Richard Rainey

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Richard Rainey

|image =

|caption =

|state_senate = California

|district = 7th

|term_start = December 2, 1996

|term_end = November 30, 2000

|preceded = Daniel Boatwright

|succeeded = Tom Torlakson

|state_assembly1= California

|district1= 15th

|term_start1 = December 7, 1992

|term_end1 = November 30, 1996

|preceded1= William P. Baker

|succeeded1= Lynne Leach

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|12|5}}

|birth_place = Medford, Oregon

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|7|4|1938|12|5}}

|death_place = Walnut Creek, California

|party= Republican

|spouse= Sue McNulty (m. 1987)

|children= 7

|education= Sacramento State University
Golden Gate University

}}

Richard Rainey (December 5, 1938 – July 4, 2021) was an American politician from Walnut Creek, California, a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area. He served in the California State Assembly from 1992 until 1996 and then served in the State Senate from 1996 until 2000 when he was defeated for reelection by Tom Torlakson, a Democratic Assemblyman from Antioch. In 1995, Mr. Rainey was named Legislator of the Year by the California Probation & Parole Correctional Association.Wildermuth, John (21 April 2008). [https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/GOP-down-to-its-last-Bay-Area-lawmaker-3217273.php GOP down to its last Bay Area lawmaker], San Francisco Chronicle, Retrieved December 14, 2010(8 March 2000). [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CC&s_site=contracostatimes&p_multi=CC&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1064A3A962285A3C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM STAGE IS SET FOR A BATTLE OF THE HEAVYWEIGHTS - REPUBLICAN SEN. RICHARD RAINEY WINS BY A LANDSLIDE AND WILL FACE DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYMAN TOM TORLAKSON IN THE FALL], Contra Costa Times, Retrieved December 14, 2010 (noting that Rainey had beaten primary opponent Daryl Chilimidos and would face Torlakson in general election)(8 October 2000). [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CC&s_site=contracostatimes&p_multi=CC&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1064A4151CBE301C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM 7TH DISTRICT CONTEST A DUEL BETWEEN WINNERS, RAINEY AND TORLAKSON SHOW STARTLING CONTRAST OF STYLES AND POLITICAL BELIEFS], Contra Costa Times, Retrieved December 14, 2010(28 November 1996). [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CC&s_site=contracostatimes&p_multi=CC&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1063FBE0CC0851CD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM FINAL COUNT CONFIRMS RAINEY WON], Contra Costa Times, Retrieved December 14, 2010 Also, during the 1995–96 legislative session, Mr. Rainey served as Chairman of the Assembly Local Government Committee when the Republicans briefly had a majority in the State Assembly.

Background

Rainey was born in Medford, Oregon.{{cite web|title=Richard Rainey|url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5955|website=joincalifornia.com}} He became a police officer in Compton, California in 1962. He was hired by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's department in 1964 and he was promoted through the ranks as a deputy sheriff, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain before he was elected County Sheriff in 1978. Mr. Rainey was appointed by Governor George Deukmejian during the 1980s to the State Board of Corrections and the Board of Trustees of the Robert Presley Institute of Corrections. He served until 1992 when he was elected to the Assembly to replace Bill Baker who was elected to Congress.

Rainey has a bachelor's degree in administration of justice from Sacramento State University (1973) and a master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate University (1976).

Rainey was married to Sue Rainey (née McNulty) and they resided in Walnut Creek. They have 7 adult children between them. Brett, Michael and Gina from Richard's 1st marriage to Micki DiLoreto (Micki died from cancer 4/86) and Rob, Steve, Kathy and Kevin from Sue's 1st marriage.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

He died of melanoma on July 4, 2021, in Walnut Creek, California, at age 82.{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/07/10/richard-rainey-former-contra-costa-sheriff-and-california-legislator-dies-at-82/ |title=Richard Rainey, former Contra Costa sheriff and California legislator, dies at 82 |work=Mercurynews.com |date=2021-07-10 |accessdate=2021-07-10}}