[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E336-E337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO DENNIS OSMER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 1999

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express both my 
appreciation and the appreciation of the people of Santa Cruz County 
for the leadership of Dennis Osmer on the Watsonville City Council. 
Dennis' term ended at the close of 1998.
  Dennis was steeped in the value of community service from the time he 
first drew breath in 1957. His grandmother Lois served on the Pajaro 
School Board in Watsonville, CA. His father Frank was Watsonville's 
police chief for 15 years, and was elected to the city council upon 
retirement. Dennis fondly remembers how his mother Noreen imbued him 
with the importance of charity and service to the community.
  Dennis attended local schools, graduating from Watsonville High 
School and attending University of California, Santa Cruz. He married 
Laurie Lynch in 1977 and they have two children, Brendan and Doreen. 
Dennis works as program director of Energy Services, a non-profit 
agency that assists low-income families with weatherization and energy 
bills.
  When Dennis was first elected to the Watsonville City Council in 
1987, his principal concern was drug abuse prevention. By addressing 
the issue in a variety of ways; funding youth programs, law 
enforcement, and job creation, the problem has been alleviated to some 
extent, but Dennis' efforts continued. Reelected to serve on the city 
council, Dennis was then appointed mayor. Dennis also worked on 
developing a long-range plan for the Pajaro River through cooperation 
with regional governmental entities. In addition to his

[[Page E337]]

duties as mayor, Dennis served as vice president of the Association of 
Monterey Bay Area Governments. He has also served as the chairman of 
the City Recycling Committee and as a member of the City Planning 
Commission.
  I know Dennis Osmer to be a generous man with his time and his 
attention to the needs of the community. I am sure he will continue to 
make his contribution. I look forward to working with him in the 
future.

                          ____________________