Full Biography for Ron Packard

Candidate for
United States Representative; District 48

Ron Packard is committed to serving the people of the 48th Congressional District of California. A former community small businessman, school board member, city councilman, and mayor, Congressman Packard has always believed that the federal government should return power to state and local government officials, who know best the needs of their constituents.

Ron Packard was born on January 19, 1931 in Meridian, Idaho. He grew up and graduated from high school in this small, rural town and later attended Brigham Young University and Portland State University. Packard received a D.M.D. degree in 1957 from the University of Oregon Dental School. For the next two years, Dr. Packard served in the United States Navy Dental Corps at Camp Pendleton, California.

In 1959, Packard moved to the Carlsbad area, where he founded the Packard Dental Clinic. He was soon chosen to serve as a trustee of the Carlsbad Unified School District and remained on the board from 1962 to 1974, including three years as Chairman. After serving as director of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce for four years and Carlsbad City Councilman for two years, Dr. Packard was elected Mayor of Carlsbad in 1978.

Packard was also involved in regional affairs and served four years as a director of the North County Transit District. He also worked on the transportation policy committee of the California League of Cities for three years. Packard's years of service led to a broad understanding of regional issues, and he was elected to a two-year Presidency of San Diego County's Council of Mayors.

Congressman Ron Packard was first elected to the United States House of Representatives on November 2, 1982. Congressman Packard was only the fourth successful write-in candidate in U.S. history. He was most recently reelected in 1996 to serve his eighth term representing the 48th District.

Packard currently serves as Chairman of the Military Construction Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He is also a member of the Transportations Appropriations and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees. The Congressman previously served as Chariman of the Legislative Branch Subcommitte, where he slashed Congress's own budget by ten percent. If every other federal government agency and department made similar cuts, the federal budget would not only balance -- it would show a $100 billion surplus!

Ron Packard and Jean Sorenson were married in 1952. Congressman and Mrs. Packard recently celebrated their 45th anniversary and have seven children, thirty-four grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.