[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 22, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING MARY FORD, MAYOR OF NORTHAMPTON

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and 
celebrate the public service of Mary Ford, who recently stepped down as 
the Mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts. Throughout her 8 years in 
office, Mayor Ford has elevated the City to one of the jewels of New 
England, and I join all of her friends, family, and constituents in 
honoring her today.
  As Mayor of Northampton, Ms. Ford oversaw the improvement of the 
school system, conducted comprehensive infrastructure improvements, 
modernized city services, and restored fiscal discipline. Perhaps the 
largest measure of her contributions to the city rests in the fact 
that, in the course of managing an annual budget of $55 million 
dollars, she erased a $3.2 million deficit. This financial turn-around 
allowed the city to entertain larger goals; the renovation and 
expansion of Northampton High School, the establishment of an 
innovative trust to preserve Section 8 assistance, and establishing 
Northampton as an attractive place to start new businesses.
  Her leadership on the budget, which includes the general fund, 
schools, and enterprise funds, has been complemented by computerizing 
all the city office's and raising hiring standards. She set the policy 
priorities for all the city's administrative departments, including; 
housing, health and safety inspection services, planning, culture and 
arts, finance, as well as economic and community development. Mayor 
Ford orchestrated all of these elements into a cohesive, focused set of 
services that was delivered in an effective and efficient manner, thus 
improving the lives of all residents.
  Due to Mary Ford's leadership, The City of Northampton is now one of 
the state's thriving, growing cities.
  The list of her accomplishments on behalf of the city's 
revitalization is varied and extensive; she improved the city's 
emergency response capabilities by allotting $5.5 million for a state-
of-the-art firehouse, renovated one third of the city's roads, and 
conducted comprehensive traffic re-designing for increased safety. Her 
accomplishments in education include securing an investment of $25 
million for the modernization of Northampton's high school, a $12 
million middle school expansion program, and work with the entire 
system's faculty and staff in implementing staff recommendations, 
reforming curriculum, and increasing parental involvement.
  She has also shared her expertise in municipal and governmental 
affairs with state and national organizations. From 1995-99, she was a 
member of the Human Development Committee in the National League of 
Cities, a founding member of the Regional Education Business Alliance, 
Chair of the Task Force on the Future of State and Local Revenue 
Sharing for the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and President of 
the Women Elected Municipal Officials organization in 1998.
  Mr. President, I am proud to regard Mary Ford as a friend, colleague 
and partner in maintaining Massachusetts's economic prosperity and 
growth. She has performed an enormous task for the City and its 
residents, and I join with all of Northampton in thanking her for her 
exemplary public service and leadership.

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