Richard T. Dixon was elected to the inaugural Lake Forest City Council in March 1991. During his tenure as Council Member, he served as Mayor Pro Tem in 1994, 1998, 1999, and 2001, and Mayor during the years of 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2003.

Council Member Dixon serves the citizens of Lake Forest in many other capacities as well. He is past Chairman and current Board Member of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, Representative to the Orange County Fire Authority, and Alternate Representative to the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. Council Member Dixon holds several positions in the Southern California Association of Governments - Regional Council Board Member to District 13 representing the Cities of Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods and Rancho Santa Margarita; Member of the Transportation and Communication, Growth Visioning, and Strategic Planning Committees; Vice Chair of Administration Committee; and Chair of the Highways Task Force. Council Member Dixon is also the immediate past President of the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities, Orange County Division Representative to the Regional Board of LOCAL (Leave our Community Assets Local), Grass Roots Advisory Board Member and a Member of the Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee. He is past Chairman, and current Board Member of the Orange County Council of Governments (COG).

In addition to his official City duties, Council Member Dixon has been in the insurance business since 1975 and started his own health insurance agency in 1987. He is a recipient of the Small Business of the Year Award and member of the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce and the South Orange County Chambers of Commerce. He is also a Board Member of both the Crisis Assistance Program and Partners in Caring.