[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 42 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E367-E368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING STEPHEN WEIR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2013

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my 
colleagues Congressman Mike Thompson, Congressman Jerry McNerney and 
Congressman Eric Swalwell to recognize the unparalleled career of Mr. 
Stephen Weir and congratulate him as he retires after forty years of 
public service on behalf of the people of Contra Costa County. Steve 
Weir has been known throughout our community as a man of uncommon 
commitment and unwavering integrity.
  Born in Richmond, California and raised in Pleasant Hill, Steve has 
been a life-long resident of Contra Costa County. Following his 
graduation with Honors from the University of California at Berkeley, 
Steve moved back to Central County to begin his career as a public 
servant. He won his first elected position in 1973 as the Contra Costa 
Water District Director. After serving seven years in that capacity, 
Steve was elected to the Concord City Council in 1980, and in 1984 he 
was selected by his colleagues to serve a two-year term as Concord's 
Mayor. During this time, Steve also took on the responsibilities of 
regional Commissioner for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 
and became Chairman in 1991.
  It was in 1989, following the death of County Recorder Jim Olson, 
that Steve was appointed to fill the vacant seat for County Recorder. 
Steve was subsequently elected to the office in 1990 and has been 
returned to the position by voters every four years since.
  As County Clerk-Recorder, Steve immediately went to work streamlining 
the Clerk office system from five offices spread throughout Martinez, 
to one consolidated, state-of-the-art facility. Leveraging nearly $13 
million in federal and state grant funding, he developed and purchased 
a vote tabulation system and introduced electronic recording to our 
county. Steve's efficiency continued to garner favorable results as his 
implementation of a department-wide Performance Management Program

[[Page E368]]

brought high praise from the Contra Costa County Grand Jury. He also 
established a Real Estate Fraud Notification System which has protected 
the County's property owners.
  Steve has earned many awards and distinctions throughout his career, 
including the 1993 Citizen of the Year Award from the California 
Transportation Foundation in recognition of his skill in bringing 
improvements to the Contra Costa and Bay Area's transportation systems 
and under his watch, the Contra Costa County Clerk's Office was awarded 
the County Department of the Year Award in 1994. However, we are 
certain that the distinction Steve and his long-time partner, John 
Hemm, take most pride in is the fact that their marriage in June of 
2008 was the very first same-gender union ever conducted in Contra 
Costa County.
  As Steve trades his desk chair in Martinez for his bicycle seat, we 
expect to see him quickly surpass the record 5600 miles of roads and 
trails he logged last year and to easily hit his personal goal of 75 
round trip rides to the 3,864 foot summit of Mt. Diablo this coming 
year.
  Mr. Speaker, we invite our colleagues to join us in commending City 
Clerk-Recorder Steve Weir for his years of outstanding service to the 
citizens of Contra Costa County. We are pleased to join his husband, 
John, his family, friends and colleagues, in congratulating Steve on an 
outstanding career and wishing him the very best as he begins a well-
deserved and we imagine, a very active retirement.

                          ____________________