The master of bi-partisan politics and perhaps the greatest politician this state ever had the honor to call one of its own, Ralph Munro, passed yesterday at the age of 81.
I had the good fortune to interview Ralph and spend a few hours with him a decade ago. He was a gentle, always upbeat and positive person. But his accomplishments are one of the greatest list of public service achievements we have ever seen.
Ralph was Secretary of State for five terms. During that time, he instituted vote by mail and voter registration (Motor Voter) when getting a drivers license or renewal.
But Ralph was also the person that Governor Dan Evans called on to go down to California and see about the Vietnamese refugees after Democratic governor Jerry Brown did not want them relocated there. Munro helped to bring them here to resettle in Washington State.
He was a champion of developmentally disabled children and helped get the first law in the country passed to support their needs, called the “Education for All” act. He befriended a 7 year old with developmental disabilities, eventually becoming his legal guardian.
He was a champion of environmental causes. He personally was responsible for ending the Orca hunt and capture in Puget Sound.
He was well respected by Puget Sound tribes. He allowed the tribes to do archeological digs on his property and was honored by them.
And on a personal note, he was the only Republican that I have ever voted for.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends. We will miss him. I doubt, given the current political system that we will ever see anyone like him again in Washington politics.
Filed under: Environmental Activism, Environmental Protection, Government, Politics |
I am sorry to hear this news. He was, indeed, everything you say. I also had the privilege of meeting Ralph in the early 2000s. He was most intrigued by my Cuban story and was delighted to know that I had signed up to vote the moment I became a US citizen many moons ago.
I also voted for him, four times, the second Republican I’ve ever voted for. He was definitely a man with integrity who respected all human life. There are very few Republicans like him left. My sincere condolences to his family.