[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        TRIBUTE TO SUNNE McPEAK

                                 ______


                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 1994

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, in a few days, Sunne Wright 
McPeak will leave the board of supervisors of Contra Costa County, CA, 
after serving for nearly 16 years. I wish to take the floor to pay 
tribute to what has been a truly extraordinary career in public 
service, and one that I hope--along with thousands of other Contra 
Costans--is not yet complete.
  Supervisor McPeak has been rightly viewed as a leader among the new 
generation of women in politics. Her areas of accomplishment, interest 
and expertise cover almost every critical local, state, and national 
policy issue, and it is no exaggeration to say that, in most areas, she 
has been in the forefront of innovative policy development.
  Sunne earned her greatest recognition, perhaps, as the organizer of a 
statewide campaign to halt construction of a horrendous water project--
the Peripheral Canal--in the early 1980's. No challenge could have been 
more formidable. Almost every powerful interest group in our State, 
including the Governor, the legislature, much of the business 
community, the agricultural community and many others were arrayed 
against her. Yet with a deftness and persistence her opponents could 
not have imagined, Sunne won that fight and the Peripheral Canal was 
soundly, and wisely, defeated.
  Sunne did not rest on that historic victory, but went on to build a 
positive achievement from the remnants of that bitter fight, the 12 
county Committee for Water Policy Consensus, that has played an 
important role not only in the enactment of the 1992 CVP Improvement 
Act, but in moving the entire debate over water policy in California 
forward.
  I have worked closely with, and valued the expertise and political 
judgment of, Sunne McPeak for many years--on child care, education, 
toxic materials, women's issues, environmental issues, health policy 
and much more. What is truly remarkable is her thorough familiarity 
with the details and complexities of each of these critical areas of 
public policy. And in each, she has made a major contribution.
  Sunne will doubtless continue to play a major role in the policy 
debate in our State as the new director of the Bay Area Economic Forum, 
and I know that the Members of the House of Representatives wish her, 
her husband John, and their two sons, Scott and Todd, great success and 
happiness.
  The energy, devotion and intelligence that Sunne Wright McPeak has 
brought to public service stands as an bold illustration of what one 
individual can accomplish when strongly committed and even more highly 
talented. Her record of 16 years as a local, regional and State leader 
demonstrates the best of what can be achieved in public life. Her 
service has changed, and improved our country immeasurably, as well as 
enhancing for all who know her the reputation of public service itself.

                          ____________________