Vince Hobbs is no stranger to the Ripon Unified School District.

He and wife, Stephanie, helped form the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation – a grassroots effort that was responsible for stadium renovations at Stouffer Field – over  a decade ago.

The local business owner and retired firefighter for the Hayward Fire Department was selected Wednesday as the provisional appointment to the Ripon Unified school board during a special morning session.

The vacancy was created when Trustee Annette Vande Pol filed a notice of resignation on Sept. 6 with the San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools office.

The selection of Hobbs to fill Vande Pol’s Area 2 post will begin after today (Oct. 3) “unless a petition calling for special election, containing a sufficient numbers of signatures, is filed in the Office of the San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools within 30 days of the date of the provisional appointment,” according to RUSD.

Hobbs is scheduled to take the oath of office at Monday’s 7 p.m. school board meeting in the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave.

Lori Loop and Judy Lowder were also in the running for the vacancy.

“Throughout the appointment process, all the candidates exhibited professionalism and their commitment to the students and willingness to serve the RUSD board is to be commended,” said Superintendent Ziggy Robeson in her press release.

Vande Pol ran unopposed for the post in 2018 for the four-year term. Hobbs’ appointment is effective through next year – November 2020 is a regular election year – and, if he or any other challengers choose to run by then, will be vying for a two-year term.

He and his family have been residents of Ripon for 24 years.

Hobbs obtained his Associate of Arts Degree from Chabot College in Hayward and has completed extensive Federal Emergency Management Agency coursework.

His passion is volunteering within the community and the school district.