[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 155 (Saturday, December 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   FRANK M. FITZGERALD, STATE REPRESENTATIVE, MICHIGAN, 71ST DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 18, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take a moment today 
to recognize Frank M. Fitzgerald. Mr. Fitzgerald faces term limits and 
is retiring at the end of this year as State Representative in 
Michigan's 71st District. Frank served the good people of Eaton County 
with distinction for 6 terms.
  Representative Fitzgerald was first elected to the Michigan House of 
Representatives in 1986. From 1992 to 1996 he was the Speaker pro tem 
of the State House, the second ranking House officer.
  Frank chaired task forces on drunk driving, illegal drugs, 
accountability in government, campaign finance, traffic safety, and the 
Republican Alliance for Safe Neighborhoods to fight crime and make our 
homes and neighborhoods safer.
  He was the sponsor of Michigan's first anti-organized crime law and a 
measure granting prosecuting attorneys the right to appeal judicial 
decisions.
  One of Representative Fitzgerald's notable accomplishments was his 
sponsorship of the zero alcohol tolerance law for drivers under the 
legal drinking age. Recently he had a bill included in legislation to 
crack down on repeat drunk drivers. He also was a leader to limit youth 
access to tobacco products.
  He worked diligently to protect children from abuse by creating three 
degrees of ``child mistreatment.'' Frank also voted repeatedly to cut 
taxes and ease homeowners' property tax burdens with the passage of 
Proposal A. Fitzgerald helped revise Michigan's Single Business Tax to 
help businesses save millions of dollars and create more jobs. He 
supported welfare reforms to encourage personal responsibility, not 
dependency on the state. He also supported legislation giving school 
boards and parents more control over the curriculum of their local 
schools. Representative Fitzgerald worked to establish a legislative 
ethics commission and a code of conduct for legislators.
  Frank is a graduate of Grand Ledge, Michigan Public Schools, the 
College of William and Mary, and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 
Lansing, Michigan.
  He and wife, Ruth, and their two children, Ellen and John, reside in 
Grand Ledge. The Fitzgerald family is active in Grand Ledge's First 
Congregational United Church of Christ, the Girl Scouts, and youth 
athletic and music activities.
  Prior to his election, he practiced law and served as an Assistant 
Prosecuting attorney in Eaton County, Michigan for three years.
  For now, this is the end of a long tradition of Fitzgeralds serving 
the citizens of Michigan as elected representatives. For over 100 
years, a Fitzgerald has served in Michigan government. It started with 
State Representative, John Fitzgerald in the 1890's. His son, Frank D. 
Fitzgerald, served as Michigan's Secretary of State and went on to be 
elected Governor of Michigan twice. His son, John W. Fitzgerald, served 
in the State Senate, on the Court of Appeals, and then as Chief Justice 
of the Michigan Supreme Court. Representative Frank M. Fitzgerald, whom 
I am honoring today, is the fourth generation of Fitzgerald's in public 
service.
  I supported Frank Fitzgerald as a candidate for Attorney General of 
Michigan. I still believe that he might someday make a wonderful 
Attorney General for our state and I know he will continue to serve the 
people in any way he can.
  On behalf of the citizens of Michigan, it is my privilege to honor 
and recognize Frank Fitzgerald, an outstanding American who served his 
state with great distinction.

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