[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RETIREMENT OF CHARLES MICHAEL ``MIKE'' NANNINI, JR.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize my friend Charles 
Michael ``Mike'' Nannini, a dedicated public servant who retired last 
month after 16 years of service to Nevada as an Elko county 
commissioner.
  Mr. Nannini was first elected in 1992 and has since completed four 
terms as county commissioner for District 1. When he retired in August, 
Mike was serving as the chair of the commission--a position he held 
numerous times throughout his tenure.
  A long-time resident of Nevada and a graduate of the University of 
Nevada, Reno, Mike is a devoted and active member of his community. In 
addition to his time on the Elko County Commission, he has also served 
on the Elko County Planning Commission and was mayor of Wells, NV. He 
has contributed to Elko County as a 35-year business owner, a realtor, 
and a horse and cattle owner.
  With an unyielding commitment to public safety, Mike served as the 
Sheriff Department's liaison, fought to bring a juvenile justice 
facility to Elko County, and served on the Central Dispatch 
Administrative Authority board. He has also given his time as a U.S. 
Forest Service and BLM Liaison, on the Metropolis Dam Rehabilitation 
board, and as a board member for the Heart Project, a tire recycling 
project.
  Mike has also worked hard to bring the citizens of Elko County 
together--no matter how far-flung they may be. Good communication is 
essential in rural Nevada, and Mike made an effort to bridge gaps 
between larger communities and the outlying towns. As a part of this 
plan, he helped organize rural commission meetings so that the concerns 
of the unincorporated communities could be heard. Mike also served on 
the Elko County Fair Board, and established the annual Elko County 
Employee Picnic to recognize and thank county employees for their hard 
work to support Elko County.
  Elko County has prospered under Mike's leadership, and although he is 
retiring, the benefits of his service will be felt for years to come. 
One of his long-held goals has been to see a new administration 
building for the county, and ground was recently broken on this 
project, which should be completed by 2011. Additionally, Mike 
continues to work on a project to restore the Bishop Creek Dam so that 
it may be used for recreational and agricultural needs in the county.
  After many years of service, Mike will enjoy retirement with his wife 
Lois and their children and grandchildren. I am grateful for his 
service and proud to honor him and his achievements.

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