PLAN's statement on the passing of Senator William Raggio
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The following is a statement from PLAN's chief lobbyist, Jan Gilbert. A social justice advocate in Carson City for more than 28 years, Jan is retiring this year after 18 years representing PLAN in Northern Nevada. While Senator Raggio and PLAN were often at odds on various issues, there was a mutual respect and admiration between Jan and the Senator.
As an organization PLAN honors Senator Raggio's remarkable service to our great state and we appreciate his willingness to always come to the table to listen to our side. Senator Raggio's legacy casts a long shadow on Nevada politics and we will always admire his determination to do what he felt was right -- putting people over politics -- even when it upset his party. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family.
Statement from Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada's chief lobbyist and Northern Nevada director, Jan Gilbert, on the passing of Nevada's legendary state senator, William Raggio
Carson City -- Last night Nevada lost one of its true statesmen, Senator William Raggio. Many knew him as a champion for higher education and a “tough on crime” advocate. But PLAN worked with Senator Raggio on many other issues. He championed the rights of disadvantaged people. He knew that Nevada needed to provide essential services, particularly for Disabled individuals. He often voted against many in his party to increase funding for Human Services including raising the grant for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. And he stood up for increasing revenues at a time when his party was fractured on the issue.
Senator Raggio will be remembered by PLAN as someone who spoke out for increased revenues at one of the largest Human Services rallies ever held at the Nevada legislature in 2003. He spoke against those in his party that represented the John Birch Society. He felt that they were destroying the integrity of his party. He was someone who knew the power of compromise and diplomacy.
PLAN and Senator Raggio weren’t always on the same page but in 1987, he voted with the Anti-Nuclear Waste advocates to prevent the creation of the nuke dump in Southern Nevada. Senator Raggio was one of the first people who pointed out to us that we needed to look at the revenue side of the equation rather than just the expenditures.
Advocates for PLAN were always allowed in his office to voice our issues even though we didn’t always agree. Many knew when I was going to a meeting with Senator Raggio because I got more dressed up that day. He was “old school” and I respected that. When he lost his right hand Senator, Ray Rawson, who was the expert on the Human Services budgets, he jumped in and had a steep learning curve on the intricacies of those issues. PLAN’s Economic Justice Committee along with the Human Services Network had a lengthy meeting with him prior to that session to share our opinions. And he always listened intently.
Senator Raggio was often seen at events around town. Just recently he and his wife Dale attended the Martin Luther King Celebration put on by the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society. He seldom missed one of these events. One year I saw him in Elko at a Cowboy Poetry annual event with his wife and daughter. He even got out on the dance floor to two-step with his daughter. True Nevada style.
We applaud him in a life given to public service. We send condolences to his wife, Dale, and his two daughters.
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