[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1202-E1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING COUNCILLOR LEONARD F. O'LEARY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN F. TIERNEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2007

  Mr. TIERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Councillor Leonard 
F. O'Leary of Salem, MA. Councillor O'Leary recently announced that he 
would not be seeking reelection. It will be the first time since 1984 
when

[[Page E1203]]

he was first elected as Councillor of Salem's Ward Four that the 
O'Leary name will not appear on the ballot.
  Lennie honorably served twelve consecutive, two-year terms, and his 
twenty-four years on the Salem City Council rank him among the longest 
serving City Councillors in Salem's long and storied history. He earned 
the respect of his colleagues on the Council over the years as 
reflected by their electing him Council President on four occasions 
during his tenure.
  Lennie's institutional knowledge made him a valuable resource on the 
Council as he served as Chair on all of the Council's committees, 
including the Finance Committee and Committee on Ordinances, Licenses 
and Legal Affairs. He also served as the longtime Council Liaison to 
the City's Board of Health. Councillor O'Leary served his country as a 
member of the National Guard from 1961-1967, and he took great pride in 
advocating in support of his fellow veterans while on the Council.
  In his over two decade long Council career, Lennie was legendary in 
his devotion to his Ward Four constituents, and he provided them with 
reliable and responsive service. He kept them informed with regular 
neighborhood meetings and tended to their every need whether by filing 
measures to prohibit overnight parking of heavy vehicles in residential 
neighborhoods or meeting with engineers and DPW crews to make sure road 
work proceeded in a timely and reasonable manner. Lennie advocated 
tirelessly for his Ward Four neighbors appearing at hundreds of Board 
of Appeals, Planning Board, and Conservation Committee hearings to make 
sure their concerns had a voice and were heard. He was rewarded by 
support across his Ward that was broad and deep.
  Lennie would be the first to admit that he did not do it all alone. 
He would tell you that he had good friends and that he had good fortune 
in working with four mayors and countless dedicated colleagues on the 
Council. However, most important to Lennie was the full and untiring 
support he received from his wife Mary, who often accompanied him to 
those late night Council and Board meetings. Mary provided counsel that 
he could trust.
  This week in Salem, Lennie's colleagues, friends, neighbors, and 
family will gather to celebrate and thank Councillor Leonard F. O'Leary 
for 24 years of unselfish public service. It is a most appropriate and 
deserving recognition for someone who has given so much of himself to 
the City of Salem.

                          ____________________