2027-28 District Governor Elect - Richard Forster

Richard was born in South Laguna, California and is a proud fifth generation Californian. He has resided in Amador County since 1975 and graduated from Ione High School and the University of California, Davis with a degree in Agricultural & Managerial Economics. Richard worked with his family all of his life raising commercial cattle and is no stranger to the back of a horse. He now raises cattle and sheep with his family. 

Richard and his wife, Laurie, were married in 1982 and have two daughters (Lindsey [Rob] & Tyler [Ryan]) and five grandchildren (Quinn, Lauren, Corra, Graycen, & Rhett). Quinn entered high school this year and Lauren is right behind her. Laurie is also a proud fifth generation Californian and has served as a Director for the Amador County Fair for over 20 years.

Richard represented District 2 for six consecutive terms on the Amador County Board of Supervisors and served for 24 years. He previously served eight years on the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors. He retired at the end of 2024 after serving the residents of Amador County for 32 years. Richard previously served on the Amador County Fair Board for 17 years and the Ione Planning Commission. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West #33, the Ione Business & Community Association, the Preston Castle Foundation for 20 years, the Rotary Club of Ione, and the Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for 11 years. He also served as President of the Rural County Representatives of California (35 counties) in 2006 and President of the California State Association of Counties (58 counties) in 2016.

Richard is the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Ione and has served as his Club President three times. In 2023- 2024, Rotary Club of Ione was named Best Intermediate Club and Club of the Year for District 5190. He is the Membership Chair for Ione Rotary and served on the District Membership Committee five years before becoming the District 5190 Membership Chair from 2021-2024. He is still an active member of the District Membership Committee and is passionate about growing Rotary having personally sponsored over 30 great community members into Rotary since 2000. He served as Assistant Governor for Area 7 from 2017-2020 and now serves as a facilitator for the District Leadership Training. Richard is a Paul Harris Society member, PolioPlus Society member, Major Donor, Benefactor, and a Bequest Society member.