[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1298-E1299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE RETIREMENT OF JOHN VANDER LANS, CITY PROSECUTOR OF 
                         LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 1998

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and 
distinguished career of the Honorable John Vander Lans, the City 
Prosecutor of Long Beach, California. I have been privileged to know 
John Vander Lans for over 20 years.
  John Vander Lans was raised in Long Beach where he attended St. 
Anthony High School and Long Beach City College. He served 2 years in 
the United States Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Captain. 
After completing studies for his law degree at the Loyola School of 
Law, John went to work for the California Attorney General. He then 
worked for 18 months as a deputy Long Beach city prosecutor, before 
going into private practice in Long Beach.
  John Vander Lans, was first elected to the City Prosecutor's office 
in 1978. Long Beach

[[Page E1299]]

has the only elected City Prosecutor in the State of California. During 
his tenure, the City Prosecutor's office grew from nine to 15 
attorneys. He started special units to handle misdemeanor domestic 
violence cases and environmental crimes. The Domestic Violence 
Prosecution Unit has its own courtroom and has recently achieved a 78 
percent conviction rate. The Hazardous Materials Prosecution Unit has 
raised over $2.5 million for our community.
  Under John Vander Lans's leadership the City of Long Beach 
Prosecutor's office has successfully resolved 98 percent of building 
code complaints against slumlords without going to court. This is just 
another example of the fine work that John has done for Long Beach over 
the past 20 years. I know that John will be missed at City Hall, but I 
also know that he and Patricia, his wife of 38 years, will continue to 
serve our community for years to come.

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