Omer Rains

Omer Rains
Omer Rains Senate Photo
Member of the California Senate
from the 18th and 24th district
In office
1974–1983
Preceded by Robert J. Lagomarsino
Succeeded by Gary K. Hart
Candidate for the Office of Attorney General of California, 1982
Personal details
Born (1941-09-25) September 25, 1941
Barnett, Missouri
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Website www.senorains.com

Omer L. Rains (born September 25, 1941) is an American politician, lawyer, author, eco-entrepreneur and humanist.[1]

Introduction

Elected to the California Senate as a Democrat in 1974, Rains served three terms prior to running for the Office of Attorney General of California.[2] His Senate District included over a million constituents in the Central Coast area of California between Los Angeles and San Francisco including, but not limited to, the Counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara. Rains served as Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus (the youngest in State history), as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Political Reform, and as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.[3][4] At the time, Rains also was serving in numerous other legislative positions.

Senator Rains is recognized as one of the nation's leading environmentalists and in the California Legislature was the principal architect of California's container deposit legislation (commonly known as the "Bottle Bill").[5] Rains also served as Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Committee on Legal Equality,[6] at that time the only Legislative Committee in the United States established to deal solely with promoting the rights of women.

As stated by a former U.S. Presidential candidate “Omer Rains…has left us with a legacy of legislative and humanitarian achievements that few of his generation can match.[4][7]

Early Life and Education

Although Rains was born in a small town in Missouri, he moved to California with his family at a young age. After graduating from Bakersfield High School in 1959, he entered the University of California, Berkeley. Rains received a B.A. in Political Science, a Bachelor of Law degree, and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of California, Berkeley. Upon graduation he moved to Ventura, California where he began his professional life as a prosecutor in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.[4]

Rains' activity at age 29 in civic affairs in Ventura led to him receiving the "Distinguished Service Award" as the community's "Outstanding Citizen”.[8] This involved coaching the Ventura Youth Basketball League and establishing a youth employment service, a free legal clinic, a community hotline, a drug treatment center, and a medical program for the aged and infirm.[9] He also served as Chairman of the Ventura Planning Commission and as Chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Commission.[4][9]

His early involvements also included the American Civil Rights movement and work in planning and environmental causes, groups and related organizations, the majority of which he represented on a pro bono basis.[10] He served on the University of California Alumni Council and later as a Trustee of the Robert Maynard Hutchins Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions.[4][9]

Political career

At age 32, Rains was elected to serve the first of three terms in the California Senate representing the Central Coast Area of California (principally the Counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura). Although a fiscal conservative, Rains was progressive on social issues. When Ronald Reagan was Governor of California, Rains and Reagan developed a close working relationship and friendship that continued during Reagan’s later years as President.[3][4]

Jarvis Tax Initiative (Proposition 13)

In 1978, Rains was one of the more vocal opponents of Proposition 13, which reformed, rolled back, and reduced property taxes in California. As a result of his opposition, he sponsored a competing measure called Proposition 8, a far less sweeping reform of California's property tax system. Proposition 13 was overwhelmingly passed by the voters while Proposition 8 was soundly defeated.

Alternative Energy and Women's Rights

In the Senate while serving as a Gubernatorial appointee to the State Geothermal Resources Task Force and the SolarCal Council, Rains sponsored legislation encouraging the development and use of alternative energy sources, such as solar, geothermal, biomass conversion, cogeneration, wind, and developing ocean technologies. He also authored legislation to purchase beach property for public use, secured passage of an historic measure to protect the California deserts by preventing the "piracy" of California's native plants, enacted legislation to prevent strip-mining in the National and State Forests, and was instrumental in establishing the Redwood National Park.[4][11]

Rains served as Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Committee on Legal Equality. His comprehensive package of 68 bills allowed the cause of women's rights to advance in California. As a result of his efforts California became the first state in the nation to conform its laws to the "Equal Rights Amendment." The President of the National Women's Political Caucus stated that "Senator Omer Rains has done more to advance the cause of women's rights and equality under the law than any legislator in California history." [3][4]

Official Senate Resolution Regarding the Legislative Career of Senator Rains

Available at http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/California_State_Resolution_Relative_to_Commending_Senator_Omer_L._Rains

CA Resolution Commending SOR

As an international attorney, financier and investment advisor Rains has maintained offices in Geneva, Switzerland, Lake Tahoe and New York City.[4]

Career highlights:[4][9]

Nonprofit and Humanitarian work

During Jimmy Carter's Presidential Campaigns, Rains served as his California State Chair and Western States Co-Chair and thereafter as an international elections monitor/observer.[12] He later served as an advisor to the South African Constitutional Revision Commission at the invitation of Nelson Mandela.[4][13]

Today Rains works with indigenous peoples in lesser developed nations. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rural Education and Development (READ) Global until 2012. As of August, 2013, READ has built over 67 community library and resource centers (READ Centers) in rural Nepal, India, and Bhutan. For more information visit READ Global. His work in the village of Ullon, West Bengal, India has personal significance.[14] He also works extensively on humanitarian causes in both Latin America and Africa, such as building orphanages in Nicaragua.[15]

Brain Aneurysm and Stroke

Rains suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and an associated hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 61; afterwards he was in critical condition for over a month. He recovered fully and in 2011 authored a book chronicling his life and his recovery entitled Back to the Summit: How One Man Defied Death and Paralysis to Again Lead a Full Life of Service to Others.[4][16]

Public Records and other Documents

At the University of California's request, Senator Rains donated the majority of his public records and files to the U.C. Campus at Santa Barbara (UCSB). The University then catalogued and archived the material and it is now housed in the University Library for use by historians, students and others as a “Special Collection” of the University. The collection comprises thousands of documents and files covering 35 linear feet of shelf space and is available for review by interested parties. The majority of information that follows can be confirmed by documents in that collection, referenced hereinafter as “Special Collections, University of California, Santa Barbara.” [3][4]

Publications

[9]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Biography, Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Series IV: Political, Boxes 11–12, Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 http://www.senorains.com
  5. ↑ Series IV: Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act, Boxes 16–18, Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara
  6. ↑ Series II: Joint Committee on Legal Equality, Boxes 6–7, Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara
  7. ↑ Hagelin, John. "Early Acclaim for Back to the Summit." Preface. Back to the Summit How One Man Defied Death & Paralysis to Again Lead a Full Life of Service to Others. New York: Morgan James Publishing, 2011. 1–4. Print.
  8. ↑ Series V: Press Releases, Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 The Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara.
  10. ↑ The Omer L. Rains Papers, Series VII: Box 26, Environment, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara.
  11. ↑ Series IV: Political, Boxes 11–12, Series VII: Geothermal Resources Task Force, Boxes 21–22, Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara
  12. ↑ Series V: Box 12, Carter, Jimmy, 1976, 1980, The Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara
  13. ↑ Series V: Political, The Omer L. Rains Papers, Mss 102, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara
  14. ↑ The Oceanic Library, http://www.oceaniclibrary.com, accessed 5/29/2012
  15. ↑ http://www.readglobal.org/news-and-media/press-releases/senator-omer-rains-named-read-chairman, accessed 5/29/2012
  16. ↑ Back to the Summit, http://www.backtothesummit.com, accessed 5/29/2012
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