[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 71 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1033-E1034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL A. MAIER HONORING HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OREGON ON 
                     THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2006

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay 
special tribute to one of Oregon's most dedicated and accomplished 
public servants. After 27 years, Mr. Michael A. Maier is retiring from 
the position of Deschutes

[[Page E1034]]

County Administrator. During his career, Mike has led Deschutes County 
through a period of unprecedented growth which has transformed a small 
rural community into a thriving region that attracts visitors and new 
residents from throughout the country.
  Mike was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. Upon entering 
adulthood, he proudly served his country as a member of the United 
States Marine Corps, holding the position of Group Communication Center 
Supervisor. Following his discharge, he attended, California State 
University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 
Public and Business Administration in 1974. He then proceeded to obtain 
a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of 
Southern California in 1976.
  After completing his education, Mike moved to Oregon and became an 
Administrator in the Oregon Circuit and District Court system. However, 
Mike's interest in government continued to grow, and by 1979, he chose 
to pursue a career in the broader field of public administration. He 
assumed his current position as Deschutes County Administrator in May 
1979 and has been a highly respected and valued contributor to both the 
community and local government ever since.
  During Mike's tenure, Deschutes County has consistently ranked as one 
of the fastest growing regions in the United States. The rapid increase 
in population, from approximately 62,000 in 1979 to nearly 145,000 in 
2005, has presented a wealth of challenges and opportunities. Mike 
skillfully guided the County through this transition, managing 
organizational growth from 250 employees to well over 800 and an annual 
budget of just over $16 million in 1979 to almost $228 million today.
  Among Mike's many accomplishments as a Public Administrator, he is 
justifiably proudest of those that brought fiscal strength and 
stability to Deschutes County. His creativity and innovation are the 
source of a system in which existing property and partnerships are 
leveraged to construct new County facilities without additional cost to 
the taxpayer. He also initiated a self-insurance program that has saved 
millions of taxpayer dollars while creating an environment of trust and 
cooperation between County management, employees, and labor 
organizations and serving as a model for other communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring one of 
Oregon's finest public servants, Mike Maier. On behalf of the citizens 
of the Second District of Oregon, I am proud to recognize Mike's 
numerous achievements and to wish him the best as he enters a well-
deserved retirement.

                          ____________________