Richard Cantu, First Vice President

Richard Cantu is the executive director of the East Aldine Management District and has more than 30 years of experience as a public servant. He has also worked in executive-level/management positions at the City of Houston (Parks and Recreation Department and Mayor's Office), including six years as director of the Mayor's Citizens' Assistance Office. Additionally, he worked for the non-profit BakerRipley as a community center and program director. 

He serves on the Advisory Board of the Lone Star College Law Enforcement Academy and is trained as a Crime Prevention Specialist with the Texas Crime Prevention Association. He is past president of the Aldine Education Foundation and former co-chair of the North Harris County Education Alliance. He is a graduate of Leadership North Houston and the Citizens' Police Academy of the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff's Office. He is also a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston and a Master of Liberal Arts in Public Administration from the University of St. Thomas.

Cantu began his term in January 2019 with the term expiring in December 2030.