Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Russell Ruderman
Russel E. Ruderman was a Democratic member of the Hawaii State Senate, representing District 2. He was first elected to the chamber in 2012. He left office on November 3, 2020.
Biography
Russell Ruderman earned his diploma from Overbrook High School in 1971 and his B.S. in biology from Penn State University in 1975. His professional experience includes working as the founder and president of Island Naturals Markets.[1] Ruderman has volunteered with the County Environmental Management Commission and has been a member of the Performing Arts Center's advisory committee.[2]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Ruderman was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Environment Committee, Vice Chair
- Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee
- Health and Human Services Committee, Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Environment |
| • Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health |
| • Government Operations, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ruderman served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chair |
| • Health |
| • Water and Land |
| • Ways and Means |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ruderman served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Energy and Environment |
| • Ways and Means |
Campaign themes
2012
Ruberman's campaign website listed the following issues:[3]
- "Job creation;
- Sustainable economic development;
- Support better education, including local control of schools, and support for Charter Schools;
- Protect our environment;
- Support small farmers and organic agriculture;
- Safe, renewable energy and energy efficiency;
- Improve transportation in Puna – make Highway 130 safe!
- Support campaign finance reform;
- Establish video conferencing for Neighbor Islands;
- Support for Native Hawaiian rights;
- Support for LGBT civil rights."
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
- See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2020
Ruderman did not file to run for re-election.
2016
- See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Hawaii State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.
Incumbent Russell Ruderman defeated Frederick Fogel in the Hawaii State Senate District 2 general election.[4]
| Hawaii State Senate, District 2 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Russell Ruderman Incumbent |
82.42% | 11,664 | |
| Libertarian | Frederick Fogel | 17.58% | 2,488 | |
| Total Votes | 14,152 | |||
| Source: State of Hawaii - Office of Elections | ||||
Incumbent Russell Ruderman defeated Greggor Ilagan in the Hawaii State Senate District 2 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| Hawaii State Senate, District 2 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Russell Ruderman Incumbent |
54.42% | 4,275 | |
| Democratic | Greggor Ilagan | 45.58% | 3,580 | |
| Total Votes | 7,855 | |||
2012
- See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2012
Ruderman won election in the 2012 election for Hawaii State Senate District 2. He defeated Wendell Ka'ehu'ae'a, Bob Herkes and Gary Safarik in the August 11 Democratic primary and defeated Daryl Lee Smith (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Russell Ruderman |
76.9% | 10,487 | |
| Republican | Daryl Lee Smith | 23.1% | 3,154 | |
| Total Votes | 13,641 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Russell Ruderman |
37.5% | 3,106 |
| Bob Herkes | 33.3% | 2,756 |
| Wendell Ka'ehu'ae'a | 14.8% | 1,227 |
| Gary Safarik | 14.4% | 1,192 |
| Total Votes | 8,281 | |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Hawaii scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 15 to July 10.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to Hawaiian interests.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 16 through May 2.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 17 through May 3.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 18 through May 4. The Legislature held a special session from July 12 from July 20. The legislature held its first special session from August 28 to September 1. The legislature held its second special session from September 25 to September 26. The legislature held its third special session on November 14.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 20 through May 5. The Legislature held a special session from July 12 from July 20.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 21 through May 7.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 15 through May 2.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 16 to May 3.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ruderman has one child. He is a photographer, sailor, scuba diver and member of three bands ranging from classic rock to Latin dance.[1]
Endorsements
2016
In 2016, Ruderman's endorsements included the following:[11]
|
|
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google News search for the term "Russell + Ruderman + Hawaii + Senate"
See also
- Hawaii State Senate
- Hawaii Senate Committees
- Hawaii State Senate District 2
- Hawaii State Legislature
External links
- Official campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Project Vote Smart profile
- Campaign Contributions: 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Russell Ruderman, "About Russell Ruderman," accessed September 11, 2012
- ↑ Vote Smart, "Russell Ruderman's Biography," accessed October 26, 2019
- ↑ Russell Ruderman, "Issues," accessed September 15, 2012
- ↑ State of Hawaii, "General Election 2016 - State of Hawaii – Statewide November 8, 2016," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ State of Hawaii, "2016 Candidate Report," accessed June 10, 2016
- ↑ Hawaii.gov, "Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ civilbeat.com, " Unofficial 2012 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Paychecks Hawaii, "PAYCHECKS HAWAII Ratings of the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Paychecks Hawaii, "PAYCHECKS HAWAII Ratings of the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Russell Ruderman, "Endorsements," accessed July 13, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gilbert Kahele (D) |
Hawaii State Senate District 2 2012-2020 |
Succeeded by Joy A. San Buenaventura (D) |
