Editorial

More people like Raikes needed in government

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Ron Raikes wasn't looking for a fight, but he wasn't afraid of the consequences if he was doing what he thought best.

"Nebraska has lost one of its best," University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken said in a press release following Raikes death in a farm accident Saturday night. "I know of no one who conducted himself with more dignity, integrity and intelligence in both public and private life than Ron Raikes."

Appointed to the Legislature in 1997, he served 11 years until forced out by term limits.

Raikes didn't win any friends among small school patrons in Southwest Nebraska when he helped force Class I schools to combine with larger neighbors in the name of efficiency.

Neither was he especially popular with some connected to the state's largest schools, when he helped arrange the "learning community" plan which has Omaha-area school districts sharing a common property tax levy while allowing students to stay in their home district.

"I don't enjoy having people mad at me, and I don't enjoy or feel comfortable having power over people," Raikes told The Associated Press in 2004.

We need more people like Ron Raikes involved in all levels of government.

It's tragic when anyone dies in a farm accident, but it's a special loss when someone of Raikes' education and abilities is lost.

Born and raised on a farm, he earned a degree in farm operations from Iowa State and a doctorate in ag economics at the University of California-Davis. He was a professor of agricultural economics at Iowa State before returning to take over the farm from his ailing father in 1978.

With National Farm Safety Week approaching next week, perhaps Ron Raike's tragic death will serve as a reminder to those involved in farming to take special precautions.

Comments

View 1 comment

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

You all can say what a wonderful man Mr. Raikes was since he's passed but I will always remember how he forced the closing of class one schools when the majority of the people of not only his legislative district but of the whole state said no to the closing of these schools. He rammed it down our throats anyway! He had no consideration of the parents that have to drive twice as far now to get their kids to school & how much longer the kids are on the bus.

I was looking forward to going toe to toe with him someday in an alley but as they say carma came first!

Remember him how you wish, but the "majority" of us will remember him as a spoiled dictator throwing his tantrum on the legislative floor!

-- Posted by antiraikes on Thu, Sep 10, 2009, at 9:16 PM

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register