29 Facts About Rick Weiland

Richard Paul Weiland was born on July 26,1958 and is an American businessman, politician and member of the Democratic Party from the state of South Dakota.

Rick Weiland was the chief executive officer of the International Code Council, was appointed by Bill Clinton to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and served as senior advisor to former US Senator Tom Daschle.

Rick Weiland was the Democratic nominee for South Dakota's at-large congressional district in 1996 and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the district in 2002.

Rick Weiland was the Democratic nominee the US Senate seat vacated by Democrat Tim Johnson in the 2014 Senate election.

Rick Weiland was born in Madison, South Dakota, to Thoreen and Donald Rick Weiland.

Rick Weiland graduated from Madison High School in 1976, where he first met his wife, Stacy Newcomb.

Rick Weiland graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1980 with a degree in communications and political science.

Rick Weiland married Stacy Newcomb in 1981, and in 1983 they moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where Rick Weiland opened the first west-river field office for Daschle.

In 1989, Rick Weiland returned to Sioux Falls to serve as then-Senator Daschle's state director.

Rick Weiland stayed in that position until 1995, when he resigned to run for Congress.

In 1996, Rick Weiland ran for South Dakota's at-large congressional district.

In 1997, as Rick Weiland was being installed as regional director of FEMA, the Red River swamped its banks, causing unprecedented flooding to North Dakota and Minnesota, inundating all of downtown Fargo and causing the evacuation of Grand Forks, North Dakota in an event known as the 1997 Red River flood.

Rick Weiland supervised the Federal recovery response, which served over 29,000 applicants in Grand Forks, alone.

In 1998, Rick Weiland spearheaded the disaster relief response when Spencer, South Dakota was struck by a major tornado, wiping out the town in the event known as the Late-May 1998 tornado outbreak and derecho.

Rick Weiland coordinated with then-Governor Bill Janklow to ensure that the residents of Spencer received food, shelter, and other necessities.

In 1998, Rick Weiland assisted local officials in response to the Columbine tragedy.

Rick Weiland utilized federal aid freed up by President Clinton to assist the communities impacted by the tornado.

In 2000, Rick Weiland again worked with then-Governor Bill Janklow to coordinate the Federal response to the Jasper fire in Black Hills, South Dakota.

Later in 2000, Rick Weiland led a "historic" conference from 28 tribal nations within FEMA Region VIII.

In 2001, Rick Weiland returned to South Dakota, where he ran again for Congress in 2002, losing in the Democratic primary.

Rick Weiland took responsibility for AARP's 85,000 South Dakota members, developed and implemented numerous successful statewide campaigns to increase membership, participation, value to members, awareness and advocacy, including the establishment of a Senior Bill of Rights protecting Social Security and Medicare.

Rick Weiland left his position with the AARP to join the International Code Council, serving first as its chief operating officer and later as its chief executive officer.

Rick Weiland traveled extensively to promote responsible and sustainable Building Codes and practices.

Rick Weiland spoke to numerous municipalities and other governmental agencies all over the United States and the world, including China where he was invited by the Chinese government to speak to its officials about implementing safer and sustainable Building Codes.

Rick Weiland stepped down from his position on September 17,2012, to pursue other opportunities.

On May 8,2013, Rick Weiland announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the South Dakota's US Senate seat.

Rick Weiland won the Democratic nomination and faced two independent candidates, and Republican former governor Mike Rounds in the general election.

Rick Weiland called for opening up Medicare for all Americans, sometimes referred to as a public option; expanding Social Security; fighting the Keystone Pipeline; and adopting a Constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United.

Rick Weiland went on to lose the four-way Senatorial bid to Mike Rounds.