Richard M. Bond (April 23, 1921March 25, 2015) was an American politician who served in the Washington House of Representatives from the 6th district as a member of the Republican Party.
Bond was educated at the California Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Southern California. In 1968, he unsuccessfully ran with the Republican nomination against Tom Foley in the Washington's 5th congressional district. In 1974, he was elected to the Washington House of Representatives.
Early life and education
Richard M. Bond was born on April 23, 1921, in Spokane, Washington. During World War II he joined the V-12 Navy College Training Program.
Bond graduated from the California Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, and from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. He later founded and served as president of the Solar Gas Company.
Career
U.S. House of Representatives campaign
On April 11, 1966, the 100 member Draft Dick Bond for Congress Committee was formed and Dwight Aden was selected as its chairman. The organization attempted to draft Bond for the Republican nomination in Washington's 5th congressional district, but Bond declined to run on May 11.
On May 4, 1968, Bond announced that he would run for the Republican nomination in the 5th congressional district and selected Charles Carroll to serve as his campaign chairman and Ronald D. Sanders as his campaign manager. During the primary campaign Maureen Reagan, the daughter of California Governor Ronald Reagan, sang at one of Bond's rallies. He won the Republican nomination, but was defeated by incumbent Democratic Representative Tom Foley in the general election where all of the incumbent representatives in Washington were reelected.
Washington House of Representatives
Elections
Incumbent Representative Jerry C. Kopet announced that he would not seek reelection to the Washington House of Representatives from the 6th district and would instead seek election to the as Spokane County Commission. On August 1, 1974, Bond announced that he would seek the Republican nomination to succeed Kopet. On August 29, he selected Richard E. Ellingwood Jr. to serve as his campaign chairman. Bond won in the Republican primary and defeated Democratic nominee Charlotte Coker in the general election.
On July 22, 1976, Bond announced that he would seek reelection to the Washington House of Representatives. He faced no opposition in the general election.
Tenure
From 1975 to 1987, Bond served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 6th district. From 1975 to 1979, he served alongside A. J. Pardini, Michael R. McGinnis from 1979 to 1983, and James E. West from 1983 to 1985, who all served from the first seat.
In 1975, Bond was appointed to serve on the Higher Education, Natural Resources, and Social and Health Services committees, but was later transferred from the Social and Health Services committee to the Transportation committee on February 5. In 1977, Bond was appointed to serve on the Revenue, Labor, and Energy and Utilities committees during the 45th legislative session.
In 1976, Bond and state Senator Kent Pullen introduced legislation to impeach King County Superior Judge Solie M. Ringold, but the legislation was unsuccessful.
During the 1976 Republican presidential primaries Bond served as the chairman of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign in Washington's 5th congressional district. He also served as one of Spokane County's 99 delegates to the Washington State Republican Party's state convention. At the state convention Bond was selected to serve as a Reagan delegate to the Republican National Convention from the 5th congressional district.
Later life
During the 1988 Republican presidential primaries Bond supported Representative Jack Kemp for the Republican presidential nomination. During the 1992 Washington gubernatorial election Bond supported and endorsed Republican nominee Ken Eikenberry.
On March 25, 2015, Bond died in an assisted-living facility and had his cremated remains scattered in Alaska.
Political positions
In 1977, Bond was selected to serve as president of Citizens Against Pornography.