[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO ANNA M. CABALLERO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Anna 
Caballero. Anna first moved to Salinas in 1982 and started a law office 
specifically to provide excellent legal representation for working 
people. She promptly became active in town, and due to her immense 
enthusiasm she was quickly recognized as a community leader. She served 
on the city council for seven years, including four years as Vice 
Mayor. In 1998 Anna was elected as the first female Mayor in the 126 
year history of the city of Salinas, and has hence served four terms.
  During her tenure as city Mayor, Anna was a driving force in 
improving life for the people of Salinas. Some of her most successful 
projects were the diversification of Salinas's economic base, improving 
the affordability of local housing, the redevelopment of historic 
downtown Salinas, and ensuring the permanent funding of the Salinas 
library. The key to her success was her innate ability to sit people 
down, get straight to the issue and have them reach a consensus. 
Furthermore, Anna used her talents to streamline the Mayor's office and 
develop partnerships with neighborhoods, parent groups, labor groups, 
school districts, local businesses and the greater Salinas community.
  Anna's accomplishments in the community have not gone unnoticed. In 
1996, Anna was honored with the ``Athena'' award for ``entrepreneurial 
excellence'' by the Salinas Area Chamber of Commerce, the most 
prestigious honor the Chamber can bestow upon a fellow businessperson. 
In 2000, the Monterey Country Lawyers Association granted Anna the 
Justice Ribbon Award, the Association's highest award for members who 
bring distinction to the legal profession through commitment to public 
service.
  Anna has continued to reach out to the community. She is an avid 
volunteer coach for local baseball and soccer teams. She works with the 
Mexican-American Women's National Association, ``MANA'', to raise 
scholarship money for young women continuing to higher education. Anna 
is also an Executive Director of the non-profit Partners for Peace, 
dedicated to developing multi-disciplinary partnerships, which share 
community resources to bring about community change.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise once more to applaud Anna Caballero's many 
accomplishments. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like 
to congratulate her on her successful career, and express my sincere 
gratitude for her commitment to the community.

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