[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 167 (Friday, December 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO JOE SERNA, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 22, 1999

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with profound sadness in my 
heart to pay tribute to Mr. Joe Serna, Jr.
  Joe Serna, Jr. lived a life which exemplified what is best in the 
American dream.
  Joe grew up the son of immigrant farm laborers. Throughout his youth, 
he worked tirelessly on behalf of migrant farm workers under the 
guidance of his role model, Cesar Chavez. The experience gave Joe great 
strength of character and led him to dedicate his life to the service 
of others. As a professor of government and ethics at California State 
University at Sacramento, Joe continued to be a champion and advocate 
of migrant worker rights while also reaching out to the young minds in 
his classrooms.
  Joe was elected to the Sacramento City Council on November 3, 1981 
and served there until his election as mayor of Sacramento on November 
3, 1992. In rising to mayor of Sacramento, Joe became the first Latino 
mayor of a major California city.
  Joe was known by all as a man of the highest ethic and integrity. He 
was a master coalition builder, always working for the common good. Joe 
leaves behind a powerful legacy as a revitalizer of his city, and as a 
crusader for educational reform.
  My personal memory of him will be as a friend and role model. He was 
a man who could have held some of the highest government posts in the 
Capitol of the United States, Washington, DC. I say this from close, 
personal knowledge. Instead, Joe chose to serve the people of another 
great Capitol--Sacramento, my hometown, and the place to which he 
devoted his life and energy.
  Joe Serna, Jr. will be greatly missed in both Sacramento and 
throughout the State which he so valiantly sought to improve and see 
prosper.

                          ____________________