John Patrick Rice

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

John Patrick Rice

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Viterbo University, 1983

Graduate

University of Wisconsin, 1987

Ph.D

Capella University, 2007

Personal

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Professor

Contact

Campaign website

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John Patrick Rice ran for election to the Nevada Board of Regents to represent District 8. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Rice completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

John Patrick Rice earned a bachelor's degree from Viterbo University in 1983. He earned a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1987. He earned a Ph.D. from Capella University in 2007. His career experience includes working as a professor.

Elections

2022

See also: Nevada State Board of Regents election, 2022

General election

General election for Nevada Board of Regents District 8

Michelee Crawford defeated John Patrick Rice in the general election for Nevada Board of Regents District 8 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelee Crawford (Nonpartisan)	54.1	38,309
		John Patrick Rice (Nonpartisan)	45.9	32,486

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 70,795
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nevada Board of Regents District 8

The following candidates ran in the primary for Nevada Board of Regents District 8 on June 14, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelee Crawford (Nonpartisan)	25.6	9,713
✔		John Patrick Rice (Nonpartisan)	20.9	7,942
		Elmer Porter (Nonpartisan)	17.1	6,517
	Submit photo	Aaron Manfredi (Nonpartisan)	15.6	5,949
	Submit photo	Stacy Smith (Nonpartisan)	14.7	5,607
	Submit photo	Jonathan Baltera (Nonpartisan)	6.0	2,286

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 38,014
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

John Patrick Rice completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rice's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

John Patrick Rice has lived and worked in Elko, since 1996. He is employed by Great Basin College where he has served on the faculty and in the administration. As a faculty member, he teaches fine arts, humanities and communications. He served multiple terms as GBC’s Faculty Senate Chair. He also served as the Chair of the Nevada System of Higher Education Council of Senate Chairs, representing more than 5,000 members of the NSHE faculty.

As an administrator, he was Chief Development Officer and Executive Director of Great Basin College Foundation. At the foundation he designed and executed multiple capital campaigns, raising more than $20 million in alternative funding for higher education in rural Nevada.

Rice is no stranger to governance. He served three terms on the Elko City Council, the last as the Mayor Pro Tempore. He advised Nevada’s federal delegation, speaking on higher education, work force development, and economic development at the U.S. Senate Rural Caucus. He was invited to participate in the White House Community College Conference hosted by President Obama. He was recently appointed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a Board of Trustee for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Further invest in in-person and online instruction access for underserved communities in urban and rural Nevada.
• Using NSHE's current distance learning infrastructure, capitalize on the world-wide distance learning market to enhance brick and mortar operations in Nevada.
• Using the developing NSHE strategic plan and the ongoing conversations surrounding "Question One", engage in a comprehensive transformation of NSHE's governing operations.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Higher Education, K-12 to College, Student Support

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

As a professional in higher education for nearly 30 years, I am eager to bring my experience to the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. Having worked as a professor, administrator and leader in higher ed, I have unique skills and perspectives that will enhance the education of Nevada’s college students. The future of Nevada’s workforce, professional education and research needs to be stewarded by professionals committed to guiding the Nevada System of Higher Education into the second quarter of the 21st Century.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have worked for a couple of people who have inspired me the most, one being the first college president I ever worked for. He showed me that with strong vision and commitment it is remarkable what can be accomplished. I had a mentor in grad school who also showed me that being simple and truthful typically provided the best results.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I wrote a chapter for a book called ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS TO THE BACCALAUREATE (Stylus). In it you can find a lot of detail about my views on democratic access to higher education in the 21st Century. You can also find my dissertation, MISSION METAMORPHOSIS, for my view on transforming higher education.

As far as defining my political philosophy, I would simply say I am a left-leaning moderate. That doesn't always make for exciting literature!

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Pragmatism, honesty, transparency and personal accountability.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a hard working and resilient. I am loyal to the institutions and people I serve. I am honest. I am assertive and do not back down. I love to laugh and have fun.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To serve the students, faculty and staff of the Nevada System of Higher Education in order to advance the communities and private and public organizations of the state of Nevada.

NSHE must concentrate on education, training, and workforce and economic development.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a functional Board in charge of a well-functioning system of higher education on a track for sustained growth and advancement.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination of John F. Kennedy. Yep... I'm a late boomer.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first "real job" was as a laborer for a lumber yard. I worked there for three years carrying sheet rock and 2x12s, and determined I wanted to go to college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Right now my favorite book has to be THE THOUSAND CRIMES OF MING TSU. It is an intense western with a Chinese protagonist/antagonist, on a mission of revenge on the Transcontinental Railroad from Promontory, Utah, to Sacramento, California. The author, Tom Lin, captures the Great Basin landscape like no other.

I love ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE and a great history by Jay Winek called 1944: FDR AND THE YEAR THAT CHANGED HISTORY. The latter illustrates clearly that history repeats itself.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Henry V as Shakespeare wrote him.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Can't Touch This. MC Hammer

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I struggle with many of the same things everyone struggles with. We live in an anxious time with many distractions and lots of negative energy. Those things bother me and keep me up at night. I cannot say it is easy for me or for any of us to deal with. It takes strength and community. I find that strength and community in my family and with my co-workers and students. It is very powerful.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

1. Maintaining the integrity of the oversight of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

2. Providing adequate resources to institutions to enable the best college and university experience of any student anywhere.

3. Hiring excellent executives and allowing them to do their jobs.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Board of Regents is a pretty straight-forward organization. It's responsibility is to assure a first-class post-secondary education for students that will provide the workforce and intellectual capacity of the State of Nevada.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do. This board has oversight of a multi-billion dollar budget. The fiduciary responsibility the position requires is immense. It is not a position for someone with little experience in such massive budgets. It is also especially important a Regent have first hand experience in higher education. There are huge distinctions between K-12 and higher ed, especially on the funding side. We need a Regent in District 8 who can hit the ground running, and I am that candidate.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

1. Large municipal, county, state or institutional budget management experience.

2. Excellent critical thinking skills.

3. Background in college curriculum, finance, and academic and student services.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I have a lot of dad jokes but I don't want to embarrass my daughter. Here is my favorite knock-knock joke:

Knock, Knock.
Who's There?
Control Freak.
Control Fre...

Now you say Control Freak Who!

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Candidate

Nevada Board of Regents District 8

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