TOWN OF BURLINGTON — Town Chairman Ralph Rice is stepping down after five terms in office, ending a career of public service that began when he joined the town fire department more than 50 years ago.
Colleagues credit Rice with leading a town government organization that operated frugally by delivering needed services without running up property taxes needlessly.
“He will be missed,” Town Board Supervisor Richard Isaacson said. “He’s been a great asset to the community.”
Candidates in spring elections throughout Wisconsin face a deadline Tuesday to file nominating petitions for various elected offices in local government and school districts.
As of Monday afternoon, no candidate had come forward seeking to succeed Rice in the April 6 election. Because of the incumbent’s declaration of non-candidacy, the deadline has been extended to Friday for candidates to file petitions for that particular office.
Rice, 87, said he decided not to seek re-election as town chairman because at his age, he said, it was time to move on.
“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with an awful lot of nice people.”
The proprietor of Rice Family Farms along Bushnell Road, Rice got involved in town government as a young man in the 1960s when he became a volunteer firefighter.
He then joined the village’s planning and zoning committee, and in the 1980s he got elected to the town board. He served more than 30 years as a town supervisor before being elected town chairman in 2009.
Serving two-year terms, the chairman works as leader of the five-member town board overseeing local government.
Russell Egan, another current town supervisor, said that Rice was a mentor who encouraged him to get involved. Egan is halfway through his second term on the town board.
Egan said the chairman has instilled in others a strong commitment to keeping town government efficient without excessive spending or debt.
“He’s always been level-headed in everything he’s done,” Egan said. “He’s always had the foresight to sit here and look forward.”
As a town official, Rice said he felt good about helping to control taxes, maintaining roads, and overseeing such projects as the closing of a landfill and the construction of new firehouses and other facilities.
As a farmer, he also was active on state issues related to farmland preservation and other agricultural topics.
Isaacson, who is stepping down this year after 12 years on the town board, said Rice tapped into a state funding source that has brought the town increased state funding for road maintenance.
“He has been just great for the town,” Isaacson said.
Egan recalled a time when the town was shopping for a new firetruck. Aiming to keep the cost down, Rice led his town board colleagues in repeated questioning of suppliers in an effort to find the most affordable option.
Egan said he and the chairman have spent many hours discussing ideas for improving town government.
“I have always appreciated his insight,” Egan said.
Rice said he credited the town staff and his elected colleagues with helping him to keep Burlington town government effective and efficient.
Rice said he has encouraged others to resist unnecessary spending and to remember whose money they are managing.
“The important thing is to build what’s necessary, and let the people keep that money in their pockets,” he said. “We’ve done it right.”
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Madison concert goers Jaye Capel, Joli Russell and Terri Schulenberg find their seats and their rain ponchos Sept. 21 during the Farm Aid concert event in East Troy at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.
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At a Farm Aid concert event Sept. 21 that was part music-part message, Martina Patterson of Milwaukee invites concert goers to participate in stitching together a tapestry of clothing donated by people from rural and urban communities.
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Organizers Willie Nelson, left, and John Mellencamp enjoy a light moment Sept. 21 while addressing the media before their performances at Farm Aid at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Tanya Tucker belts out a tune Sept. 21 during the Farm Aid concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Concert goers, Adam Bashaw and Kayla Trudeau of Rhinelander, find their seats early Sept. 21 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy for a Farm Aid mega-concert that was troubled by rain, but still left fans happy.
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Rocker Dave Matthews makes a point during a news conference Sept. 21 before taking the stage later to perform at Farm Aid in East Troy at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.
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Yola entertains the crowd Sept. 21 during the Farm Aid concert for farmer relief at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Huddling under a tarp during a rainy Farm Aid concert Sept. 21 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy are St. Louis fans Jerry Block, Dave Block and Anne Marie Block.
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Joe Stefenoni and Karie Blasingame, National Grain representatives, set up a booth at Farm Aid to educate people about food waste.
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Rockers John Mellencamp, left, and Neil Young, meet the press Sept. 21 before the music gets rolling at Farm Aid at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Ponchos and other makeshift rain gear were in high demand Sept. 21 when heavy rain made for soggy conditions at Alpine Valley Music Theatre during the all-day Farm Aid benefit concert.
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Erica Pitner of Burlington pauses Sept. 21 to try her hand at an interactive tapestry exhibit during the Farm Aid musical festival at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Yola belts out a tune Sept. 21 during her stage performance at Farm Aid, which took place in Wisconsin for only the second time, during an all-day festival at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Organizer Willie Nelson, shown during a pre-show press event, canceled part of his summer tour because of health issues, but returned to the stage Sept. 21 for Farm Aid, an event he has supported since it started in 1985.
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Tanya Tucker is all smiles as she takes the stage Sept. 21 and greets fans at a sold-out Farm Aid mega-concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Vinnie and Susan Lehotsky remained upbeat and positive Sept. 21 despite rainy conditions that made for a soggy Farm Air benefit concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy. The husband-and-wife team volunteered their time to help recycle materials during the festival.
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The Farm Aid crowd cheers on John Mellencamp as he performs one of his many hits on stage during the Sept. 21 event at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Farm Aid concert goers sing along to a John Mellencamp tune Sept. 21 during the musical artist's performance at the Sept. 21 benefit event at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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John Mellencamp addresses the crowd and introduces the next performer, Neil Young, shortly after his own performance Sept. 21 at Farm Aid at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Rocker Neil Young starts out on the piano and harmonica Sept. 21 as he hits the stage at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy as one of the headliners at Farm Aid.
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Neil Young jams on his guitar as he belts out a song Sept. 21 during the Farm Aid concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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The Farm Aid crowd enjoys Neil Young's performance near the end of an all-day festival at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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An audience member dances along to a Neil Young tune during the Farm Aid concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Cloudy skies hang over Alpine Valley Music Theatre during the Farm Aid concert Sept. 21 that brought a sold-out crowd to the Walworth County venue despite rainy weather.
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Rocker Dave Matthews works his guitar Sept. 21 during his set at Farm Aid at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Headliner John Mellencamp enjoys his moment on stage Sept. 21 during Farm Aid at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy.
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Despite health issues that prompted him to take a break from touring this summer, country legend Willie Nelson adds his voice Sept. 21 to the Farm Aid lineup at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.