[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING DAVID SMITH ON HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2012

  Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the long public service career of Mr. David Smith, who is 
retiring this month as Maricopa County Manager after more than 17 years 
as the county's top appointed official.
  Mr. Smith's career dates back to 1968, when he served three years in 
the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, including two years in Vietnam. Since 
this time, Mr. Smith has received countless recognitions for his work, 
including the honor of being named Governing Magazine's ``Public 
Official of the Year'' in 2001.
  Beginning first as a lobbyist for Westchester County, NY, it was 
there, that he first learned the art of the legislative process and the 
nuances of federal, state and local governance. In December 1994, he 
arrived in Phoenix in the midst of a fiscal crisis. In response, he 
fashioned a strategic plan based on realistic economic analysis, 
accurate forecasts, smart budgeting, continuous fiscal oversight, and a 
relentless quest for service improvement. His efforts have in turn 
helped Maricopa County establish a Triple A bond rating, no general 
obligation debt, a structurally balanced budget, and more Arizona 
Quality Awards than any other public or private entity in the state.
  Through Mr. Smith's fiscal discipline, Maricopa County was able to 
build satellite facilities, correction centers, and courthouses with 
cash reserves, saving hundreds of millions in interest payments that 
bonding would incur. Also, due in large part to his guidance, Maricopa 
County's adult probation department is considered a national leader in 
evidence-based practices and reducing recidivism.
  Noting the fiscal challenges associated with rising health care 
costs, Mr. Smith pushed the county to invest in public health programs. 
As such, more Arizonans are able to take advantage of health screenings 
and assessments and the county will also soon open a clinic for 
integrative medicine, utilizing alternative therapies.
  Like many urban centers, downtown Phoenix has needed to address the 
concerns of chronically homeless adults. Therefore, Mr. Smith proposed 
a one-stop service center and organized a public-private response with 
county government taking the lead. Today, the Human Service Campus 
provides its clients with professional support and resources, and 
uniquely, through its establishment, has helped spur private economic 
investment in downtown Phoenix.
  Mr. Smith is retiring from county government, but his leadership, 
vision, and focus will surely have a lasting impact in Maricopa County. 
Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in thanking Mr. Smith for his work 
and congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement as Maricopa 
County Manager.

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