Education
San José State University.
San José State University.
In 2000, Diridon was appointed to the California High Speed Rail Authority by Governor Gray Davis, and was then re-appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. After serving for ten years, he was not re-appointed in 2010. In 1976, he chaired the campaign for the first successful half-cent sales tax for a transit district in California, has subsequently come to be known as "the father of VTA light rail," and is now the emeritus executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute.
San Jose"s Diridon Station was renamed for Rod Diridon at the time of its 1994 restoration.
In 1980, he was the Democratic candidate for California"s 12th State Senate district.
Diridon is an Italian-American who was first elected as the youngest-ever member of the Saratoga City Council in 1972. He was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1974, and served as a member of the Board from 1975-1995.