Caren Ray Russom has been a Central Coast resident for four decades. She graduated from Arroyo Grande High School, attended Cuesta College and then UCLA, where she received a B.A. in History. Caren is the first in her family to earn a college degree. Having grown up on the Central Coast, Mayor Ray Russom is raising her two boys with the same South County small-town values of family, community, and volunteerism as were instilled in her at their age. Mayor Ray Russom is committed to ensuring balance and integrity within the political process and is a strong advocate for an open and collaborative approach to problem solving. She is driven to support her community and honored to serve our city, and she believes that Arroyo Grande is a uniquely special place, with a diverse economic and cultural history.
EARLY YEARS
Caren has spent her life breaking down barriers. As a high school athlete, she played boys’ water polo because there was no girls’ team. She earned two varsity letters, and became the first female starter. She remains the only woman to have played for the Cuesta College mens’ water polo team (see photo above). When first appointed, Caren was the first woman in two decades to serve on the Arroyo Grande City Council. She was the sixth woman in San Luis Obispo County history to serve as a Supervisor. She is only the second elected female mayor in over 100 years in Arroyo Grande.
CAREER
Caren has been an educator for a combined total of over 20 years, having taught government, economics and world history at Santa Maria High School from 1993 to present. Midway through her career as an educator, Caren took a break to be a full-time mom to her two young children. In addition, she put her experience working in her family’s toy stores to use by opening and running a retail game and internet computing store that catered to kids and adults alike. Carrying on the skills and values she learned from the family business, Caren handled payroll, accounting, purchasing and inventory, as well as updating and repairing computers and networks. Working in the family business and owning her own business provided Caren with a deep appreciation for the sacrifice and hard work that goes into the life of a small business owner.
SERVICE
Caren began her political career in 2005 when she was appointed to the Arroyo Grande City Planning Commission, on which she served three years as Chair (see photo above). When her children reached school age in 2007, Caren wrapped up the business and returned to the classroom. She joined the Arroyo Grande City Council in 2010, where she served until her October 2013 appointment to the Board of Supervisors. While teaching high school and serving on the City Council, Caren also enrolled in a graduate program at Cal Poly, earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2009.
As an Arroyo Grande City Council member, Caren helped guide the city through the worst fiscal crisis in two generations. A strong proponent of economic development, she played a role in bringing numerous businesses into the city. In addition, she worked with local non-profits providing mental health services and low-income workforce housing.
Caren left the Arroyo Grande City Council when she was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to fill the remainder of late Supervisor Paul Teixeira’s term on the Board of Supervisors. In addition to serving on the Board of Supervisors, she served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Vitality Corporation, a Director on the Air Pollution Control Board, a Director on the Integrated Waste Management Authority, and on the Arroyo Grande Tourism and Marketing Committee.
COMMITMENT
Caren was elected back to the Arroyo Grande City Council in 2016, and as Mayor in 2018. Caren is committed to ensuring balance and integrity within the political process and is a strong advocate for an open and collaborative approach to problem solving. She is driven to support our community and honored to serve our city, and she believes that the South County is a uniquely special place, with a diverse economic and cultural history.
Being only the second elected female mayor in Arroyo Grande's history, she knows the spotlight is on her. "I feel such a strong connection to Arroyo Grande. Having been raised here with our local values, I am committed to working with all constituencies in the collaborative, community-based manner that is the hallmark of our town. We have a very special place here, and I pledge to embody our values in everything I do."
Join us in supporting the re-election of Mayor Caren Ray Russom.
Caren has spent her life breaking down barriers. As a high school athlete, she played boys’ water polo because there was no girls’ team. She earned two varsity letters, and became the first female starter. She remains the only woman to have played for the Cuesta College mens’ water polo team (see photo above). When first appointed, Caren was the first woman in two decades to serve on the Arroyo Grande City Council. She was the sixth woman in San Luis Obispo County history to serve as a Supervisor. She is only the second elected female mayor in over 100 years in Arroyo Grande.
CAREER
Caren has been an educator for a combined total of over 20 years, having taught government, economics and world history at Santa Maria High School from 1993 to present. Midway through her career as an educator, Caren took a break to be a full-time mom to her two young children. In addition, she put her experience working in her family’s toy stores to use by opening and running a retail game and internet computing store that catered to kids and adults alike. Carrying on the skills and values she learned from the family business, Caren handled payroll, accounting, purchasing and inventory, as well as updating and repairing computers and networks. Working in the family business and owning her own business provided Caren with a deep appreciation for the sacrifice and hard work that goes into the life of a small business owner.
SERVICE
Caren began her political career in 2005 when she was appointed to the Arroyo Grande City Planning Commission, on which she served three years as Chair (see photo above). When her children reached school age in 2007, Caren wrapped up the business and returned to the classroom. She joined the Arroyo Grande City Council in 2010, where she served until her October 2013 appointment to the Board of Supervisors. While teaching high school and serving on the City Council, Caren also enrolled in a graduate program at Cal Poly, earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2009.
As an Arroyo Grande City Council member, Caren helped guide the city through the worst fiscal crisis in two generations. A strong proponent of economic development, she played a role in bringing numerous businesses into the city. In addition, she worked with local non-profits providing mental health services and low-income workforce housing.
Caren left the Arroyo Grande City Council when she was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to fill the remainder of late Supervisor Paul Teixeira’s term on the Board of Supervisors. In addition to serving on the Board of Supervisors, she served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Vitality Corporation, a Director on the Air Pollution Control Board, a Director on the Integrated Waste Management Authority, and on the Arroyo Grande Tourism and Marketing Committee.
COMMITMENT
Caren was elected back to the Arroyo Grande City Council in 2016, and as Mayor in 2018. Caren is committed to ensuring balance and integrity within the political process and is a strong advocate for an open and collaborative approach to problem solving. She is driven to support our community and honored to serve our city, and she believes that the South County is a uniquely special place, with a diverse economic and cultural history.
Being only the second elected female mayor in Arroyo Grande's history, she knows the spotlight is on her. "I feel such a strong connection to Arroyo Grande. Having been raised here with our local values, I am committed to working with all constituencies in the collaborative, community-based manner that is the hallmark of our town. We have a very special place here, and I pledge to embody our values in everything I do."
Join us in supporting the re-election of Mayor Caren Ray Russom.