Ron Packard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Packard
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Clair Burgener |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Issa |
| Constituency | 43rd district (1983–1993) 48th district (1993–2001) |
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| Born | January 19, 1931 Meridian, Idaho, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Jean Packard, Verdie Packard |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University |
Ronald C. Packard (born January 19, 1931) is an American politician. He is a Republican from California. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 2001.
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Ron Packard's Early Life and Career
Ronald C. Packard was born in Meridian, Idaho. He grew up there and went to Meridian High School. He studied at Brigham Young University and Portland State University. In 1957, he became a dentist after studying at the University of Oregon Dental School.
After dental school, Packard joined the Navy Dental Corps. He served from 1957 to 1959. After leaving the Navy, he worked as a dentist.
Entering Politics: From School Board to Mayor
Packard started his political career in 1962. He became a trustee for the Carlsbad Unified School District in California. He served on the school board for 12 years.
In 1976, he was elected to the Carlsbad City Council. Two years later, in 1978, he became the Mayor of Carlsbad. As mayor, he worked on many community projects. He helped with transportation plans and led a group of mayors in San Diego County.
The 1982 Election: A Unique Victory
In 1982, Ron Packard ran for the United States House of Representatives. He lost the first round of voting, called the primary election. He lost by only 92 votes to another Republican candidate, Johnnie Crean.
Crean's campaign had some problems. So, Packard decided to try something very unusual. He ran as a write-in candidate. This means voters had to write his name on the ballot themselves.
Winning as a Write-In Candidate
Packard's team found that voters would support him if they knew how to write his name. He campaigned with a giant pencil and gave out small pencils. Many people, including fellow Mormons, helped his campaign.
Packard won the election by 11,000 votes. This was a big surprise! He became the first independent write-in candidate to beat both Democratic and Republican party candidates. It was a rare event in American politics.
Packard was only the third person ever to be elected to Congress as a write-in candidate. After winning, he joined the Republican group in Congress. He was re-elected eight more times.
Ron Packard's Time in Congress
Packard served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 18 years. He was a member of the House Appropriations Committee. This committee decides how the government spends money.
During his time in Congress, Packard was known for a few things. He was called a "deficit hawk." This means he wanted the government to spend less money and avoid debt. He also spoke out against "pork." This term refers to government spending that benefits only a small area or project, which he saw as wasteful.
Packard retired from Congress in 2001. He wanted to spend more time with his family. Darrell Issa, another Republican, took his place.
Life After Congress
After retiring, Ron Packard continued to be recognized. In 2002, a U.S. Post Office building in Oceanside, California was named after him.
The western part of California State Route 78 is also named Ronald Packard Parkway. This road stretches for about 16.6 miles between Interstate 5 in Oceanside, California and Interstate 15 in Escondido, California.
Packard and his wife, Jean, now live in Utah. They have seven children. He still works part-time as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.. A lobbyist is someone who tries to influence lawmakers on behalf of a group or company.
