Russell Ruderman was elected to the State Senate on November 6, 2012, representing the newly created Senate District 2, which includes all of Puna district and the Pahala area in Ka‘u district on the Big Island. 
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   Russell graduated from Overbrook High School, Philadelphia, PA. in 1971, and received a B.S. degree in Biology from Pennsylvania State University in 1975. 
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   After many years as a pioneer in the natural food industry, in 1998 Russell founded and owns Island Naturals Markets, a group of retail natural food markets on the Big Island, with locations in Hilo, Pahoa, and Kailua-Kona. Island Naturals is a leader in the local foods movement and in many environmental issues facing the food and agriculture industries. Russell was named "Small Businessperson of the Year" by Small Business Administration for Hawaii County in 2007, and also received Hawaii County's first "Keeping it Green" award the same year, for the many environmental innovations at Island Naturals. Russell has a daughter, Kate, and a granddaughter, Claire. 
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In addition to Island Naturals, Russell has been involved in many environmental issues, including local food promotion, GMO concerns, reducing plastic bag usage, sustainable agriculture, rainforest and native habitat protection, and safe renewable energy. He has served on the County's Agriculture Committee, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center Advisory Committee, and County Environmental Management Commission. Russell was spokesperson for Big Island Rainforest Action Group and an intervener before the PUC in its first Integrated Resource Management docket in 1991. He has also been president of Waawaa Community Association and a member of the "Think Local, Buy Local" county initiative.