Frank Ricchiazzi served as a co-founder of the Log Cabin Republican Club. He helped found the two chapters of the club, Los Angeles (1977) and Orange County (1983). This move early in his political career made clear that gay rights were to hold an important part in his policies.

After the founding of the Log Cabin Club, Ricchiazzi used his newfound influence to run for California State assembly in 1982. While he was not elected, his run inspired many more queer politicians to run for office as well.

Ricchiazzi - while not being elected to California State Assembly - was elected to chair of the 55th Assembly District in 1983. This thus allowed him to work behind the scenes within the California political sphere. Ricchiazzi was also elected onto the California State Executive Committee of the Republican Party in 1987, highlighting his only growing influence on Calfornia politics. Notably, Ricchiazzi became the first ever openly gay man to be appointed to the state Republican Party's executive committee. Ricchiazzi also served as the executive director of CIRCL-PAC (within 1980s and 90s), a political action committee that supports gay-friendly Republican candidates. CIRCL-PAC, or Californians for Individual Rights and Civil Liberties, is the largest gay political action committee in the country. As an added note on his resume, Ricchiazzi was appointed to the California Motor Vehicle Board in 1986 and became assistant director of the Motor Vehicle Board (1991) after organizing winning candidate Pete Wilson's campaign.