[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E767-E768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO ROELAND PARK, KANSAS, MAYOR LORI HIRONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2005

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Roeland Park, Kansas, Mayor Lori Hirons, who recently left elective 
office after 4 years of service as mayor, 8 as a city councilmember and 
1 year of service on the Roeland Park zoning appeals board.

[[Page E768]]

  Lori Hirons has been a visionary and diligent leader of the city of 
Roeland Park during her tenure as a public servant. Individuals like 
her across America regularly make significant commitments of their 
time, resources and personal patience in order to fill these important 
roles in local government: we cannot thank them enough for doing so.
  During her tenure as mayor, I was privileged to work with Mayor 
Hirons and Senator Sam Brownback to bring to Roeland Park $1.25 million 
in vitally needed Federal funds to improve that city's stormwater 
management facilities. Additionally, Lori and her husband, Frank, have 
been longtime advisors to me in my capacity as Representative of 
Kansas' Third Congressional District and I am proud to consider them 
close, personal friends as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record with these remarks an article 
recently carried by the Kansas City Star that summarizes Mayor Hirons' 
lengthy record of service and achievements for Roeland Park. I join 
with her neighbors in wishing her and Frank all the best as they 
consider new challenges and I hope she will hear the calling of public 
service again at a future time.

               [From the Kansas City Star, Apr. 20, 2005]

                Hirons Has Made a Difference in Her City

                            (By Kara Cowie)

       Much has changed in Roeland Park Mayor Lori Hirons' 13 
     years with the city.
       City Council meetings no longer run until 1 a.m. and are 
     more amiable than they used to be. Neighborhoods are now 
     looking forward to much-needed street and storm water 
     improvements. And instead of a vacant Venture plaza, a soon-
     to-be vibrant shopping center with a Lowe's home 
     improvement store and brand-new Price Chopper is in the 
     works.
       It's taken many, many meetings to make it all happen, but 
     Hirons is pleased with the results of her four years as 
     mayor, eight years as a Ward 1 council member and one year on 
     the city's board of zoning appeals.
       Now she's ready for a break.
       ``I don't think I've done anything in government that's 
     superstar status, but I do think I took the road less 
     traveled,'' Hirons said. ``And I always said I never wanted 
     to be carried out of here in a box.''
       So, after more than a decade of Wednesday night meetings, 
     tonight will be her last. Just after 7:30 p.m., Hirons is to 
     pass on the gavel to Councilman Steve Petrehn, who ran 
     unopposed for the position earlier this month.
       City Administrator John Carter is sad to see her go.
       ``I've been doing this for 30 years, and the last four were 
     the most enjoyable years working with a very good mayor,'' he 
     said.
       What makes Hirons so special, Carter added, is ``her caring 
     for her community, her ethics and her desire to do what's 
     right,'' as well as her ``doggedness.'' Hirons never gave up 
     her dream of seeing the old Venture plaza redeveloped, and 
     she pushed to expand RoeFest and to turn the Roeland Park 
     Community Center into a true community hub, he said.
       Hirons, too, is proud of those accomplishments and several 
     others.
       ``I can look back 12 years and see a real difference,'' she 
     said. ``That gives you a feeling of pride and accomplishment. 
     ``
       But she is quick to point out the credit isn't hers alone. 
     She's worked with several progressive council members who 
     shared her vision for the city.
       Councilman Scott Gregory has know Hirons for about 15 years 
     and, although they don't always see eye to eye, Gregory said, 
     they do share a mutual respect.
       ``Over the years, Lori and I have been just screaming at 
     each other and yet we come through it being able to talk, 
     being able to deal with each other,'' Gregory said. ``I truly 
     believe that she has remained focused and hasn't indulged in 
     intrigue and manipulation.''
       Hirons is the first to admit that public service isn't a 
     popularity contest, and some council members may think she's 
     too brusque.
       ``I am very direct; I am very honest,'' she said. ``You've 
     got to be yourself.''
       Hirons' direct and honest nature is one of the things 
     Mission Mayor Laura McConwell appreciates the most.
       ``She's approachable and she is straight; you can believe 
     what she says, and she doesn't play games,'' McConwell said. 
     ``Whether I agree or not, it's a lot easier to know where 
     someone's coming from.''
       Plus, McConwell added: ``She's a lot of fun. She's just a 
     dynamo.''
       Hirons joined the council in 1993 after a one-year stint on 
     the board of zoning appeals and several years' involvement 
     with her church and neighborhood. She was elected mayor in 
     2001 with 64 percent of the vote.
       In that time she's helped secure professional management 
     for the city and a new building for City Hall and the police 
     department. She's also helped set up benefit districts for 
     storm water projects, secure a $1.2 million federal grant for 
     drainage improvements and implement a city ethics ordinance, 
     which she described as a moral compass for council members.
       Still, Hirons said, her biggest accomplishment is the $31 
     million Venture plaza redevelopment project, which is 
     expected to boost the city's sales tax base.
       ``The work I did on that is hopefully my gift to the 
     city,'' she said.
       Now Hirons plans to devote more time to her career as the 
     vice president for public affairs for Citi Cards, a division 
     of Citigroup in Kansas City, and her husband, Frank.
       As for politics?
       ``I don't believe this is the last time you're going to see 
     my name on a ballot, but it won't be in 2006,'' she said.

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