[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 131 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE SERVICE OF SUSAN B. ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2012

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank the 
Honorable Susan B. Anderson for her service, as she prepares to retire 
from the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. She was elected to the 
Board of Supervisors in 2000 and has been a reliable champion for the 
people of Fresno County for over a decade. During her tenure on the 
Board of Supervisors, Susan has served as a collaborative, creative, 
and innovative leader. Her participation on the Board will be sorely 
missed.
  Born in Kansas, Susan and her family moved to California's 
agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley when Susan was three years old. 
By 1970, Susan and her family settled in Fresno, California. In 1987, 
Susan earned her law degree from San Joaquin College of Law, where she 
also served as president of the Student Association, and eventually the 
Alumni Association.
  A long-time public servant, Susan began her career working as 
marketing director for the downtown Fresno YMCA for over ten years. 
With her leadership, the YMCA experienced an expansion in membership 
and community support--clearly exhibiting her role as an effective 
ambassador for the people of the San Joaquin Valley.
  Susan has been an unwavering advocate for Central California's 
children during her entire career. Shortly after graduating from law 
school, Susan worked as a deputy district attorney in the Fresno County 
Juvenile Courts. She took it upon herself to ensure that abused, 
abandoned, and neglected children were represented fairly and 
passionately. Additionally, Susan has served on a number of Boards, 
including the Boy Scouts, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Court Appointed 
Special Advocates (CASA), and the YMCA. She also was at the forefront 
of the effort to create Focus Forward, a non-profit organization aimed 
at providing educational and enrichment services to the County's 
children. Susan's dedication to helping some of our most vulnerable 
citizens serves as a testament to her superior moral character and 
compassionate heart.
  When Susan was elected to be County Clerk in 1990, she made history 
by being the first woman elected to a county-wide post. Her time as 
County Clerk was ample with accomplishments. During her service, she 
increased the efficiency of her department, ensuring timely responses 
and successful service.
  As a County Supervisor, Susan has often shown thoughtful leadership, 
effective policy development, and keen fiscal and administrative 
oversight. Her work has touched the lives of thousands of Valley 
residents, and will ensure that her legacy lives on for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing one of 
California's most principled leaders. Her loyalty to her constituents 
paired with her unmatched work ethic truly makes her a source of pride 
for our entire nation.

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