[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 172 (Monday, November 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MARY V. KING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 30, 2015

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Congressman 
Mike Honda and Congressman Eric Swalwell, to honor the inspiring life 
of an exemplary member of the East Bay community, Mary V. King. With 
her passing on November 15th, 2015, we honor her career of 
extraordinary service to the East Bay community and her lasting legacy.
  As a young mother on public assistance, Mary was drawn into politics 
to improve the economic conditions of lower income residents. She 
successfully led a county tax initiative campaign that created new 
sources of funding for public transit and other transportation 
projects. In 1988, she became the first African-American woman elected 
to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and was reelected twice. 
During her tenure, she authored several monumental policies, including 
the King Plan, a major land-use amendment to protect open space while 
maintaining sustainable development in unincorporated areas.
  Mary also dedicated much of her time to improving the social services 
provided to lower income residents. Because of her advocacy, the Mary 
V. King Health Education Center, located at the Eastmont Wellness 
Center in Oakland, was named in her honor.
  After leaving office in 2001, Mary worked as a private consultant 
specializing in government affairs, regional housing, and 
transportation issues. In 2009, she was appointed the General Manager 
of AC Transit, where she served faithfully until her retirement in 
2012.
  Mary also served on numerous local and regional committees, including 
the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), the Association 
of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), California Department of Corrections, 
and the Alameda County Central Committee. She also served as a Chief of 
Staff to Oakland Mayor Lionel J. Wilson and California State Legislator 
Bill Lockyer.
  Throughout her career, she received numerous awards including the 
``Lifetime Achievement Award'' from the Conference of Minority 
Transportation Officials; the ``Allen E. Broussard Memorial Award for 
Outstanding Humanitarianism'' from the Alameda County Bar Association; 
and the ``George Moscone Memorial Award'' from the American Society of 
Public Administration. In 2014, she was awarded the Metropolitan 
Transportation Grant award for her leadership as Chair of the Bay 
Bridge Design Task Force during the construction of the Eastern Span of 
the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
  On a personal note, I will always remember Mary for her many 
contributions as a public servant, but more importantly, as a loving 
mother, grandmother, daughter, and friend. Mary always put her family 
first. She loved and cared for her beautiful mother, children, and 
grandchildren in ways that I witnessed and admired. I was inspired by 
how she balanced her work and her personal life, always rising to the 
occasion in both. Mary's humanity was never destroyed by politics and 
power. She was authentic in all of her relationships, and she will be 
deeply missed.
  Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the life of a 
remarkable individual and devoted public servant, Mary V. King. Her 
service has helped countless residents of the East Bay community and 
her contributions are innumerable. I join all of Ms. King's loved ones 
in celebrating her incredible accomplishments and offer my sincerest 
condolences.

                          ____________________