Meet Ricki Ruiz
A son of immigrants, Ricki is proud to call Gresham home. He grew up in Rockwood and graduated from Reynolds High School, making Ricki the first in his family to earn a high school degree. Ricki then went on to be the first to graduate college, earning a bachelor’s degree in social entrepreneurship from Warner Pacific University.
Ricki is the Community Services Coordinator for the City of Gresham and has been working for his hometown for almost five years. During his tenure, Ricki led youth recreation programming, supported public safety with the Neighborhood Ready Program, served as co-liaison for the Youth Advisory Council, and is the city-wide Spanish interpreter.
Ricki co-founded the Rockwood Initiative, an organization focused on community development in East County. As a group, the Rockwood Initiative was able to gather community support and secure over $120,000 to bring the first set of futsal courts at Rockwood’s Vance Park in 2015. At the age of 22, Ricki was elected as the youngest school board member of the Reynolds School District. For five years, Ricki fought for our students, schools, and families.
A fierce advocate, Ricki was elected as State Representative of House District 50 in 2020. Ricki is running for re-election because we still have a lot of work to do. Ricki will push for more resources for public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, education, and everything else to help improve quality of life in East County and across Oregon. As a lifelong Gresham resident and a new father, Ricki is determined to earn your vote and represent East County with integrity and energy once again.
Ricki’s PERSONAL involvement & Accomplishments
- First to graduate high school from his family – Reynolds High School 2012
- Awarded Act Six Scholarship – Full ride scholarship to Warner Pacific University 2012
- Played instrumental role in gathering over $120,000 to develop mini-pitch futsal courts at Vance Park – Gresham Oregon 2015
- First to graduate college from his family – Warner Pacific University B.S. Social Entrepreneurship 2016
- Awarded Milo L. Chapman Excellence in Service Award – Warner Pacific University 2016
- Secured mini-pitch futsal court adjacent to Davis Elementary – Gresham OR 2016
- Secured mini-pitch futsal court adjacent to Highland Elementary – Gresham OR 2016
- Appointed to the Multnomah County Library Action Committee 2016 – 2017
- Elected to the Reynolds School District Board of Directors – 2017
- Played role in implementing Boys & Girls Club Rockwood mini-pitch futsal courts – Gresham OR 2017
- Played role in implementing Wood Village Baptist mini-pitch futsal court – Wood Village OR 2017
- Appointed to Oregon School Board Association Color Caucus – 2017
- Player role in implementing mini-pitch futsal court at Wilkes Elementary – Gresham OR 2018
- Appointed to the Reynolds Education Foundation Board – 2018
- Re-elected to the Reynolds School District Board of Directors – 2019
- Succesfully lead Gresham’s Youth Advisory Council to deliver Gresham’s Youth Summit, focusing on Mental Health & Sexual Harrassment – 2019
- Played role in implementing Reynolds Middle School mini-pitch futsal court – Fairview OR 2019
- Appointed to the Oregon Regional Arts Culture Council – Arts Education Committee – 2019
- Elected State Representative for House District 50 – 2020
- Appointed to Oregon Hunger Task Force – 2021
- Elected to Assistant House Majority Leader of Oregon House Democratic Leadership Team – 2021