[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 62 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2798-S2799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO MAYOR DAVE MUNSON

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the lifetime 
of achievement by one of South Dakota's finest and most dedicated 
public servants. Dave Munson's distinguished tenure as mayor of South 
Dakota's largest city, Sioux Falls, followed a successful career in the 
financial industry and 24 years as an elected member of the South 
Dakota Legislature.

[[Page S2799]]

  As a native of Sioux Falls, Mayor Munson married and raised his 
children in the city he loves, pursued a successful business career, 
and ultimately rose to the position of mayor. He has provided critical, 
consistent, and caring leadership to the residents of Sioux Falls 
during his terms in office.
  Over the past decade, Sioux Falls has witnessed tremendous 
residential housing growth and business development. During Mayor 
Munson's tenure, an impressive sum of over 16,000 jobs have been added 
in the city. Tax valuation in the city has grown from $125 million in 
2002 to $229 million today.
  Sioux Falls continues to be a great place to work, live, and raise a 
family, and this has been reflected in numerous top national rankings 
for quality of life and job development. Most recently, Sioux Falls was 
named one of the top five cities in the Nation for job prospects by the 
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. For the past 8 years, Forbes 
magazine has ranked Sioux Falls first out of 200 small metropolitan 
areas as the best places for businesses and careers. From adding 490 
acres of parkland throughout Sioux Falls to increasing public safety by 
adding 50 police officers to the streets, from development of 23,000 
acres on the east side of the thriving community to enhancing and 
improving neighborhoods, Mayor Munson has exhibited a progressive 
attitude to developing and maintaining Sioux Falls as one of the best 
cities in our Nation. A recent survey shows that 92 percent of Sioux 
Falls citizens say their community is a good or excellent place to 
live. Few city officials can tout such an extraordinary level of 
satisfaction.
  I have enjoyed my working relationship and friendship with Mayor 
Munson over many years. I have appreciated his can-do attitude, his 
vision for the future of Sioux Falls, and his team-oriented approach to 
resolving issues. Most of all, I have enjoyed collaborating with him on 
several large-scale projects that will continue to enhance the quality 
of life in Sioux Falls for decades. For example, the roadway from 
``Phillips to the Falls'' has been completed. Together, we ensured the 
future of the Orpheum Theater. We have long been partners to bring much 
needed water to Sioux Falls with the construction of the Lewis and 
Clark Regional Water System, which will meet the infrastructure needs 
for increased growth in the Sioux Falls area far into the future.
  Mayor Munson has provided a lasting legacy of leadership that will 
benefit the citizens of Sioux Falls for generations to come. His 
dedication and commitment to the people of Sioux Falls is unmatched, 
and I commend his distinguished service as mayor. Another of his 
achievements, the illumination at Christmastime of the falls for which 
the city is named, will serve as an annual reminder of his leadership. 
As Mayor Munson concludes his final tenure, I thank him for his 
service, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

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