[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF GARY YATES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2000

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying 
tribute to the life of San Mateo City Councilman Gary Yates, one of the 
city's most talented and effective public servants, who passed away 
suddenly last weekend at the age of only 54 years.
  During his quarter-century as a San Mateo City resident, Gary served 
his community in many capacities, from mayor to president of the local 
homeowners association. Gary was, however, far more than just an 
officeholder; he was a dedicated advocate for the needs and interests 
of all the citizens of the City of San Mateo. He championed initiatives 
to improve paramedic response times; worked to make city government 
more efficient by expanding the use of performance bonuses; fought to 
maintain the beauty of the City of San Mateo by authoring a successful 
ballot measure to limit the height and density of buildings; and spent 
countless hours solving public problems both large and small. Mr. 
Speaker, Gary Yates deserves credit for helping to make the City of San 
Mateo one of the most pleasant cities places in America to live.
  Gary Yates was a dear friend, and it was an honor and a pleasure for 
me to work with him on a number of issues of importance to the people 
of the City of San Mateo over the past two decades. His daughter, Dana, 
served ably as an intern in my office. I would like to offer my 
heartfelt condolences to Gary's wife, Linda, and his entire family. Mr. 
Speaker, yesterday morning the San Mateo County Times eloquently 
recounted the outstanding legacy that Gary Yates has left to his 
community, his friends, and his family. I ask that this editorial be 
placed in the Record.

                          Yates Will Be Missed

                  San Mateo County Times, May 24, 2000

       With the untimely death of City Councilman Gary Yates on 
     Sunday, San Mateo has lost a politician, a civic-minded 
     citizen, a friend. Yates was a man who, in the words of City 
     Manager Arne Croce, ``lived and breathed this community.''
       Yates, 54, served on the council since 1993.
       But his community involvement stretched back 25 years 
     before that when the San Francisco-born man chose San Mateo 
     as his home town.
       Yates became involved with local issues as a member of the 
     Fiesta Gardens Homes Association, and was later president of 
     the umbrella organization, San Mateo United Homeowners 
     Association.
       He served as mayor in 1996 and would have held the office 
     again next year.
       Yates was remembered by his colleagues on the council as a 
     mediator who could disagree without rancor and always had the 
     community's best interests in mind.
       He respected the council's decisions, even when votes 
     didn't go his way.
       He was also a strong advocate for public safety, pushing 
     for Advanced Life Support paramedic services countywide and 
     convincing city residents to pass a bond measure funding 
     seismic retrofits at the police and fire stations.
       Today, when lots of cities can't even get enough candidates 
     together to hold a contested council election, and many 
     residents are too busy with work and family to get involved 
     in local issues, someone with Yates' dedication to civic life 
     is rare indeed.
       Gary Yates will be missed most by his wife, Linda, and his 
     children, Jeff, Dana and Alicia. But the loss echoes 
     throughout San Mateo, which has one less leader and advocate.

     

                          ____________________