Ryan Dack

Ryan Dack is a member of the South Orange County Community College District in California, representing District 6. He assumed office on December 9, 2022. His current term ends on December 8, 2028.

Dack ran for re-election to the South Orange County Community College District to represent District 6 in California. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Dack completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Ryan Dack was born in Laguna Hills, California. He earned a high school diploma from JSerra Catholic High School, a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University in 2013, and a master’s degree from the University of California, Irvine in 2018. Dack’s career experience includes working as a teacher at Laguna Beach High School.^[1]^[2]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for South Orange County Community College District District 6

Incumbent Ryan Dack defeated Michael Franklin in the general election for South Orange County Community College District District 6 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ryan Dack (Nonpartisan)	59.7	30,125
	Submit photo	Michael Franklin (Nonpartisan)	40.3	20,318

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 50,443
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Dack's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Dack in this election.

2022

General election

Special general election for South Orange County Community College District District 6

Ryan Dack defeated Pramod Kunju in the special general election for South Orange County Community College District District 6 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Ryan Dack (Nonpartisan)	70.0	34,772
	Pramod Kunju (Nonpartisan)	30.0	14,929

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 49,701
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Dack's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2020

General election

General election for South Orange County Community College District District 6

Incumbent James Wright defeated Ryan Dack in the general election for South Orange County Community College District District 6 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	James Wright (Nonpartisan)	58.8	241,398
	Ryan Dack (Nonpartisan)	41.2	168,917

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 410,315
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Ryan Dack completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dack's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a dedicated educator and lifelong resident of Orange County, running for re-election to the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees. Since 2016, I've been committed to shaping future generations through my work as a teacher. I earned both my Master’s degree and teaching credential from the University of California, Irvine’s School of Education in 2018. I’m deeply passionate about ensuring that our community colleges provide high-quality, accessible education that meets the diverse needs of our students and helps them succeed in today’s competitive environment. Serving on the Board has been an honor, and I’m eager to continue advocating for strong educational policies that will benefit our students, faculty, and community.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Ensure fiscal responsibility while maintaining educational excellence: Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College are nationally recognized for their academic achievements, and our Board has successfully maintained a balanced budget without compromising quality. I am committed to continuing this track record, ensuring that we remain fiscally responsible while providing top-tier education and resources for our students, faculty, and community.
Being Effective: I have successfully advocated for and delivered the resources that help our community, local businesses, and community college students thrive. I’ve ensured students have the support needed to achieve their educational and career goals, while fostering partnerships that benefit both the colleges and the local economy. I remain committed to providing the effective leadership that continues to deliver real results for South Orange County.
Accessible Education: I am committed to keeping education affordable and accessible for all students. By maintaining reasonable tuition and fee structures, we can ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to pursue their academic and career goals.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about education and ensuring it remains accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. As a board member, I have consistently advocated for policies that promote student success, equity, and innovation within our educational system. Community colleges are vital in providing opportunities for both personal and professional growth, and I am dedicated to making decisions that foster lasting, positive change for all students, particularly those who need it most.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty and integrity are foundational qualities for any elected official. Leaders must be transparent in their decision-making, ensuring that they act in the best interests of their community rather than for personal or political gain. Accountability is equally important; officials must take responsibility for their actions and remain responsive to the needs and concerns of their constituents. Additionally, an effective leader should have empathy, actively listening to diverse perspectives, and working to find solutions that are equitable and just. A commitment to service, along with the ability to make thoughtful, informed decisions, ensures that an elected official can truly advocate for the people they represent.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I don't talk about it often, but I live with an invisible disability—Unilateral Hearing Loss (Single-Sided Deafness), a result of contracting Scarlet Fever when I was very young. On the surface, it’s not something people typically notice about me, though in one-on-one conversations, it may become more apparent. Most people I interact with would never realize this is part of my daily life.

This personal experience grounds me in my role as an educator. It reminds me how crucial it is not to make assumptions about what students might be dealing with behind the scenes. We might notice signs that something is going on in their lives, but unless they choose to share it, we can’t truly know their struggles. This perspective helps me approach challenges in the classroom with greater empathy and a commitment to understanding what each student might need. It’s a reminder that everyone has a story, and compassion can make a significant difference.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Congresswoman Katie Porter

State Senator Dave Min
State Senator Josh Newman
Orange Couny Supervisor Katrina Foley
CA-45 Congressional Candidate Derek Tran

Democratic Party of Orange County

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Ryan Dack completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dack's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a teacher who is running for a seat on the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees. I have been an educator since 2016 and graduated from the University of California, Irvine's School of Education with a Master's degree and teaching credential in 2018. I've been a lifelong Orange County resident, and am excited to serve the people of South Orange County.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Fiscally accountable: continuing our community college excellence without new taxes, while keeping our precious tax dollars inside the classroom.
Being Effective: supporting and ensuring success for our communities, local businesses, and community college students as they achieve their educational goals.
Accessible: offering a quality education without excessive college fees

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm genuinely passionate about education and believe it should be accessible to all, regardless of income. Being able to run for South Orange County Community College Trustee is a great privilege, and I hope that the decisions I will help make, if elected, will bring about real change to the students who need it.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

The person I look up to the most is Jerry Brown. He started out his life in a political family but was not immediately drawn to it. He instead sought a more private life working in a Jesuit seminary, with the intention of one day becoming a Catholic Priest.

Obviously, Brown eventually sought a more public life and would go on to become Governor of California, but his time in the Sacred Heart Novitiate really left a mark on how he thinks, and questions issues brought before him. I hope that in my public and private life, I might be as inquisitive and seek to look at issues from a variety of perspectives. This type of thinking leads to critically assessing what positions you hold dear and ensuring there is a logical consistency in your belief system. I think all the best leaders share this thought process.

