City Council candidate Ray Ellis spent most of his life building businesses and raising a family. Like many of us he wasn’t involved in the politics of our city –when he wanted to help the community he got involved in private organizations and charities.
Per the request and appointment of Mayor Jerry Sanders, Ray accepted a volunteer position on the reformed San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System Board in 2008. Through this experience, Ray realized he could have a much stronger impact on the challenges facing our City as a City Councilmember, which is dominated by the influence of special interests. Ray realized reform was possible if our City had more Councilmembers willing to point out and correct the mismanagement, and stand up to the special interests. That’s when he decided to run for City Council.
Ray knew this would take hard work and the ability to make tough decisions. In 1987 Ray founded his own small marketing business, and over the next decade and a half grew it into one of the largest businesses of its kind on the west coast. This growth included adding hundreds of employees and building facilities in San Diego and Virginia. As a business owner he was used to hard work, having to make tough decisions, and being the person responsible for the results.
It hasn’t been all business for Ray – he’s been active in the San Diego nonprofit community since the late1980’s with included organizations like Voices for Children, Second Chance and others. Currently, he is a board member of San Diego Social Venture Partners, a board member of The Parker Foundation, a member of the EDC ‐ Strategic Roundtable and a board member on the Balboa Park Conservancy. He also coaches youth basketball and Pop Warner Football in Carmel Valley.
Ray and his wife Gina live in Carmel Valley with their 10-year-old Jake. He also has a 26‐year‐old son, Matt and a 22‐year‐old daughter, Jessica who is a senior at Texas Christian University. Ray received his MBA from Pepperdine University.
