[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           BARB ALBERTSON: A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON BAY COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 1999

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, the toughest and most pleasing position in 
public service is that of local officials. It is the toughest because 
no matter where you go, you are always encountering constituents who 
rightly bring to you problems and concerns. It is the most pleasing 
because you get to see the effects of your efforts in the satisfied 
faces of the people you represent. For the past 38 years, the people of 
Bay County, Michigan, my home county, have had the good fortune to be 
served by an outstanding woman, Barbara J. Albertson, who retired on 
January 1st. This week she is being honored for her commitment to Bay 
County, and those honors are very well deserved, indeed.
  Barb was hired in 1960 by former County Clerk Steven Toth. After four 
years, she was promoted to Chief Deputy Clerk, after the death of 
Barney Balcer. Since the Clerk's position is an elected one, Barb 
sought the people's approval in 1984 after Clerk Toth announced he 
would not run for another term. Barb took up the challenge and scored a 
decisive victory after going door to door, and from event to event. The 
lesson she learned in that campaign--it's important to make yourself as 
visible as possible--was a policy she kept alive as the Bay County 
Clerk herself.
  During her fourteen years as Clerk, Barb Albertson modernized the 
recordkeeping system of the Clerk's Office, using a portion of a 
federal grant and a temporary staff of four to put all court documents 
and vital records dating back to the 1800's on microfilm. Since her 
initial efforts, all of these records, including births, deaths, and 
divorces are filmed each year, with the records being accessible by 
computer for the ease of everyone in the community. She also improved 
the election process by switching from voting machines to a 
computerized election system, which saves taxpayers at least $60,000 
per election.
  Barb readily acknowledges the excellent work done by her staff of 
four full-time Deputy Clerks plus a Chief Deputy Clerk. Linda Tober, 
the Chief Deputy Clerk, recognizes the reason that this staff has been 
so successful when she says, ``I feel like I've been trained by the 
best.''
  As Barbara Albertson begins her well-deserved retirement, and has the 
chance to spend more time with her husband, William Silvernale, and 
plans to fish, golf, and travel, it is only right that we all take a 
moment to say: Thank you, Barb. Thank you for caring about our 
community, our neighbors, our heritage and our future.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
recognition of Barbara J. Abertson's outstanding career of public 
service. May all of our communities have the good fortune to be served 
by more caring and thoughtful individuals like her.

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