Richard Close was Chairman of the Valley VOTE organization from 1998 to 2003. He has been a Board Member since 2003.

Richard was appointed by Zev Yaroslavsky to serve on the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Committee (LAFCO). This organization studied the creation of the new Valley City and showed that it would be feasible and could be very beneficial to all Los Angeles residents. Richard's contributions to the work by the LAFCO committee were invaluable to the Valley Cityhood campaign.

Richard Close, an attorney, is the current President of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association (SOHO). He has been the leader of this organization for about three decades. The monthly meetings of SOHO attract 100 to 200 people. They listen and interact with city leaders discussing quality of life issues faced by the Sherman Oaks community. It is one of the most effective homeowners organization in the San Fernando Valley.

Richard also writes a Monthly newsletter highlighting the SOHO's meetings and other events of the organization.