[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO META JACKSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Meta Jackson 
for continuously serving the Juniata Township Election Board for the 
past 50 years. Meta will be honored at a ceremony on November 7 for her 
service to the community.
  Meta started as an election inspector in 1956 during the Dwight 
Eisenhower-Adlai Stevenson Presidential race. At the time the paper 
election ballots were counted by hand and the counting often extended 
into the next day. She has told her current fellow poll workers that in 
the 1950s they would be up 24 hours straight working to get every 
ballot counted. Meta has served as the chair of the Election Board for 
several decades and has witnessed many changes over the years. Today 
the township uses opti-scan machines and automark loading terminals for 
the disabled that count the ballots as they run through the system.
  In addition to serving as an election official for the past 50 years, 
Meta is active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies 
of the Moose, and the Caro Eagles. She has lived in Juniata Township 
since the age of 5 and graduated from Caro High School. She married the 
late Walter Jackson in 1953 and moved to the family dairy farm. Meta 
and Walter have four children and nine grandchildren. Meta continues to 
help out on the family farm by doing the recordkeeping and running 
errands.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating Meta Jackson for 50 years as an election official and 
wish her the best as she continues her service to the community.

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