[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 35 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATION OF MARIA D. FERNANDES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 5, 2012

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and 
legacy of Maria D. Fernandes of Sea Bright, New Jersey. Mayor Fernandes 
served the constituents of Sea Bright for 16 years and retired in 
January 2012. She passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at the age 
of 59. Throughout her illustrious career, the Mayor continued to 
preserve and enhance the quality of life for Sea Bright residents. Her 
service is truly worthy of this body's recognition.
  Maria Fernandes served as Sea Bright Borough Mayor from 2008 until 
2011. She was proud to be the first Portuguese-American female Mayor in 
the state of New Jersey and the third in the United States. Before 
becoming Mayor, Ms. Fernandes was elected to the Sea Bright Borough 
Council in 1997 and served in this capacity through 2007. She was 
appointed Sea Bright Council President from 2003 through 2005 and was 
an active participant and member of the Sea Bright Planning and Zoning 
Board from 1996 through 2011. As a member of the Borough Council, she 
implemented a program to add the North and South Beach areas to the 
monthly street cleaning schedule. Sea Bright now has regularly 
scheduled street cleaning services once a month as a result of Mayor 
Fernandes' initiatives. Her leadership abilities also led to her 
appointment as Chair of the Sea Bright Public Works Committee in which 
she assisted in consolidating services and improving the accessibility 
and cleanliness of the local beaches. As Public Works Committee Chair, 
she also managed the Sea Bright Downtown Infrastructure Improvement 
Project (DIIP), addressing the flooding in downtown Sea Bright. Other 
projects during Mayor Fernandes' tenure on the Borough Council have 
included the implementation of the free parking system and the 
negotiation of multiple shared services contracts with neighboring 
towns.
  Mayor Fernandes is predeceased by her Father Ernest Fernandes and her 
Maternal Grandmother, Jesuina Diaz. Surviving is her Mother, Adelina 
Fernandes of Sea Bright.
  Mr. Speaker, Mayor Maria Fernandes dedicated her life to serving the 
people and the town of Sea Bright New Jersey. Her actions touched the 
hearts and minds of countless men, women and children throughout Sea 
Bright and Monmouth County. Her legacy has served as an inspiration to 
us all and she will truly be missed.

                          ____________________