Mark F. Balys
District I – Supervisor Jeffries
Born and raised in Niagara Falls, New York Mr. Balys graduated from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA and from U.C. Riverside. After a 34 year career with the Riverside County Planning Department he retired as Deputy Planning Director. Since 1980 he has been on the Board of Directors of Altura Credit Union and is currently Vice-Chairman of the board. Mark has served Habitat for Humanity Riverside as a volunteer, board member, two-term past president, and most recently as Director of Fund Development. He and his wife Pam, a teacher at Matthew Gage Middle School, reside in Riverside. He was appointed to the Regional Park District Commission by Supervisor Bob Buster in 2010.
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Amie Kinne
District I – Supervisor Jeffries
Amie Kinne was appointed to the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District Advisory Commission on December 11, 2012. Ms. Kinne also serves as the Chair of the Riverside County Trails Committee. She grew up on the shores of Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin. While being surrounded by vast open spaces and plenty of wildlife, her foundation of conservation and appreciation of nature was born. Ms. Kinne later moved to Southern California when she attended the University of California, Irvine. She has been actively reaching out to like-minded people as an equestrian, hiker, and photographer. She supports various conservancy groups, participates in clean ups, and has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America. Ms. Kinne enjoys reading field guidebooks and refers to herself as an amateur naturalist in training.
Ray Smith
District II – Supervisor Tavaglione
Ray Smith is the public information officer for Riverside County and works in the county Executive Office. A former journalist, Smith was a reporter for The Press Enterprise newspaper in Riverside for 15 years before joining the county in 2001. He covered local government, the court system and other news beats, specializing in investigations about at-risk youths, young offenders and the Inland Empire’s methamphetamine crisis.
While at the newspaper he also coordinated a mentoring program for journalism students at two Inland Empire high schools and was an instructor/coordinator in journalism workshops sponsored by the California Chicano News Media Association. Smith formerly held positions as an adjunct communications instructor at Riverside Community College and as writing coach for the college newspaper.
Smith spent several years as a member of the Riverside Superior Court Community Planning Committee. The panel consists of judges, attorneys, educators, and community representatives who oversee and sponsor programs to educate the public about the court and help the court better serve the community.
Before moving to California in 1986, Smith worked in Florida as a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times and as night city editor of the Gainesville Sun. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and a rabid fan of the Florida Gators. He grew up in Staten Island, N.Y., famous for its ferry and its mob families.
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Dan Hake, Vice Chair
District II – Supervisor Tavaglione
Daniel S. Hake was appointed to the Riverside County Regional Park & Open Space District Advisory Commission in 2008. He previously served for six years as a member and chairman of the Riverside County Advisory Committee on Substance Abuse Programs and is currently a member of the Everest College Criminal Justice Advisory Board. Daniel has resided in Riverside County for 23-years and retired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after 31-years of service. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Behavioral Science from the California State University system.
Darrell Connerton, Chair
District III – Supervisor Stone
Darrell L. Connerton first moved to Temecula in 1992. He was appointed to and served as Traffic and Safety Commissioner (6 years) in the City of Temecula. First appointed in 1998 and reappointed in 2000. Mr. Connerton was appointed to and served as Vice Chairman of the General Plan review Committee for the City of Temecula. In 2005 was appointed to the Riverside Parks and Open Space Commission for District 3 and reappointed in 2008.
Cois Byrd
District III – Supervisor Stone
Following his discharge from active duty, Cois joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, eventually rising to the top leadership role in the agency, having been elected to Sheriff in 1987 and re-elected in 1991. Cois graduated from Riverside City College, California State University, and the University of Southern California. His professional affiliations are many, as are his commitment to community activities over a long and impressive career.
Cois is married to Evelyn and they have two adult children. In additional to serving as a District Advisory Commissioner, Cois is a member of the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation Advisory Council. He also continues to lead efforts to establish a County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Museum to preserve and share the artifacts and history that has been gathered for more than a century.
