[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 161 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN HONOR OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT ASSEMBLYMAN GENE MULLIN

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                          HON. JACKIE SPEIER-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, as happens too often in this age of 
legislative term limits, the state of California is losing a wise, 
dedicated and accomplished public servant. Assemblyman Gene Mullin, who 
was first elected on November 5, 2002 to represent the 19th District of 
California, will retire at the end of this year.
  Assemblyman Mullin represents a district that I, too, once served. I 
know the people there and I know that no one could serve them better 
than Gene. I cannot overstate my fondness and admiration for this man. 
He went into public service for the right reason: To serve. Any 
conversation with Gene is never about Gene. While many are called 
``selfless'', with most it's just a word. Gene truly does put others 
first--constituents, family, students, even strangers. All who come 
into contact with him know that when Gene Mullin gives you his word, 
you can take it to the bank.
  Gene served his community long before they chose him to represent 
them in the legislature. For 32 years, he taught government and coached 
basketball at South San Francisco High School. In the 1970s, he was 
tapped by city leadership to serve on the town's Planning Commission, 
where he was instrumental in attracting Genentech to the city in 1976. 
This started a bio-tech boom in South San Francisco and is a major 
reason why the city is on better financial footing than other 
municipalities. In 1979 the City Council named Gene Mullin ``Citizen of 
the Year.''
  In 1995, Gene Mullin joined the South San Francisco City Council, 
where he served for seven years, including two terms as Mayor. Upon his 
election to the Assembly, Gene quickly made a name for himself as a 
quick study, hard worker and consensus-builder. He retires as Chairman 
of the Assembly Committee on Education and previously served as Chair 
of the Committee on Housing and Community Development.
  Assemblyman Mullin has worked to ensure education funding for 
students and teachers. He authored bills to restore the $500 million 
borrowed from the California State Teachers Retirement System and has 
pushed programs to assure the quality of child care services. He has 
also been instrumental in efforts to provide affordable housing for all 
Californians.
  Prior to his government service, Gene was a gifted and much-loved 
educator. Not only do many of his students still mention him as a 
favorite teacher and role model, but he was honored as San Mateo 
County's Teacher of the Year in 1991 and the California Teachers 
Association's 1996 State Teacher of the Year in Politics.
  Gene Mullin graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science 
from the University of San Francisco in 1960 and holds a Lifetime 
Secondary Teaching Credential, also from USF.
  Madam Speaker, our state is in serious need of dedicated and 
intelligent public servants in our legislature. Gene Mullin will be 
sorely missed in Sacramento, but our loss is his family's gain. A 
dedicated father, husband and grandfather, Gene can now spend more time 
with his lovely and vivacious wife, Terri, his two children, Jennifer 
and Kevin, and three grandsons, Austin, Jonathan and Colton.
  Gene has lived his entire life in the Bay Area and we are all richer 
because of it.

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