Packard is home from House, this time to stay

POLITICS: South Orange County representative retires with 18 years of Capitol Hill memories.

December 31, 2000

By JOSÉ ALFREDO FLORES
The Orange County Register

WASHINGTON --- In the waning days of the long congressional session, Rep. Ron Packard, like his colleagues, just wanted to go home. The difference between him and most other House members was that Packard would be going home for good.

After three decades of public service, including 18 years in Congress representing south Orange County and north San Diego County, the 69-year-old dentist-turned-politician retired this month."Eighteen years is long enough," Packard said recently as he sat in a leather chair in the middle of his near-barren office. His desk was already gone, shipped off to his new home in Carlsbad.

"I feel I've neglected my family for so many years," he said. "Congress is tough on families."

That family includes his wife, Jean, seven children, 34 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The former Carlsbad mayor first went to the House in 1982, only the fourth write-in candidate elected to Congress and the only one in the 20th century.

He arrived with a head of blond hair beginning to gray. He leaves with snow-white hair, bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and a wrinkle or two.

"I've loved my job," Packard said. "Not a lot of people can say that."

He said he will miss the Capitol and the action that goes with being a House member. For example, it took him 15 years to get the office he had for his last four years on Capitol Hill. It's one of the best in town - spacious, with a great view of the Capitol.

Packing it in

Packard had filled his walls with framed pictures of him with fellow Republicans Ronald Reagan and George Bush to go with his bills signed by the former presidents.

The last bill that bears his name became law Oct. 27, when President Clinton signed the 2001 appropriations bill for energy and water.

On Packard's mantle were pictures of him with Vice President-elect Dick Cheney and former President Nixon.

There were some unusual items, too, including statuettes of a cartoonish dentist, a naval officer and a Boy Scout. The dentist is recognition of his first profession. The Navy man commemorates his efforts to establish the U.S. Navy Memorial, and the Scout is recognition of his years of volunteerism for the group.

Surveying the many awards and mementoes he has received over the years, Packard wondered aloud, "What am I going to do with all of these?"

A couple of months ago, Packard was given a tribute on the House floor. He fought back tears.

"This is not easy for me," he said then. "It was a difficult decision to retire, but I'm in the place I've always wanted to be. I'm leaving the right way - at the top of my career."

Packard didn't change his work habits much, even after announcing his retirement.

A workaholic, he was still spending 10 to 12 hours a day at his office, reading requests for funding from subcommittee members and meeting with his legislative staff, lobbyists and constituents visiting Washington. He rarely dined out, preferring to grab a vegetable plate from the cafeteria and work while eating lunch.

Party loyalist

Packard had a reputation as someone who could work easily with members on the other side of the political aisle but also was fiercely loyal to the Republican Party. He was a key lieutenant in former Rep. Bob Livingston's aborted effort to become House speaker.

During his years on the Hill, Packard concentrated on appropriating money for the nation's infrastructure, becoming an expert on transportation, military, energy and water matters.

On issues in his 48th District, Packard said he is proud of helping to improve the quality of life for Marines at Camp Pendleton by pushing for military pay increases and other improvements.

He also worked to increase funding for the Orange County Transportation Authority and for water and shoreline projects throughout the region. Among those was the Santa Ana flood control project.

"He's been an outstanding representative for us," said Mike Parness, city manager of San Clemente. "He will be sorely missed for his quite effective leadership. I was shocked to find that in an urbanized area like this to have a congressman so approachable and so accessible. Whenever he was in the district, he would touch base with his cities."

During the House's tribute to him, even Democrats had kind words.

"Ron optimizes public service," said Rep. Peter Visclosky of Indiana, the senior Democrat on Packard's energy and water subcommittee. "It's never been about partisanship with him; it's always about the issue. He is a man of his word."

Environmental concerns

Packard didn't make many enemies, but he raised eyebrows among environmentalists in his district.

For example, he has been a strong advocate of extending the Foothill (241) Toll Road south from Coto de Caza to San Clemente. The proposed route goes through some environmentally sensitive areas.

He also drew criticism from environmental groups for his support of the widening of Highway 76 in San Diego County. Packard wanted to eliminate dangerous curves. Environmentalists were concerned about destruction of habitat for the least Bell's vireo, an endangered bird.

Construction was delayed three years. During that time, Packard said, more than 40 people died in accidents attributed to the dangerous road conditions.

"I may have been viewed as a heretic on the environment by some," said Packard, but he insisted the needs of humans must be paramount.

Top moments

Packard counts among his most memorable moments in Congress a briefing given by Nixon.

"He came and talked to the Republican members in the House on foreign affairs for one and a half hours without looking at his notes," Packard said. "It was the most profound briefing by someone who had fallen out of grace."

The most controversial episode?

Packard prides himself on the values he grew up with in his Mormon home in Idaho and says that was part of the reason he voted to impeach Clinton.

"I tried to bring honor into this profession," Packard said. "I just wished the president got that."

He said his most sobering debate was when Congress argued whether to send troops for Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf.

"That was the most emotional and serious moment for me," Packard said. "It was completely devoid of partisanship."

Now Packard plans to travel, visit relatives, fish and play golf. But he won't retreat completely into private life.

"I want to stay involved in the process, serve in some form and try to influence my community," he said.