Ron Packard

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Eighteen Republicans were running in the primary for the seat being vacated by Rep. Clair Burgener (R). The winner was political novice Johnnie Crean, whose family wealth bankrolled his saturation of the airwaves in the district, situated just north of San Diego. Crean spent well over $750,000 in the primary, then a substantial amount, mostly attacking his fellow Republicans, while ducking candidate forums and personal appearances. Crean defeated Carlsbad Mayor Ron Packard in the primary by 92 votes out of more than 83,000 cast. Furious, Packard announced a write-in effort. Fearful that the GOP split in this overwhelming GOP district could end up electing a Democrat, there was great pressure on Packard to end his bid. But he refused, and won the seat with 37 percent of the vote. The Democrat, Roy "Pat" Archer, finished second with 32 percent; Crean received 31 percent. [4]

Packard was only the third person to be elected to Congress as a write-in candidate, a victory later documented in Campaigns and Elections and due in part to the efforts of Russell Reed Benedict. The two previously successful congressional write-in candidates were U.S. Rep. Joe Skeen (R-New Mexico 2d Dist.) in 1980 and Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S. Carolina) in 1954. Subsequently, Alaska Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski lost her party primary in 2010, but waged a successful write-in campaign against Joe Miller, the Republican primary winner and narrowly defeated him in the general election. [5] Upon being sworn in, Packard joined the Republican caucus. He was reelected as a Republican eight times with little opposition in the heavily Republican district.

Tenure

Packard's congressional career included membership on the House Appropriations Committee. Packard served a total of nine terms and then retired from the House at the end of his term in 2001 to spend time with his family. In Congress he was known as a deficit hawk, a critic of legislative "pork", and opponent of illegal immigration. He was succeeded by Republican Darrell Issa.

Retirement and private life

A U.S. Post Office building in Oceanside, California was named for him in 2002.

Packard and his wife Jean live in Utah. They had seven children. Packard works part-time as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.

The westernmost 16.6-miles of California State Route 78 between Interstate 5 in Oceanside, California and Interstate 15 in Escondido, California is designated Ronald Packard Parkway.

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References

  1. "PACKARD, Ronald C. - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  2. SmartVoter-Ron Packard
  3. Barone, Michael; and Ujifusa, Grant. The Almanac of American Politics 1988', p. 176. National Journal , 1987.
  4. Ken Rudin. "Political Junkie". NPR.
  5. "Murkowski certified Senate election winner". December 30, 2010. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
Ron Packard
PACKARD, Ronald C.jpg
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
January 3, 1983 January 3, 2001
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the  U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 43rd congressional district

1983–1993
Succeeded by
New district Member of the  U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 48th congressional district

1993–2001
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative
Succeeded byas Former US Representative