[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 193 (Tuesday, November 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1608-E1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF KEN IBARRA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 28, 2017

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
accomplishments of an uncommonly generous man who has donated countless 
hours to his community in both public and private life. Ken Ibarra, the 
Vice Mayor of the City of San Bruno, is leaving public office after 21 
years. To say that Ken will be missed is an understatement.
  To imagine Ken Ibarra, you must first imagine a version of the 
Energizer Bunny, except that this bunny has an enormous smile and is 
crowned with beautiful, jet black hair. As to Ken's energy, let me 
offer you just one example. The San Bruno Lions Club is one of the most 
active clubs on the Peninsula. At civic events in San Bruno Park, the 
club's BBQ is often set up. Now, imagine the Energizer Bunny, sweating 
from all-day exposure to the heat, slinging hamburgers right and left, 
shouting out to hundreds of friends, tossing hot dogs onto hot 
platters, and all the while downing an extraordinary amount of 
unidentified, but undoubtedly healthy, liquid refreshment.
  Obviously, Ken puts the bunny to shame.
  In addition to these and other volunteer tasks, Ken has served in 
multiple leadership positions in the Lions Clubs, up to the district 
level where he served as District Governor in 2009. He has always 
embodied the slogan of the Lions: We Serve. He has also devoted his 
leadership skills to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the 
Bay Area Special Olympics Lions Club.
  Ken Ibarra was originally appointed to serve an unexpired term on the 
city council, and from that day forward he never ceased his dedication 
to the betterment of San Bruno. During his years in office, he's 
represented the City of San Bruno on so many local and countywide 
boards and commissions that they are too numerous to mention. 
Importantly, Ken has served on the San Mateo County Transportation 
Authority, the San Mateo County Housing Endowment and Regional Trust 
(HEART) Board, the Grand Boulevard Steering Committee, and the San 
Francisco Airport Community Roundtable.
  During his time in office, Ken and his council colleagues reshaped 
the face of San Bruno, dealing with many longstanding community 
challenges including the grade separation of the Caltrain right of way, 
the renovation of Tanforan Shopping Mall, the construction of new 
housing at the Crossings/San Bruno, and water and wastewater 
improvements that only an architect and civic improvement aficionado 
like Ken Ibarra could truly appreciate. I can honestly say that it 
takes a really special person to get excited by wastewater improvement 
projects. Well, thankfully for San Bruno, Ken Ibarra is that kind of 
guy.
  On September 9, 2010, San Bruno was rocked by the explosion of a high 
pressure natural gas transmission pipeline. Eight residents were 
killed, 38 homes destroyed outright and dozens more severely damaged. 
In the aftermath of the explosion, Ken Ibarra stood in alliance with 
his council colleagues in seeking justice for those killed and for the 
entire city. Over hours in the intervening years, Ken helped lead his 
community through the painful discovery of malfeasance by the Pacific 
Gas and Electric Company, wrongdoing that culminated in felony 
convictions for the company's actions, $1.6 billion in penalties, and 
$3 million in court-ordered fines.
  It takes a special type of person to file for re-election in the 
years after the trust of your fellow citizens has been rocked to its 
core by fatal corporate wrongdoing. Always, you must ask yourself, ``Is 
it worth it?'' Ken filed, and was re-elected. However, as a local 
government official under these circumstances, you lose sleep, shed 
tears, publicly and privately grieve, and try to help your community 
focus on tomorrow and its possibilities while its citizens are 
constantly haunted by the past. Ken

[[Page E1609]]

Ibarra is a true leader, as demonstrated by the enormous empathy and 
devotion that he showed to his neighbors and constituents through 
numerous public meetings, private deliberations, and policy choices 
leading to recovery in San Bruno.
  Ken Ibarra is leaving civic life, but we who know him well know that 
civic engagement will never leave Ken Ibarra. He is a skilled architect 
of both structures and civic pride. We wish him well as he enters 
another phase of his life where he will undoubtedly pursue both crafts 
for years to come.

                          ____________________