After teaching for several years in Sacramento high schools, Rodda entered the United States Navy Reserve and was a gunnery officer in World War II.

[2] A Democrat, Rodda won a 1958 special election to the California State Senate to represent the 19th District to fill the vacancy created by the death of Earl D. Desmond, defeating Desmond's son and two other Democrats.

[1][3] Rodda's best-known legislative legacy is SB 160, enacted in 1975 and taking effect in 1976, which established collective bargaining for California's public school teachers.

In 1983, Rodda left the commission and was elected to the Los Rios Community College District board, where he served until 1992.

[1] Rodda met Clarice Horgan, an English teacher, when they both taught at Grant Union High School.