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) |
| Personal details | |
| 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 on January 19, 1931, is a retired American politician. He was a Republican from California. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for many years, from 1983 to 2001.
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About Ronald Packard's Early Life and Education
Ronald C. Packard grew up in Meridian, Idaho. He went to Meridian High School. He then studied at Brigham Young University and Portland State University.
In 1957, he earned a degree in dentistry from the University of Oregon Dental School. This school is now called the Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry. After college, he joined the Navy. He worked in the Navy's dental team from 1957 to 1959. Later, he became a dentist.
Packard's Start in Politics
Packard began his political career in Carlsbad, California. From 1962 to 1974, he was a trustee for the Carlsbad Unified School District. This meant he helped manage the local schools.
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.
How Ronald Packard Became a Congressman
In 1982, Ronald Packard wanted to become a member of the United States House of Representatives. He ran in the Republican primary election. A primary election is when people from the same party vote to choose their best candidate. Packard lost this primary election by a very small number of votes.
Even though he lost, Packard decided to run again. He ran as a write-in candidate. This means people had to write his name on the ballot themselves. This is a very difficult way to win an election. Packard campaigned by giving out pencils and showing people how to write his name.
He won the election by 11,000 votes. This was a big surprise because he was a write-in candidate. He became the first independent write-in candidate to beat both the Democratic and Republican party candidates. Only a few people in U.S. history have won a seat in Congress as a write-in candidate. After winning, Packard joined the Republican group in Congress. He was re-elected eight more times.
Packard's Time in Congress
Ronald Packard served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. This means he was a congressman for 18 years. He was a member of the House Appropriations Committee. This committee decides how the government spends money.
Packard was known for being a "deficit hawk." This means he was very careful about government spending. He did not like "pork" projects, which are special projects that benefit only a small area. He also opposed illegal immigration. Packard retired from Congress in 2001 to spend more time with his family. Darrell Issa took his place in Congress.
Life After Congress
After retiring, a U.S. Post Office building in Oceanside, California was named after him in 2002. Also, a part of California State Route 78 is called Ronald Packard Parkway. This highway runs between Oceanside, California and Escondido, California.
Ronald Packard and his wife, Jean, live in Utah. They have seven children. Packard still works part-time as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.. A lobbyist tries to influence government decisions.
