[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING RICHARD F. MELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2009

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and 
distinguished career of Richard F. Mell. Alderman Mell, who is 
celebrating his 35th year of service, is a vital part of the Chicago 
community.
  Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Dick Mell began his career in public 
service shortly after moving to Chicago, starting as a precinct captain 
with the 33rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization and working closely 
with a variety of neighborhood organizations. Knowing he could do more 
to help the community by taking on a larger role, in 1975, he ran to be 
Alderman of the 33rd Ward and won. A year later, he became the Ward 
Committeeman and took his seat on the Democratic Central Committee of 
Cook County, representing his community on Chicago's Northwest side.
  Alderman Mell has continued to take on important and influential 
roles throughout his successful career. He held the office of Vice 
Mayor of the City of Chicago for eight years and currently serves as 
Chairman of the Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics. He is also a 
member of the Committees on Budget and Governmental Operations, 
Finance, Health, Housing & Land Acquisition, Human Relations, and 
Traffic Control and Safety.
  As Alderman, Mr. Mell has always put his community first, remaining 
accessible to his constituents with an open door policy and frequent 
attendance at community meetings. He celebrates his multi-ethnic, 
multi-racial community and understands that diversity stimulates growth 
in all of its residents. He consistently strives to protect his entire 
community and has helped make possible social programs to assist the 
less fortunate.
  Alderman Mell's list of accomplishments is longer than this statement 
will allow and includes setting new ethic codes for elected officials, 
fighting absentee slum landlords in housing courts, initiating an 
Adjacent Neighborhood Program that rids the city of vacant lots, and 
fighting to decrease graffiti in the city by banning spray paint and 
passing an ordinance that allows judges to sentence graffiti vandals to 
community service work.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Alderman 
Richard Mell and his extraordinary career, and thank him for his many 
outstanding contributions to the City of Chicago and its citizens. His 
commitment to public service stands as an example to us all.

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