[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING WILL KEMPTON FOR HIS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE 
                             OF CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam Speaker, as the Chair of the 
California Democratic Congressional Delegation, I rise today to honor 
the extraordinary work of Will Kempton, the current Director of the 
California Department of Transportation. Mr. Kempton was appointed 
Director in November of 2004, and in that capacity, he manages a $13.3 
billion budget for the Department, oversees $10 billion for the 
improvement of California's transportation network, and a staff of over 
23,000 employees, as well as manages the day to day operations of over 
50,000 miles of highway in the State.
  As Director, Mr. Kempton has provided leadership to the Department on 
a broad range of issues that impact transportation in the State of 
California. Some of his many accomplishments over the years include: 
helping California to rapidly obligate its share of funds from the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; overseeing the passage 
and implementation of Proposition 1B in 2006, which invested $19 
billion into the State's aging infrastructure; and leading the Caltrans 
campaign to deliver 1,088 transportation construction projects valued 
at $11.5 billion over the last half-decade, and delivered 1,087 of 
them, or 99.9 percent.
  After more than three decades of public service, Mr. Kempton 
announced that he will be leaving as Director of the California 
Department of Transportation at the end of July, 2009. He has honorably 
and effectively served the State of California in various capacities 
throughout his career, including serving as the Assistant Director of 
the California Department of Transportation in charge of Legislative 
and Congressional Affairs. Since joining Caltrans in 1973, Mr. Kempton 
has served in various management positions in the Department helping 
him to develop a broad understanding of transportation programs and 
policies at all levels of government.
  Mr. Kempton is a San Francisco native, and received his bachelor's 
degree from the University of San Francisco. Mr. Kempton translated his 
knowledge of transportation programs into the production arena when, as 
Chair of the Santa Clara County Traffic Authority, I helped to hire him 
as the first Executive Director. During his assignment as Director of 
the Santa Clara County effort, Mr. Kempton mobilized California's sales 
tax programs into an effective coalition of ``self help'' counties. The 
sales tax program he managed is widely viewed as one of the most 
successful ever undertaken in California, resulting in the delivery of 
nearly $1 billion dollars in highway improvements in less than 10 
years. He brought in our Santa Clara County ``Measure A'' program under 
budget and ahead of schedule.
  Mr. Kempton, who now lives with his wife Beverly in Folsom, 
California, served on the City of Folsom's Parks and Recreation 
Commission from 1995 until 2003. He also served as the City of Folsom 
Assistant City Manager for Community Services beginning in January 
2003, where he was responsible for overseeing the operations of the 
City's Community Development, Neighborhood Services, Parks and 
Recreation, Utilities, and Public Works departments.
  Will Kempton and I have worked in different capacities on California 
Transportation projects since 1985. I have met no abler a public 
administrator in my career. He is, simply, the best.
  On behalf of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, I 
would like to thank Will Kempton for more than three decades of public 
service in the State of California.

                          ____________________