[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR OF THE HONORABLE BRUCE McPHERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated and 
passionate public servant, my friend, the Honorable Bruce McPherson. 
Senator McPherson recently left office after eight years representing 
California's fifteenth district in the California State Senate. He has 
served the residents of the Monterey Bay Area as a state senator since 
1996, and had previously served two terms as a member of the State 
Assembly for the 27th district. Though term limits have ended his 
career as a State Senator, Bruce leaves behind a lasting legacy of 
service and bipartisanship that I wish to honor here today.
  Senator McPherson spent twenty-six years in the newspaper business 
with the Santa Cruz Sentinel, always staying active in the community 
that he loved. However, it was after I stepped down from my seat in the 
Assembly to run for Leon Panetta's seat in Congress that Bruce heard 
the call of elected office. After a successful campaign, he became the 
first Republican to represent Santa Cruz in the legislature since 1976, 
and since then has continued to win every local election in which he 
has run.
  While in the legislature, Bruce has focused on several key issues, 
chief among them was education. In fact, while still a private citizen, 
he took the lead to enhance local education programs, such as creating 
a literacy program for the county while he was president of the local 
Rotary Club. This commitment continued as he worked to pass two state 
school bond measures, and worked annually to lower class sizes and keep 
them low. His position as Vice-Chair of the Senate Education Committee 
was a platform for him to work cooperatively within his chamber, as 
well as with the Assembly and Governor's office on difficult budget 
decisions.
  As one of the Monterey Bay Area's legislators, Senator McPherson also 
put environmental issues in the forefront of his agenda. He supported 
the statewide ban on oil drilling off our coasts; helped with the 
purchase of over 7,000 acres in north Santa Cruz County for 
preservation; and authored legislation to protect water quality in our 
oceans.
  Looking to take his message statewide, Bruce ran for Lieutenant 
Governor in 2002, a role he took on with a personal passion after the 
tragic loss of his son, Hunter. After this unimaginable loss for Bruce 
and his wife, Mary, they continued their positive and issues-oriented 
campaign in their son's name.
  Mr. Speaker, Bruce McPherson leaves the California Senate having 
accomplished many goals for his constituency and for the state. As he 
looks forward to spending time with his family, I wish to honor his 
work and dedicated public service, and to wish him happiness and 
success for the future.

                          ____________________