[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 100 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MISCHELLE TOWNSEND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 19, 2004

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of 
Riverside County, CA, are exceptional. We have been fortunate to have 
dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly 
give of their time and talent and make their communities a better place 
to live and work. Mischelle Townsend is one of these individuals.
  Mischelle Townsend has lived and worked in the Inland Empire most of 
her life. Today she retires from public service, where she will be 
greatly missed.
  Mischelle Townsend came to Riverside County after five years working 
with the aerospace industry, North American Rockwell Corporation, 
including direct support of the Apollo Project. She then entered the 
public sector, where her time and talent has been vital to the growth 
of the Inland Empire. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of 
Redlands and a Masters in Public Administration from California State 
University, San Bernardino.
  Twenty-two years Riverside County has been privileged to have 
Mischelle Townsend, as the Executive Officer of the Local Agency 
Formation Commission (LAFCO). LAFCO is a state regulatory commission 
responsible for jurisdictional changes such as the incorporation of new 
cities, annexations and formation of new special districts. Under 
Mischelle's tenure at this agency, three cities where established in 
seven years: Moreno Valley, La Quinta and Cathedral City.
  Mischelle Townsend later served six years as Assistant Chief 
Administrator Officer, where her responsibilities included: preparation 
of Riverside County's annual budget, development of policy 
recommendations from 33 county departments and agencies, administration 
of an $18 million Special District Augmentation Fund, preparation of 
the annual Capital Improvements Program, and chairmanship of various 
task forces and policy advisory committees.
  She then moved onto Director of Riverside County's General Services 
Agency and eventually moved into her current position as Registrar of 
Voters on July 31, 1997. As Registrar of Voters, Mischelle has been 
widely recognized as an innovator in modern election services.
  Outside of the office, Mischelle has been equally giving of her 
talents. Her community involvement includes, but is not limited to: 
President of the Executive Council for the American Society for Public 
Administration (ASPA/Inland Empire); Vice President/Volunteer Personnel 
for the Inland Empire Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America; past member 
of the Board of Directors for Alternatives to Domestic Violence; 
Soroptomist International of Riverside; and, active member of 
Crossroads Christian Church.
  Mr. Speaker, Mischelle Townsend's tireless passion for her profession 
and community has contributed immensely to the betterment of the Inland 
Empire, California. She has been the heart and soul of many innovative 
projects and events and I am proud to call her a fellow community 
member, American, and friend. I know that the community is equally 
grateful for her service and salute her as she retires from 
professional service.

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