[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 13, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


TRIBUTE ON THE RETIREMENT OF MR. JAMES D. RUTH, GENERAL MANAGER, ORANGE 
                       COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY G. MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 2013

  Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note 
the retirement of Mr. James D. Ruth, the General Manager of the Orange 
County Sanitation District. I worked with Jim during the past several 
years when the District was within my congressional district and 
learned to appreciate the tremendous public servant that Jim embodies. 
He was appointed interim General Manager of the Orange County 
Sanitation District in December 2005 and was originally supposed to 
stay about three to six months. Today, seven years later, Jim has 
worked with the OCSD Board of Directors to guide the District through 
some of the most challenging times that any public official could face. 
Jim's good humor, his expertise in public administration, his 
commitment to deliver the finest work resulted in successes that others 
could hope to attain. I must note that Jim also enabled his staff to 
take risks and make tough decisions that have strengthened the District 
and will allow it to make the transition with a new General Manager 
seamless. In his tenure, Jim oversaw a number of significant 
accomplishments and gaining national and international acclaim for the 
third largest wastewater treatment plant west of the Mississippi River.
  While I no longer serve Orange County, I am proud to have worked 
hand-in-hand with OCSD and others on some very important issues. Under 
his watch, Jim Ruth oversaw the relocation of the Santa Ana River 
Interceptor Line--an important link between the Inland Empire and 
Orange County--and once completed, will finally remove an environmental 
threat that has been looming for many, many years.
  Jim transformed OCSD and was leader in trimming costs and saving 
ratepayer dollars. Thanks to his leadership, OCSD was one of the first 
agencies to implement a lower cost second tier pension system across 
the board and save millions of dollars with efficiencies and 
elimination of duplicative services.
  With 55 years of public service, Jim Ruth leaves a legacy of 
transforming public agencies and bringing out the best in the people 
around him. Many of us think, Jim really isn't retiring but moving on 
to something else as those of us who know him well, know he cannot sit 
still.
  Congratulations Jim on a very successful career at OCSD and on 
serving the people of Orange County for many years. I wish you the best 
in retirement.

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