If I am able to question all issues, even issues I agree with, to draw out a solid foundation for WHY I agree with that particular issue, I can build up a warranted conviction for a stance on said issue. I think this is probably the most important trait a leader can have, and is likely why Brown has had such a lasting presence in California politics and government.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I would certainly suggest listening to KQED's "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown" as well as read "The Browns of California: The Family Dynasty that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation" by Miriam Pawel. These two sources really solidify the sort of critical thinking process I aspire to utilize while in office. I don't want to be a slave to ideology or dogma. If there is a good idea, wherever it comes from, I will take it into consideration, as I am working toward better education for all, not just a specific segment of society.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Instead of a single song, I have really been looking forward to the new album "Blue Rev" by Alvvays. It comes out nearly a month before the election, and I suspect I will be driving to canvassing events with that album playing most of the time.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I don't like to talk about it a lot, but I suffer from an invisible disability. I caught Scarlet Fever when I was extremely young, and it left me with Unilateral Hearing Loss (Single-Sided Deafness). You would never know it from looking at me and might pick up on it during a person-to-person interaction, but the reality is the vast majority of people I interact with would never know or notice.

This fact really helps to keep me grounded in the classroom when it comes to making assumptions about how students are handling their workload or life in general. As educators, we may be able to pick up on things about our students' lives, but unless they are explicitly shared, we have no idea what students may be going through on a daily basis. It's important to keep this in mind when figuring out why a student may not be performing well academically or is causing difficulty in the classroom. Empathy and a real attempt to understand go a long way.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

As a teacher, I know firsthand that having access to mental health services is a necessity for the well-being of our students. I will always support allocating resources to mental health programs on both Irvine Valley College and Saddleback Community College campuses.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Ryan Dack completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dack's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an educator seeking to ensure our community college district stays safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been an educator for over four years and graduated from University of California, Irvine’s School of Education. I currently teach (remotely) at Laguna Beach High School.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Community safety during this pandemic is paramount. Students and faculty should not have to choose between getting an education and staying healthy.
Orange County Board of Education members have failed us when it comes to keeping students and educators safe, and I want to make sure the same cannot be said for our community college board.
Despite having a high UC transfer rate, there are still far too many students who are unable to complete their required course load in two years due to class unavailability. I promise to expand impacted courses so that our two-year program does not turn into an endless headache for students who want to get their education started.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education policy. Education is the great equalizer in our society, but the quality of education is not equal across the United States and is highly dependent on zip code and socio-economic status. I hope to change this wherever I can.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

The person I look up to the most is Jerry Brown. He started out his life in a political family, but was not immediately drawn to it, and instead sought a more private life working in a Jesuit seminary intending to become a Catholic Priest. Obviously, Brown eventually sought a more public life, and would go on to become Governor of California, but his time in the Sacred Heart Novitiate really left a mark on how he thinks, and questions issues brought before him. I hope that in my public and private life, I might be as inquisitive and seek to look at issues from a variety of perspectives. This type of thinking leads to critically assessing what positions you hold dear and ensuring there is a logical consistency in your belief system. I think all the best leaders share this thought process. If I am able to question all issues, even issues I agree with, to draw out a solid foundation for WHY I agree with that particular issue, I can build up a warranted conviction for a stance on said issue. I think this is the trait of a competent leader, and likely the reason Brown has had such a lasting presence in California politics and government.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I would certainly suggest listening to KQED's "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown" as well as read "The Browns of California: The Family Dynasty that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation" by Miriam Pawel. These two sources really solidify the sort of critical thinking process I aspire to utilize while in office. I don't want to be a slave to ideology or dogma. If there is a good idea, wherever it comes from, I will take it into consideration, as I am working toward better education for all, not just a specific segment of society.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I am such a huge fan of Indie/Electronic music. So much so that I hosted a radio program at UCI while I was in my graduate program, so there is a lot to choose from! My answer for the last song that got stuck in my head would probably Change of Coast by Neon Indian. I have enjoyed a lot of Neon Indian's work, but this song is really the next level for me. It has a fantastic use of synthesizers and a hint of an 80's New Wave alternative sound behind it. Beyond all of that, the song is clearly about the state I call home, and maybe that is what sticks with me.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I don't like to talk about it a lot, but I suffer from an invisible disability. I caught Scarlet Fever when I was extremely young, and it left me with Unilateral Hearing Loss (Single-Sided Deafness). You would never know it from looking at me, and might pick up on it during a person to person interaction, but the reality is a vast majority of people I interact with would never know. This fact really helps to keep me grounded in the classroom when it comes to making assumptions about how students are coping with their workload or life in general. As educators, we may be able to pick up on things about our students lives, but unless they are explicitly shared, we have no idea what students may be going through in their daily lives. It's important to keep this in mind when figuring out why a student may not be performing well academically or is causing difficulty in the classroom. Empathy and a real attempt to understand go a long way.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Having looked up the history of the South Orange County Community College District, it has sadly been more of a political springboard for board members than an actual board dedicated to providing students and educators with the resources they require to be successful. I can't say I think prior political experience is a desirable trait for this office.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I firmly believe that members of the board should have recent experience in the classroom. Education has changed so dramatically, even in the last decade, that members who have not taught recently cannot have a solid grasp of how board policy impacts educators and students. Especially now during this pandemic, having both in the classroom and remote classroom experiences are so valuable when making decisions that impact thousands of students.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

South Orange County Community College District District 6

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 14, 2020
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 7, 2024

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 14, 2020

[2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 7, 2024

[1]

[2]

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Ryan Dack

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for South Orange County Community College District District 6

Endorsements

2022

General election

Special general election for South Orange County Community College District District 6

Endorsements

2020

General election

General election for South Orange County Community College District District 6

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

2020

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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