Ron Kind

Ron Kind – Life, Career, and Memorable Statements

Learn about Ron Kind (born March 16, 1963) — longtime U.S. Representative from Wisconsin — his political path, legislative priorities, style, and notable public quotes.

Introduction

Ronald James “Ron” Kind (born March 16, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District from 1997 to 2023.

Below, we examine his early life, political career, policy focus, personal attributes, and a selection of his quotes that reflect his approach and priorities.

Early Life, Education & Beginnings

Ron Kind was born and raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin — the third of five children in a family with deep roots in the region.

Kind attended local public schools and was active in athletics (football and basketball) at Logan High School. B.A. with honors from Harvard College in 1985, attending on scholarship, and during his summers worked for Senator William Proxmire.

After Harvard, he pursued postgraduate education at the London School of Economics and later earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.

His roots in local service and law gave him connections to his home region and a reputation as someone who could bridge legal, policy, and constituent concerns.

Congressional Career & Focus Areas

Election & Longevity

Kind was first elected to Congress in 1996, representing Wisconsin’s 3rd District, a region spanning western and central portions of the state.

During his time in the House, Kind held key responsibilities, notably on the Ways and Means Committee, where he worked on health care, tax policy, trade, and rural economic issues. Upper Mississippi River Congressional Caucus and the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, reflecting his focus on environment and river issues.

He also served as Chair of the New Democrat Coalition from 2013 to 2017.

Legislative Priorities & Style

Throughout his tenure, Kind emphasized several recurring issues:

• Health Care & Rural Access: He often advocated for support to rural clinics, hospitals, and addressing disparities in health services in his district.

• Environment & Mississippi River: Given that much of his district lies along the Mississippi River, he prioritized river conservation, dam and lock infrastructure, water quality, and ecological health.

• Education, Workforce Training & Broadband: He saw investment in higher education, vocational training, and rural broadband as critical to maintaining competitiveness and preventing brain drain.

• Trade & Agriculture: Representing a heavily agricultural region, Kind supported trade policies favorable to Wisconsin farms, while also pushing for standards in labor and environment.

• Moderation & Bipartisanship: Kind often positioned himself as a bridge figure, willing to collaborate across party lines. He was rated among the more bipartisan members in certain Congresses.

He also occasionally clashed with party leadership or took independent stances on tax reform or trade, reflecting his willingness to break from strict partisan lines when he thought constituents’ interests demanded it.

In 2021, Kind announced he would not seek re-election in 2022, citing a desire for renewal in public life and acknowledging the long demands of service.

After leaving Congress, he joined the law firm Arnold & Porter as a senior policy advisor.

Personality, Reputation & Impact

Ron Kind is often described by colleagues and constituents as hardworking, attentive, and deeply rooted in his district. His frequent local engagements, listening tours, and constituent services contributed to his long electoral success.

Because he held a competitive district (politically mixed), he needed to balance national party positions with local sensitivity, which shaped his moderate, incremental approach.

He is also noted for resilience in legislative negotiations, and for combining issue expertise (especially in health and rural policy) with political pragmatism rather than rhetorical grandstanding.

Selected Quotes

Below are a selection of quotes attributed to Ron Kind, reflecting his views on policy, environment, education, and governance:

1. “The one thing we can do is invest in the quality of education, especially higher education.”

2. “Technology is driving the innovation. Technology is driving the creativity. Technology and the use of that is going to determine our workers’ ability to compete in the 21st century global marketplace.”

3. “Finally, the ecological health of the Mississippi River and its economic importance to the many people that make their living or seek their recreation is based on a healthy river system.”

4. “We have seen what the dependence and addiction to foreign oil has done to us economically.”

5. “The key to any successful plan is buy-in from the public, and what this process has demonstrated is the importance of including citizens in formulating a consensus plan that preserves our beautiful refuge.”

6. “In a time of serious budget deficits, immense war costs and a sluggish economy, we cannot afford to grant such outlandish subsidies to some of our Nation’s largest corporations.”

7. “The single most important factor in determining America’s success in the 21st century will be maintaining our ability to be an innovative and creative society.”

8. “For as long as the power of America’s diversity is diminished by acts of discrimination and violence against people just because they are black, Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, Muslim or gay, we still must overcome.”

9. “More important is the fact that embryonic stem cell research could lead to new treatments and cures for the many Americans afflicted with life-threatening and debilitating diseases.”

These quotes illustrate his emphasis on education, technology, environment, fairness, and participatory governance.

Lessons & Reflections

From Ron Kind’s career and style, several lessons emerge:

• Serve local roots while navigating national stages
  Kind maintained strong ties to his district’s needs while engaging in national policy debates.

• Moderation can carve longevity
  In a divided political era, holding a centrist or incremental path, when credible, can sustain trust across cycles.

• Focus matters
  His sustained engagement in health, rural infrastructure, and river conservation shows how depth in selected areas builds credibility.

• Bipartisanship is challenging but possible
  Working across party lines in committees, caucuses, and legislation can be difficult, but it may lead to more durable outcomes.

• Public voice through words
  His quotes often emphasize inclusion, foresight, and pragmatic appeals rather than ideological rhetoric.