[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E615-E616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 13, 1999

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, as Women's History Month draws to a close 
today, I rise to salute a woman from my Congressional District in 
Minnesota who, by her own example, has helped open the door for all 
women who choose to serve in elected public office.
  Alice W. Rainville, a wife and mother of seven, was the first woman 
to serve on Minneapolis' Metropolitan Transit Commission. She was 
appointed to the post by Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson in 1974--a 
rare achievement for a woman at that time in our country's history. 
Also in that year, Rainville served as the chair of the Democrat-
Farmer-Laborer party in Minnesota's 54th Senate District. In 1975, she 
sought and won the Fourth Ward seat on the Minneapolis City Council. By 
doing so, Rainville became the fourth woman to hold a City Council seat 
in the history of Minneapolis. She was re-elected every two years 
thereafter until she retired in January, 1998.
  Although she was not Minneapolis' first female City Council member, 
Rainville became its first female City Council President. Becoming 
President in 1980, she led the Council until 1990--the longest tenure 
of any City Council President in Minneapolis. As President, Rainville 
played a major role in laying the groundwork for the new Minneapolis 
Convention Center, which opened in 1988. She worked with local 
officials and consultants on the initial plans and construction of this 
world-

[[Page E616]]

class facility, which is the largest public works project ever 
undertaken by the city of Minneapolis. She currently serves on the 
implementation team for a Convention Center expansion project and 
remains a valued resource for other development projects in the city.
  Since Alice W. Rainville carved out her niche in Minneapolis politics 
in the 1970's, more and more women have entered politics and government 
service in Minneapolis. Today, including Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, a 
majority of the Minneapolis City Council members are women. By proving 
to other women that they, too, can achieve success in what had once 
been a male-dominated political world, Alice W. Rainville is a true 
pioneer.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Alice W. Rainville in celebration 
of Women's History Month. I thank her for her contributions to the city 
of Minneapolis, and I wish her continued successes in the future.

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