Christopher Thomas
District IV – Supervisor Benoit
Christopher Thomas holds a BA, CDP and MBA. He is married and resides in Palm Desert. He retired from American Airlines/Sabre, Inc. in 2001. While at American Airlines, he held a variety of positions from programmer analyst to project manager to manager in Info Systems. During his work life, Chris became a certified Project Management Profession (PMP) in the Project Management Institute (PMI). Currently, Chris is a Commissioner on the Palm Desert Parks and Recreation Commission. He is an avid pickleball player and plays in tournaments in several states. Chris also serves as the Western Regional Ambassador for the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA).
Bob Grady
District IV – Supervisor Benoit
Robert “Bob” Grady has been serving on the District Advisory Commission representing District IV and the Palo Verde Valley since 2005. He is a 36 year law enforcement veteran who retired as Chief of Police with the City of Blythe in 2004. He holds a degree in Public Service Management from the University of Redlands and an AA in Criminal Justice from Palo Verde College. He holds a California lifetime community college teaching credential. Mr.Grady also sits as Chair of the School Attendance Review Board with the Palo Verde Unified School District.
Hugh Van Horn
District IV – Supervisor Benoit
Hugh Van Horn, a longtime resident of Riverside County, was appointed as a District IV representative in July 2012. Hugh grew up in the Southwest part of the county and currently lives in Indio. He is the Branch Manager for International City Mortgage in Indian Wells, and also served as one of the co-chairs for the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival. Named one of Palm Springs 40 under 40 in the October 2010 issue of Palm Springs Life Magazine, Hugh is also on the Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley Family Selection Committee. In 2011, Hugh graduated from Leadership Coachella Valley, a program designed to identify, motivate and develop future community leaders. Prior to his career in the mortgage industry, Hugh performed in various theaters and theme parks around Southern California including The Welk Resort, Disneyland, Legoland, South Bay Civic Light Opera, Musical Theater West, and Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, just to name a few. Hugh and his wife Jeni have three young children and family is one of the most important things in his life. He believes that the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District provides a great service to its communities by providing places where families can share great moments and grow closer together.
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Jerry Cody
District V – Supervisor Ashley
Jerry was enlisted in U.S. Navy and served during the Korean conflict. Throughout his career he exhibited a wide level of leadership skills thru a career serving in several capacities at Walt Disney Company and the Teamsters Union Local 88. Volunteer service has always been an important part of Commissioner Cody’s life. He, and his wife, Leone, became very involved and dedicated to improving their community as a team of watchdogs, cheerleaders, fundraisers, whistle-blowers and trusted advisors. Their biggest effort was organizing the San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse Committee working with County officials to preserve and restore the original 1890’s San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse and place it on the National Register. Additionally they worked with Riverside County Noble Creek Park and the City of Beaumont in establishing bike trails that will run to the Schoolhouse. One of his favorite projects is spreading holiday cheer for children in need through the Toys for Tots toy drive. Commissioner Cody still serves, very actively, as Chairman of the Schoolhouse Committee. He also currently serves as Vice President of the San Gorgonio Pass Historical Committee.
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Judy Nieburger
District V – Supervisor Ashley
Judy “The Snake Lady” Nieburger, was born in St. Louis and went to Webster College. She and her husband moved to California after he joined the Air Force, and settled in Moreno Valley. Judy served two terms on the MVUSD School Board and was later elected to Moreno Valley’s first City Council. She also served on the SCAG Board, RCTC Board, and the Environment Committee for League of California Cities. Despite retiring, Judy actively serves on the Board of Moreno Valley’s Community Assistance Program, YMCA Board, Friends of Moreno Valley Senior Center Board, and is President of the Moreno Valley Friends of the Library, and was awarded Alumnus of the Year at R.C.C. Currently, Judy and her husband Jack celebrated their 50th anniversary in June of 2010, they raised three children and now have six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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