[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING SUPERVISOR JANET CLARKE ON HER SERVICE TO LOUDOUN COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2016

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Janet Clarke on 
her retirement from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and I want 
to take this opportunity to thank Supervisor Clarke for her 
extraordinary service to the people of western Loudoun County, as Blue 
Ridge District Supervisor. My congressional district includes all of 
Loudoun County, and it has been a privilege to have worked with an 
elected official of such high caliber and commitment.
  The Blue Ridge district is situated east of the Blue Ridge Mountains 
in some of the most scenic countryside imaginable. Encompassing 45% of 
the area of the county, the Blue Ridge District includes the beautiful, 
historic towns of Purcellville, where Janet earlier served on the Town 
Council, Middleburg, Round Hill, Hillsboro, Aldie, St. Louis, Bluemont, 
Arcola, Brambleton, Upperville and Philomont.
  From the moment she was sworn in to office, Janet Clarke began taking 
action to preserve and protect the special history and rural character 
of western Loudoun County, by finding ways to strengthen its economic 
viability and the quality of life of its people.
  Supervisor Clarke was a strong ally of the Rural Economic Development 
Council, an important advisory board of Loudoun County government that 
promotes the sustainable growth and vitality of Loudoun County's 
agricultural, horticultural, equine and other rural industries. And to 
bolster the effectiveness of the commission, she successfully advocated 
for the hiring of another staff member, dedicated to supporting the 
commission's work.
  Another aspect of maintaining the rural character of the region is 
the ongoing challenge of maintaining roughly 280 miles of rural roads. 
After organizing meetings with their western Loudoun constituents, 
Supervisor Clarke and her colleague, Supervisor Geary Higgins from the 
neighboring Catoctin District, with the legislative help of State 
Delegate Randy Minchew, worked with the Virginia Department of 
Transportation to initiate a repair and restoration project on gravel 
roads, prioritizing 11 roads that were in most need of repair.
  To protect and enhance the quality of life of her constituents, 
Supervisor Clarke took on another vexing problem. Many of the people 
she represented could not obtain adequate connectivity to the Internet. 
Collaborating with those who had an interest in improving the 
situation, she and Supervisor Higgins held a Broadband Summit at 
Woodgrove High School, that included a panel discussion consisting of 
members of the Loudoun County Communications Commission, Loudoun County 
Public Schools and other county experts and various improvements are 
taking place. While the broadband problem has not been fully solved, 
Supervisor Clarke and Supervisor Higgins are to be commended for 
initiating the Let's Stand for Broadband! movement, that is gradually 
resulting in better educational opportunities for students, expanding 
economic opportunities for businesses and providing greater public 
safety for western Loudoun residents.
  Shortly after taking office, Supervisor Clarke immersed herself in 
another complex problem affecting the quality of life of her 
constituents. Although Lyme Disease is generally underreported, in 2011 
alone, 261 cases of the disease from Loudoun County were reported to 
the Virginia Department of Health. Realizing that Loudoun County was at 
the epicenter of this epidemic, and after months of gathering 
information and speaking with Lyme experts and citizens, then Vice 
Chairman Clarke, along with her colleagues Supervisors Higgins and Ken 
Reid, put forth a Resolution and Proclamation Recognizing 2012 as Lyme 
Disease Awareness Year, as well as a 10-Point Action Plan to Mitigate 
Lyme Disease in Loudoun County. One of the action plan items was the 
creation of the Loudoun Lyme Disease Commission which is made up of 
citizens and health care professionals with a strong interest in Lyme 
Disease prevention and education. The commission has been instrumental 
in implementing other provisions of the 10-point plan, including the 
development of educational materials for schools, information for the 
county website, and the launching of Lyme Education Forums throughout 
the county.
  In August, 2013, the initiative of Supervisor Clarke and her two 
colleagues, entitled ``Loudoun Targets Lyme,'' was recognized by the 
Virginia Association of Counties as a model government program in the 
area of Health and Human Services.
  Janet Clarke was also a great champion of capital improvements for 
the people of her magisterial district. Her efforts included advancing 
the construction project for Loudoun Valley High School into the budget 
and onto the ballot for approval. She also secured funding to assist 
the town of Purcellville with improvements to Fireman's Field and to 
design the Purcellville to Franklin Park trail. Supervisor Clarke's 
efforts also led to the construction of the second entrance and exit to 
Woodgrove High School, the sidewalks in Middleburg and Purcellville, 
the Hillsboro water improvement project, the Upper Loudoun Youth 
Football League facility, and lighted fields at Franklin Park.
  Supervisor Clarke's desire to protect and enhance the quality of life 
of the people she represented included standing with Delegate Randy 
Minchew and the Green Mill Preserve residents in stopping the expansion 
of the gas compression station and tirelessly working to ground the Red 
Hill water tower. These types of controversies often pitted one group 
of constituents against another, but Supervisor Clarke did not hesitate 
to take a stand and advocate for what she believed was in the best 
interests of her constituents.
  At Thanksgiving in 2011, shortly after being elected to the office of 
County Supervisor, Janet Clarke wrote a message to her Blue Ridge 
District constituents promising three things: First, that she would 
work hard to preserve their community's culture and heritage; second, 
that she would represent their diverse interests and needs with an open 
door policy; and third, that because our ``children are watching,'' she 
would attempt to do her work ``in a respectful manner that they can be 
proud of and learn from.'' Mr. Speaker, in my view, Janet Clarke 
managed to fulfill these promises with grace, courage and compassion 
and our children and grandchildren will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
  After having given so much of herself to protect and preserve the 
quality of life of others, it is understandable that Janet Clarke has 
decided to focus on her own quality of life, by spending more time with 
family, church and her own health and well-being, not to mention the 
job that helps provide financial sustenance for her and her family. 
Whatever she does in the next chapter of her life, whether it is in the 
area of education, mental health or some other societal need, I know 
that Janet Clarke will approach it with total commitment and effort and 
will continue to leave a lasting positive influence on the lives she 
will touch.

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