Rico Oller

Thomas “Rico” Oller (pronounced “Ahler”), 53, was born in Fresno, California, on July 16, 1958, to John and Betty Oller. He is the youngest of eight children. His family moved to Jamestown, California, when he was 8 years old. Rico was raised in that Mother Lode town, graduating from Sonora High School in 1976. He then attended Stanislaus State University in Turlock, California, graduating “Magna Cum Laude” in 1980. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in political science. Rico remains an avid reader and writer. In 1981, he began a successful business in the building industry, Material Ventures, Inc. He is currently Chairman of the Board of his company and employs about 40 people with locations in San Andreas, Jamestown, Merced and Placerville. Rico is a classic entrepreneur who has been instrumental in helping many others start their own businesses. In November 2000, Rico won election to the California State Senate representing the expansive 1st District, which covers the counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento and Sierra. From 1996 until his election to the Senate, Rico represented the 4th Assembly District (the lower half of his Senate seat). As a Legislator, Oller has been an outspoken advocate for reducing taxes and onerous regulations, protecting private property rights, upholding the Second Amendment and fighting against our state’s failed bilingual education system. Having been raised in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Rico has a great appreciation of the outdoors. He is an enthusiastic hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. Rico is married to Londa, his wife of 33 years. They have 4 children: William 28, Jeffrey 25, Rachael 22 and Spencer 18. The Ollers reside in San Andreas, California.