[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 103 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1086-E1087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING SUSAN E. MITTEREDER ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT FROM 
                             FAIRFAX COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2013

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend Susan E. 
Mittereder on the occasion of her retirement after a distinguished 
career in public service to the residents of Fairfax County, the 
largest local jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the 
National Capital Region. For the past 25 years, Sue has been the 
primary legislative liaison for Fairfax County, serving as the eyes, 
ears, voice, and chief advocate for local government in the halls of 
the Virginia General Assembly and Congress.
   Her success in educating state and federal legislators about the 
interests of local government stems from her background as a classroom 
teacher. Having once attended classes in a one-room schoolhouse, Sue 
initially pursued a career in education. She received her Bachelor of 
Science in Education and Master of Education degrees from Indiana 
University of Pennsylvania. She taught first grade and gifted 
elementary classes for the Newark and New Castle school districts in 
Delaware before pursuing advanced and doctorate degrees in education 
administration at Virginia Tech. It was during that experience that she 
developed an affinity for public policy, and after graduation she took 
a position in the government relations office for Fairfax County Public 
Schools.
   Four years later, she became the chief legislative liaison for 
Fairfax County. During the General Assembly's annual winter sessions, 
Sue became a familiar face in the halls of the state capitol, setting 
up a temporary outpost from which she and her colleagues could keep 
close tabs on legislative proposals affecting Fairfax County. Her 
attention to detail, dedicated work ethic, and mastery of the 
legislative process made her a resource for colleagues representing 
other local governments and also for the legislators themselves. The 
legislative battles produced more than a few chocolate-fueled late 
nights for Sue and her team as they analyzed the impacts of changes to 
state funding for local services or to local government authority over 
matters such as land use planning, zoning enforcement, taxes, 
transportation, human services, education, and public safety.
   Whether it was a state delegate, senator, cabinet secretary, or 
governor, Sue was never afraid to assert the County's position. In 
fact, many a legislator has been known to wilt in the face of Sue's 
tenacity. It is that doggedness that helped her maintain the trust and 
confidence of six county executives and five chairs of the Board of 
Supervisors during her tenure. She also managed to maintain her roots 
in education, helping to mentor numerous young staff members throughout 
the County government and the legislature, including those who will now 
succeed her.
   I worked closely with Sue during my 5 years as Chairman of the 
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and my 14 years as Chairman of the 
Board's Legislative Committee. During the General Assembly session, Sue 
and her colleagues would rush back to the County for our regular late 
Friday afternoon meetings so that we could pore over the hundreds, if 
not thousands, of legislative proposals introduced each year with the 
rest of the Board, looking for those efforts that aligned with our 
priorities and those that were an affront to them, which, 
unfortunately, was more often the case. Because of that dynamic, Sue's 
institutional presence was invaluable. She was not only defending 
Fairfax County, but also safeguarding the interests of local 
governments throughout the Commonwealth. And passionately. It truly is 
one of the most unsung but critical functions of local government on 
behalf of our citizens.
   In addition to her legislative accomplishments, Sue has a wonderful 
sense of humor,

[[Page E1087]]

which as we know is invaluable for enduring what can be a long 
legislative process, and she often served as the ringleader for the 
merry band of County staff that joined her for the annual sessions in 
Richmond. The revolving door included staff from the legislative 
office, the Office of the County Attorney, and the departments of 
transportation, tax administration, zoning enforcement, housing, public 
safety, public works, stormwater management, environmental quality, and 
many more.
   Sue's other professional accomplishments include being a graduate of 
Leadership Fairfax, serving as a board member of the Liberal Arts and 
Human Resources Development Committee at Virginia Tech, and serving as 
a member of the National Association of County Intergovernmental 
Relations Officials. In 1996, she was recognized by Virginia Tech as an 
Outstanding Woman Graduate for her contributions to her community and 
her profession. She also serves on the education committee of her local 
homeowners association in Northern Virginia.
   Mr. Speaker, Sue Mittereder's commitment to our community and the 
mission of local government are unparalleled, and she leaves behind a 
legacy that will benefit our community for generations to come. Her 
career in public service, beginning with her service in the classroom, 
is truly commendable and deserving of our sincere appreciation. When I 
was Chairman of the County Board, we often joked when retirement 
announcements like this came before the Board that we should not allow 
such talented and dedicated staff to leave public service, and I 
certainly wish that was the case here. I wish Sue the best of luck in 
her retirement, and I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in 
expressing our appreciation for her commitment to serving the residents 
of Fairfax County.

                          ____________________