[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 69 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JOHN BENNETT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 1999

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor an individual who, for the last eight years as Mayor of Aspen, 
has provided a strong voice and dynamic leadership in Colorado. Former 
Mayor of Aspen, John Bennett, served with great distinction for four 
terms. It is this service, Mr. Speaker, that I would now like to pay 
tribute to.
  Elected as mayor in Aspen, Colorado, John Bennett is completing his 
fourth term and has chosen to retire. During his time in office, Mayor 
Bennett focused his concerns on preservation of the culture and values 
of the small community that is under economic pressure to change and 
grow to meet it's demands. Through his leadership, Bennett has made the 
city of Aspen more livable to the local citizens. Mayor Bennett also 
worked to control growth of the city, as well as protect the 
environment, build affordable housing and still protect Aspen's 
historic heritage. He has also put great effort into creating a 
transportation system that would reduce the number of single person 
automobiles.
  An intelligent man and graduate of Yale University, Mayor Bennett ran 
his office along the principle which he terms the New Governance. This 
principle involves the solving of community problems by direct citizen 
involvement in their own governance.
  1999 marks the end to Mayor John Bennett's tenure in elected office 
and the state of Colorado has benefited from his leadership. There are 
few people who have served as selflessly and distinguishedly as Mayor 
Bennett. His career epitomized that of the citizen-legislator with such 
distinction that every official in elected office should seek to 
emulate. The citizens of Aspen owe Mayor John Bennett a debt of 
gratitude and I wish him well during the next phase of his life.

                          ____________________