William Raggio 1926-2012

During the 1960s, his tough prosecution policies and his slash-and-burn statewide political campaigns gave Washoe District Attorney William Raggio a hard-edged public image. He seemed like the last person who would fit into a legislative setting. Attorney Jeff Menicucci was Raggio’s first intern in the Nevada Senate. He recalls the transition:

“He was new to the Senate, but he took to the legislative process like a duck to water. As a legislative intern, and then in subsequent years as a member of the public and one of his constituents, I observed that Senator Raggio was always well prepared,” Menicucci said. “In recent years, I was amazed at his detailed recollection of bills that had been introduced in previous sessions, and the issues that had been discussed. His background as a lawyer and former district attorney was apparent in the critical consideration he gave to both the legality and practicality of proposed legislation.”

Menicucci said Raggio was also considerate.

“I remember reviewing some legislation for Mr. Raggio, attending some hearings, and reporting back. He graciously accepted all my efforts to be of assistance, although now I rather doubt that I was able to be of much help. Mr. Raggio also went out of his way to introduce me to legislators, lobbyists and other people involved in the process.”

Cliff Young, Nevada’s former U.S. House member who was already serving in the state Senate when Raggio arrived and was elected on tickets with him during the days of multi-member districts, called Raggio “one of the ablest men I served with either in Washington or here in the state.” He said he was not surprised such a strong executive took so well to the legislative process, even when it meant working with men of the period who were known to be difficult.

“I think he demonstrated ability,” Young said. “You’ve got to work with people like [conservative Democrats] Floyd Lamb and Jim Gibson and Snowy Monroe. No, it’s a daunting process, and Bill handled it very well.”

In his last RN&R interview, on his life after politics, Raggio was more interested in talking about his daughter Leslie’s new book on the El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route in the Pyrenees in Spain and France. For most of that interview, go to http://tinyurl.com/7rpzqut.

For a profile of Raggio, see http://tinyurl.com/78cbwsx.

For a lengthy interview with Raggio in 2008, go to http://tinyurl.com/6npy8hz.