[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 117 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1485-E1486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF 
                  GOVERNMENT IN FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2008

  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I have always agreed with that famous 
quotation from former House Speaker Tip O'Neill, who noted ``all 
politics is local.'' I also subscribe to the adage that ``all 
government is local.''
  Wisconsin is particularly proud of its strong tradition of local 
government, formally dating back to the ratification of the Wisconsin 
State Constitution in 1848. The Wisconsin State Constitution contains 
at least four references to local government and clearly grants the

[[Page E1486]]

Wisconsin State Legislature the authority to enact legislation to 
create local government and establish the framework within which local 
governments operate.
  Ten Wisconsin cities currently have the council-manager form of 
government which was first authorized in 1919.
  This year, the city of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, celebrates the 50th 
anniversary of its adoption of the council-manager form of government. 
The council-manager system has served the city well, and I am pleased 
to congratulate Fond du Lac on this significant milestone.
  Interestingly enough, Fond du Lac was the last city in Wisconsin to 
have the commissioner form of government, which featured three 
commissioners and a mayor, all elected, with the commission directly 
supervising city departments. Fifty years ago there were increasing 
questions about the effectiveness of this form of government. While 
local political issues made some sort of change appealing, there was 
growing popularity across the country at that time for the council-
manager form of government, which the city of Fond du Lac ultimately 
adopted.
  Often cited as an advantage of the council-manager model is the 
balance achieved between professional management of daily operations 
and policy decisions made by elected officials. While ultimate control 
of the government lies with elected officials, functional experts 
provide professional management of daily operations.
  Robert McManus was the first city manager appointed by the city 
council in 1958. Mr. McManus was followed by Henry Buslee, Myron Medin, 
Daniel R. Thompson, Jack Howley, Stephen T. Nenonen, and Tom Ahrens. 
Thomas Herre, who was most recently appointed in 2005, currently serves 
in this key leadership role. Of this group, Myron Medin was Fond du 
Lac's longest serving city manager, serving from November of 1967 
through August of 1983.
  On the occasion of this noteworthy anniversary, it is important to 
commend the members of the Fond du Lac city council over the last 50 
years for the care they have taken in appointing those who have served 
as city manager and in efficiently and effectively supervising the 
city's affairs. Of historical interest, it is fitting to note that 
James Megellas, a highly decorated World War II hero and native son of 
Fond du Lac, was the first city council president to preside under this 
new form of government.
  I hope you will join me in congratulating the City of Fond du Lac and 
its citizens on the 50th anniversary of their adoption of the council-
manager form of government.

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