[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 130 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING HOWARD L. CHAMBERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 1, 2017

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Howard L. Chambers, 
City Manager for Lakewood, California in my Southern California 
district who is retiring after over 41 years of public service. Howard 
is concluding his career as the longest serving city manager with any 
single city in California, exemplifying his love and dedication towards 
the City of Lakewood and its people.
  Howard was born and raised in Lakewood, having attended Lakewood 
schools and working at the local YMCA and the City of Lakewood's 
recreation program. As his life progressed Howard never strayed too far 
from his beloved city, attending college at nearby California State 
University, Long Beach where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. 
Howard became Lakewood's top executive in 1976, after receiving a 
Master of Arts degree in Planning and Administration from Pepperdine 
University and serving as Executive Assistant to the Lakewood City 
Manager.
  During his tenure with the City of Lakewood, Howard always provided 
strong leadership and knowledgeable direction for major projects. While 
his accomplishments are far too numerous to name, I want to highlight 
the building of the Weingart Senior Center, The Centre at Sycamore 
Plaza, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Vista Lodge, the West San Gabriel 
River Parkway Nature Trail, and, most recently, the new Pumpkin 
Playground at San Martin Park. He also oversaw the renovation of the 
Veterans Memorial Plaza and Douglas jet plane at Del Valle Park.
  Over the past decades, Howard has worked tirelessly to ensure 
Lakewood operates on firm financial footing and never outside its 
fiscal means. During the recent economic downturn, Lakewood was able to 
maintain funding for all city services and avoid employee layoffs 
thanks to Howard's budgetary foresight.
  Howard has also played an influential role amongst his peers in city 
management, through his leadership roles in League of California 
Cities, the California Contract Cities Association, the California 
Joint Powers Insurance Authority, the Gateway Cities Council of 
Governments, and the International City/County Management Association. 
Howard was recently honored by the League of California Cities with the 
2017 Wes McClure Award of Distinction for outstanding career service, 
leadership, ethics, expertise and innovation as a city manager.
  I wish to commend Howard Chambers on his many years of outstanding 
public service and dedication to the City of Lakewood and its 
residents. I wish him the very best in retirement.

                          ____________________