[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2028-E2029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING MIKE KERNS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 1, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a fellow resident 
of the city of

[[Page E2029]]

Petaluma, Mike Kerns, who retires in December after serving 12 years on 
the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
  Mike and I go back many years. When I was serving on the Petaluma 
City Council, Mike was the big, friendly cop who was involved in the 
city's tobacco and drug education programs. He served in many positions 
on the Petaluma Police Force beyond the usual enforcement programs. 
Mike was a Crisis Team Supervisor, a Peer Counseling Supervisor and a 
Youth Diversion Counselor and the department's liaison to the Stop 
Tobacco Access to Minors Program, which significantly reduced illegal 
tobacco sales to children and teens. He is best known, however, for his 
role as Press Information Officer in the Polly Klass kidnapping. He 
became a familiar face on television and his calm demeanor and his 
compassion for the victim and her family provided a sense of stability 
as the public witnessed the unfolding of a senseless tragedy.
  Mike Kerns was born and raised in Napa, California. He was an 
athletic young man and in 1967 won a Golden Gloves championship. He 
began his public service career as a counselor for the Jobs Corps in 
Pleasanton. In 1973 he put on his first blue uniform as a police 
officer for the city of Tiburon in Marin County. In 1978 he transferred 
to the Petaluma Police Department, and was promoted to Sergeant in 
1980. Sergeant Kerns married Carol Madsen the next year and they raised 
two children, Katie and Matt.
  In 1998 following the retirement of popular, veteran Supervisor Jim 
Harberson, Mike was elected to represent the 2nd District for the 
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. His ``southern Sonoma'' district 
includes the cities of Petaluma and Cotati and a portion of Rohnert 
Park, along with the unincorporated agricultural communities of 
Penngrove, Two Rock, Bloomfield and Valley Ford. Mike's humor, 
directness and listening skills have served him well in dealing with 
his diverse constituency.
  Mike also represents a portion of Sonoma County's bay lands, an area 
public agencies, non-profits and citizen's groups have joined together 
to restore watersheds and wetlands. Mike counts among his biggest 
achievements in office the county's purchase of the 1769-acre Cardoza 
Ranch in 2005. Now known as the Tolay Lake Regional Park, it includes 
hills and grasslands, a seasonal lake, creeks, ponds and wetlands, and 
is a major wintering stopover for migrating waterfowl. The park is 
currently under development with plans calling for new hiking and 
biking trails, a natural and historic education center and restoration 
of Tolay Lake.
  Supervisor Kerns should also be congratulated for his major role in 
the Supervisors' decision to place on the ballot two successful 
transportation measures which provided the financial foundation for the 
long-awaited widening of Highway 101 and the future construction of the 
SMART rail system. These transportation improvements will help ensure 
that Sonoma County continues to have corridor-centered growth while 
lowering its carbon emissions and more quickly move goods and people.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Mike Kerns for his years of service as both a 
law enforcement officer and a lawmaker, and wish him a well-deserved 
happy, and healthy retirement.

                          ____________________