[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1955-E1956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF THOMAS KASTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2012

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Thomas Kasten who has served 
on the Hillsborough City Council for twelve years, including two terms 
as mayor. The residents of our town are very fortunate to have 
benefitted from the expertise and leadership of such an outstanding 
businessman and manager.
  Tom, first elected to the city council in 2000, is currently the 
mayor and police commissioner. He balanced the budget both years and 
left the town in good financial condition. With his leadership skills 
he was able to calm a heated controversy about increased garbage and 
water rates that brought out large and vocal groups of residents. He 
also oversaw the approval of the largest capital expenditure plan in 
the town's history to replace a substantial portion of the 100-year old 
sewer system.
  During his first term as mayor from 2004-2006, Tom had to deal with 
the town's fight over MacMansions replacing smaller ranch homes. He 
established the Zoning Study Committee and included leaders from both 
sides of the controversy to develop adjustments to the building code.

[[Page E1956]]

  Tom also chaired the board of directors of the City/County 
Association of Governments (C/CAG) of San Mateo County and is now the 
vice chair of its legislative committee. He sits on the board of 
directors of the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo 
County (HEART) and serves on its nominating and by laws committees. 
Previously, he was on the board of the Peninsula Traffic Congestion 
Relief Alliance. In 2007, Tom was the chair of the Regional Housing 
Needs Allocation Policy Advisory Committee for San Mateo County and is 
currently chairing its policy committee.
  Tom honed his business skills during his 34-year long career at Levi 
Strauss & Co., where he was the president of the youthwear, men's 
jeans, and womenswear divisions. In addition, he served as executive 
vice president of new business development in which capacity he took 
the company private after 14 years as a public company. Tom was 
responsible for all information technology for Levi Strauss United 
States. Today, he continues his connection to Levis Strauss & Co. and 
serves on the Investment Committee.
  Tom has lectured at some of our finest universities, including 
Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA and San Francisco State University, and he has 
been a keynote speaker at countless business conferences in the United 
States and abroad. He is also a frequent guest on television and radio 
and has been quoted in magazines such as Fortune and Fast Company. 
Computerworld Magazine named Tom one of the ``Premier 100 Information 
Technology Leader in the U.S.'' in 2000.
  Tom is very active in the Jewish community and volunteers his time 
and expertise with the Jewish Community Federation of the San Francisco 
Bay Area and the Jewish Home Foundation.
  Originally from Portland, Oregon, Tom received his BS and MBA in 
Marketing from the University of California at Berkeley.
  Tom and his wife, Kendra, have lived in Hillsborough 28 years. They 
have two children, Jeffrey and Alyssa.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor Thomas Kasten who has tirelessly devoted his time and energy to 
the residents of Hillsborough.

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