William “Rusty” Bailey III M.P.P. ’99

Many words and phrases can be used to describe William “Rusty” Bailey III M.P.P. ’99; among them, West Point graduate, aviator, army veteran, public policy student and innovator, sustainability advocate, man of faith, bicycle enthusiast, councilman, and now Riverside Mayor. However, none fit him better than “family first” and “service to community.”

Bailey’s election as mayor of California’s 12th largest city caps nearly 100 years of service to the Riverside community by the Bailey family. This service by five generations of Baileys was underscored when Bailey was sworn in as Riverside’s 19th mayor by his mentors, Judge Gabbert, age 103, and his father, Judge Bailey in the presence of his wife Judy, and daughters Elizabeth, 10, and Julia, 6.

After completing high school at Riverside Poly, Bailey graduated from West Point with a B.A. in political science in 1994 and served in the United States Army as a helicopter pilot. He then earned an M.P.P. degree from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs in 1999 and interned with his mentor, Luskin School visiting professor, former Massachusetts Governor and 1988 presidential candidate, Michael Dukakis, before moving to Washington, D.C. to become a White House Presidential Management Fellow. He worked in that capacity from 1999 to 2001 at the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Executive Office of the President. His work at HUD on the anti-poverty Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Initiative, in large part, shaped his views on combating urban poverty.

Bailey then returned to Riverside where he worked briefly at the Riverside County Economic Development Agency before becoming a teacher and soccer coach at his alma mater, Riverside Poly High School. He continued to teach and coach after being twice elected as a councilman representing Ward 3 until he was sworn in as Riverside’s mayor.

As councilman, Bailey played an important role in shaping “Seizing Our Destiny,” a policy blueprint for Riverside’s future that focuses on four key areas: improving quality of life for residents; becoming a catalyst for innovation, through high-tech, green-tech and health care jobs; making Riverside a location of choice for families and businesses alike; and unifying the city, and harnessing its resources and residents for the public good.

As mayor, he is committed to advancing this agenda by supporting California’s first school of medicine in four decades at the University of California, Riverside; spurring job growth in 21st century clean and green industries; inspiring Riverside residents to lead healthy and active lives through a “Fit, Fresh and Fun” initiative; and by expanding and implementing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded “Completion Counts” project aimed at inspiring school children to attend and complete college. Riverside is foremost an education-focused community with three universities, a community college, two school districts and numerous private schools. Because of this and his roots as an educator, the physical, mental and intellectual health of Riverside’s students is especially dear to him.

Bailey believes in leading by example. Just ask the residents who join him to explore Riverside’s neighborhoods through his “Bike with the Mayor” initiative.