wine & Roses is one of Northern California's most sought after properties for weddings and events and employs a staff of 215.

Russ is actively engaged as a community volunteer. He has served as a Board Member and Chairman of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce; Board Member and President of the Woodbridge Country Club; and is a current Board Member of "Visit Lodi", the Lodi Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Russ has been married to Kathryn, also a San Jose State graduate and Lodi native, for 45 years. They are members of St. John's Episcopal Church and have two children and five grandchildren. Russ enjoys golf, skiing, and keeping up with his grandchildren as well as his birds, two macaws and an African Grey.