[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 53 (Thursday, April 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING DONNA JONES, OF IDAHO, FOR HER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE 
                            PEOPLE OF IDAHO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2013

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
public servant, a trailblazer in Idaho politics, and a close personal 
friend--Donna Jones.
  Donna was born in Colorado, but has called the State of Idaho home 
since she was in elementary school. She grew up in Middleton, Idaho and 
has spent the vast majority of adulthood in Payette, Idaho where she 
and her husband owned a thriving auto parts business and where she was 
a very successful realtor.
  In 1987, Donna, a Republican, was appointed to an open seat in the 
Idaho House of Representatives by Democrat Governor Cecil Andrus. Donna 
served with distinction in the Idaho House of Representatives for 
twelve years.
  I am proud to say that in 1997, as the then-Speaker of the Idaho 
House of Representatives, I had the distinct honor to appoint Donna as 
the first female Chair of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. She 
was an outstanding Chair--tough but fair, patient but determined. It 
was one of the best appointments I ever made.
  In 1998, after just one term as Chair, and in no small measure as a 
result of having to work too closely with me, Donna resigned her seat 
in the Legislature and accepted a position as Executive Director of the 
Idaho Real Estate Commission.
  In 2006, Donna was elected to the position of Idaho's state 
Controller by a wide margin. She was easily re-elected in 2010. 
Regrettably, following a very serious automobile accident in 2012, 
Donna decided to resign her position as State Controller and was 
succeeded in office by her Chief of Staff, Brandon Woolf. I am pleased 
to say that Donna has made tremendous progress in her recovery from 
that accident.
  Throughout her career, Donna has held many leadership positions and 
worked tirelessly on behalf of the offices she held and the people she 
represented. She has served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer 
for the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. As a State 
Legislator, she was the State Chairman for the American Legislative 
Exchange Council and served on its Board of Directors. She was also 
recognized by the Idaho March of Dimes as its Outstanding Woman of the 
Year.
  In addition, Donna has served on the Idaho Hispanic Commission, the 
Idaho Housing and Finance Association Advisory Board, the Idaho 
Permanent Building Fund, and the Multi-State Tax Commission. She has 
served in a variety of capacities as well for the National Association 
of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, including as Vice 
Chairman of the International Committee.
  Donna married her husband Don in 1956. They have three children, 
Dawn, Lisa and Stuart; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 
Don passed away in 2000.
  I rose today not just to recite a long list of Donna's 
accomplishments, but to thank her for her outstanding service to the 
people of Idaho and to honor her contributions to our state in my own 
small way.
  I do so on a day when the Idaho Association of Realtors is presenting 
Donna with its second annual Max C. Black Award for exceptional public 
service to the people of Idaho, and outstanding leadership on business 
and industry issues--an award she richly deserves. I want to thank the 
Idaho Association of Realtors for honoring Donna's outstanding record 
of public service in this way and congratulate Donna for this well-
earned recognition of her work.
  Donna is a very good friend, a trusted former colleague, and someone 
for whom I have a great deal of admiration. She is one of the most 
respected public servants in the State of Idaho and a person whose name 
is synonymous with integrity, loyalty, professionalism, and courage.
  I am proud to call Donna Jones my friend and pleased to be able to 
share her many qualities and accomplishments with the House of 
Representatives.

                          ____________________