[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 107 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING GEORGETTE BROWN

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2008

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share with you 
and my colleagues my pride in Georgette Brown. Georgette is a dedicated 
public servant, a good friend, and a stalwart guardian of the American 
election process.
  Georgette is retiring after 25 years of elected service as County 
Clerk in Josephine County, Oregon. As all of you know, to be elected to 
a position repeatedly for over two and a half decades, a person must be 
extremely well liked, dedicated, competent, and a proven leader. Those 
attributes truly personify Georgette Brown.
  In her career, Georgette has brought innovation and modernization to 
the Office of Josephine County Clerk since assuming office in 1983. She 
oversaw significant transitions that took the county from hand-counted 
paper ballots to punch cards to optical scan ballots, which are now in 
their third generation. She flawlessly facilitated the change from 
voting at polling places to a 100 percent vote-by-mail system today. 
Georgette has been a true professional as County Clerk, and I have 
relied on her many times to understand how proposed legislation might 
affect the local elections process.
  Georgette has continually modernized the recordkeeping and reporting 
functions of the County Clerk's office, now utilizing the Internet 
extensively. She has created a user friendly office where you can 
easily obtain passports and other public documents. As County Clerk, 
Georgette also performs marriages.
  To accomplish what Georgette has as County Clerk would be considered 
remarkable in and of itself, but Georgette also excelled at being a 
loving wife, mother, and now a grandmother. Her public service and 
leadership has gone beyond her elected position to include her long 
service in Rotary and Zonta. Georgette has served as president of both 
of those organizations dedicated to serving others. Georgette serves on 
the executive board of the International Association of Clerks, 
Recorders, Election Officials, and Treasurers. In her retirement, she 
plans to continue her international involvement in the elections 
process.
  For most of her adult life, Georgette was at the side of her husband, 
Larry, who was tragically taken from us all too soon a few years ago 
when a long battle with cancer ended his life. Larry was, in every 
sense of the word, a great American, patriot, and one who accomplished 
great things. Larry and Georgette were a very effective team working to 
better their community. When Larry passed away, it took great courage 
for Georgette to carry on without him, but she has been up to this 
ultimate personal test. She has kept the flame of public service 
burning brightly for which the Browns were so well known.
  Madam Speaker, with all of her significant accomplishments, Georgette 
would assuredly point with most pride to the two great daughters that 
she and Larry raised, Monique and Martie. Monique is married to Shane 
Anderson and they have presented Georgette with her first grandchild, 
Taylor Anderson.
  Even though Georgette Brown is retiring from public office, she will 
always be active in serving others, and she remains committed to making 
her country and her community a better place in which to live and work. 
Madam Speaker, we may pass laws, but people like Georgette Brown make 
those laws work for all of us. Although she will be missed as County 
Clerk, she can leave that phase of her public service knowing that she 
gave it her all and she made a real difference. With public service 
such a part of her moral fiber, we know that she will soon be serving 
in new and innovative ways and continuing to improve the lives of 
others.
  I highly value Georgette's service and her friendship. I ask you to 
join me in honoring this very special woman.

                          ____________________