Print
E-mail
Rate
Ramaker to run for state rep. seat
 |
By Steve Dunn/Gate City Managing Editor
Retired Keokuk police officer Gary Ramaker is seeking the Republican nomination for state representative from Iowa's 92nd District.
The incumbent, state Rep. Phil Wise, D-Keokuk, announced Feb. 8 he will not seek re-election this year after 22 years in the House of Representatives.
Saying he's fired up about running for office, Ramaker added, “I'm honest, I won't be intimidated and I'll be there every day.”
Ramaker retired from the Keokuk Police Department in 2004 as deputy chief after 31 years with the department. At the end of his law enforcement career in Keokuk, Ramaker was awarded a special deputy commission for the United States Marshal's Service through the Department of Homeland Security. He also received one of the highest security clearances by the United States Secret Service that enabled him to guard federal dignitaries.
He attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., while he worked for the police department. He received the Kiwanis Club's first Police Office of the Year Award, the Kipton Haywood Award and the Commissioner's Special Award for Traffic Safety sponsored by the Governor's Traffic and Safety Bureau.
“We have way too much government,” Ramaker said. “Leave people alone.”
He cited the current debate in the Legislature about banning smoking. He said the state is being hypocritical when it exempts casinos among others from the statewide smoking ban legislation.
“Let people make up their own minds (about smoking),” he commented.
Southeast Iowa has been picked on by the state, he believes. He cited the loss of the machinery and equipment tax, which provided a considerable amount of revenue for cities such as Keokuk. When the state cut funding to local governments due to the state's financial problems, state legislators gave themselves pay raises anyway, he said.
Before joining the police department, Ramaker worked for McCredie Dodge in Keokuk, the Iowa Ammunition Plant in Middletown, the Sante Fe Railroad as a fireman on the Fort Madison-to-Chicago route and the Iowa State Penitentiary as a corrections officer. He also was an ironworker in Peoria, Ill., a construction worker and drove large equipment for Hickey Construction Company of Keokuk.
He graduated from Keokuk High School in 1966, lettering in sports. After graduation, he attended Southeast Iowa Area Community College (now SCC) and received an associate of arts degree. Then he continued his education at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in Kirksville, Mo.
Gary and his wife, Marsha, were married in 1974 in Fort Madison. She is an eighth grade language arts teacher and language arts department chairperson at Keokuk Middle School. She has taught for 35 years and belonged to the Keokuk Education Association teachers' union for 35 years.
The couple has two sons, Andrew, 26, and Rob, 22, and one grandson. Andrew is an Illinois State Trooper and works the interstate system and toll way system between Chicago and Wisconsin. Rob is a senior at Western Illinois University and wants to become a college history teacher after he receives a master's degree in history.
Gary is a charter member of the Sons of the American Legion in Keokuk and a member of the Honor Firing Guard at the Keokuk National Cemetery.
He also has raised and raced American quarter horses at such places as the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., and Prairie Meadows in Altoona. He was a race horse inspector for the state of Iowa when para-mutual racing was established.
He has restored several old tractors and is restoring a 1968 Dodge with his son, Drew. He also enjoys riding motorcycles and has owned several Harley Davidson motorcycles.
He was born in Cresco on June 8, 1948. His parents moved to Keokuk when he was 4 years old.
The incumbent, state Rep. Phil Wise, D-Keokuk, announced Feb. 8 he will not seek re-election this year after 22 years in the House of Representatives.
Saying he's fired up about running for office, Ramaker added, “I'm honest, I won't be intimidated and I'll be there every day.”
Ramaker retired from the Keokuk Police Department in 2004 as deputy chief after 31 years with the department. At the end of his law enforcement career in Keokuk, Ramaker was awarded a special deputy commission for the United States Marshal's Service through the Department of Homeland Security. He also received one of the highest security clearances by the United States Secret Service that enabled him to guard federal dignitaries.
He attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., while he worked for the police department. He received the Kiwanis Club's first Police Office of the Year Award, the Kipton Haywood Award and the Commissioner's Special Award for Traffic Safety sponsored by the Governor's Traffic and Safety Bureau.
“We have way too much government,” Ramaker said. “Leave people alone.”
ADVERTISEMENT |
“Let people make up their own minds (about smoking),” he commented.
Southeast Iowa has been picked on by the state, he believes. He cited the loss of the machinery and equipment tax, which provided a considerable amount of revenue for cities such as Keokuk. When the state cut funding to local governments due to the state's financial problems, state legislators gave themselves pay raises anyway, he said.
Before joining the police department, Ramaker worked for McCredie Dodge in Keokuk, the Iowa Ammunition Plant in Middletown, the Sante Fe Railroad as a fireman on the Fort Madison-to-Chicago route and the Iowa State Penitentiary as a corrections officer. He also was an ironworker in Peoria, Ill., a construction worker and drove large equipment for Hickey Construction Company of Keokuk.
He graduated from Keokuk High School in 1966, lettering in sports. After graduation, he attended Southeast Iowa Area Community College (now SCC) and received an associate of arts degree. Then he continued his education at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in Kirksville, Mo.
Gary and his wife, Marsha, were married in 1974 in Fort Madison. She is an eighth grade language arts teacher and language arts department chairperson at Keokuk Middle School. She has taught for 35 years and belonged to the Keokuk Education Association teachers' union for 35 years.
The couple has two sons, Andrew, 26, and Rob, 22, and one grandson. Andrew is an Illinois State Trooper and works the interstate system and toll way system between Chicago and Wisconsin. Rob is a senior at Western Illinois University and wants to become a college history teacher after he receives a master's degree in history.
Gary is a charter member of the Sons of the American Legion in Keokuk and a member of the Honor Firing Guard at the Keokuk National Cemetery.
He also has raised and raced American quarter horses at such places as the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., and Prairie Meadows in Altoona. He was a race horse inspector for the state of Iowa when para-mutual racing was established.
He has restored several old tractors and is restoring a 1968 Dodge with his son, Drew. He also enjoys riding motorcycles and has owned several Harley Davidson motorcycles.
He was born in Cresco on June 8, 1948. His parents moved to Keokuk when he was 4 years old.
 |
 |
|
| New homeowners get expert advice | Downtown garden takes shape |
