[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E61-E62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE MEMORY AND SERVICE OF CITY ADMINISTRATOR JAMES G. SCHARRET 
                       TO THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 14, 2014

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory 
and service of James G. Scharret, City Administrator for the City of 
Southfield, who passed away unexpectedly on January 9, 2014.
  Mr. Scharret, or Jim as he was known to friends and colleagues, 
joined the city nearly forty years ago on December 10, 1974, as a 
research analyst and steadily moved up in the ranks. He became director 
of management and budget in 1982, deputy city administrator/fiscal 
services director in November 2004 and acting city administrator in 
November 2006. He was officially appointed to the post of city 
administrator in January 2008.
  Jim held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from 
Wayne State University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration 
from Central Michigan University. He was well-known for his work ethic, 
which included being a constant presence in city hall.
  As the city administrator, Jim approached his responsibilities with 
both pride and professionalism. He was particularly mindful of the need 
for sound fiscal stewardship and took the city's fiscal responsibility 
very seriously. Under his leadership, Southfield was recognized on many 
occasions for its sound financial outlook. Of his many accomplishments, 
Jim was especially proud of leading Southfield through a period of 
economic difficulty; the city saw its tax base decline by 40 percent 
but services were maintained without any city employee being laid off.
  In addition to running the day to day operations of the city, Jim 
served on the boards of the Michigan Municipal Risk Management 
Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and Local Development 
Finance Authority. In each of these roles, he worked hard to further 
the city's vision of a vibrant and prosperous Southfield--approaching 
them with the same dedication that has endeared him to Southfield's 
residents, business leaders and elected officials.
  Mr. Speaker, as a former city councilman, I know first-hand how 
communities benefit from

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dedicated administrators. Jim's decades of dedicated service to the 
residents of Southfield is a testament to his character and I know that 
his leadership will be missed by all who are connected to the 
Southfield community. I offer my sincere condolences to his wife, 
Carolyn and their family. They can be proud of the example Jim set for 
all those who choose to serve their community.

                          ____________________