[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 198 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF JAMES LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 17, 2018

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
one of Eastern Kentucky's longest serving county clerks, Mr. James 
Lewis who was sworn into office as the Leslie County Clerk in January 
1986. He is retiring after dedicating 33 years of public service to the 
people of Leslie County, including his oversight of nearly 60 
elections.
  James has garnered the utmost respect of his peers and leaders across 
the Commonwealth of Kentucky for his astute knowledge, experience, and 
steadfast integrity in election operations. He has instructed election 
training for county clerks in Kentucky for more than 20 years, served 
as President of the Kentucky County Clerk's Association from 1999 to 
2000, and has been Chairman of the Kentucky County Clerk's Association 
Election Committee from 1994 until his retirement this year. James has 
served as a guardian for commonsense election reform since 1986 and a 
staunch advocate for programs and policies that best serve Kentuckians.
  During his tenure as county clerk, James has sought out opportunities 
to offer compassion and additional support to those most in need. In 
fact, he co-founded the Help A Veteran Everyday (HAVE) Program to 
provide funding for Veterans programs across the state. The HAVE 
program repurposes license plates for bird houses that can be purchased 
at participating County Clerk's offices, offering 100 percent of 
proceeds to the Hope for Veterans charity.
  Aside from going above and beyond the call of duty in his role as 
Leslie County Clerk, James has been a loyal friend of the Republican 
Party who proudly works to uphold the conservative principles that he 
holds dear. James has participated in every election since turning 18 
years old, has dedicated his career to administering six dozen 
elections, and been a valiant pioneer for election reform. He has 
served as a tireless member of the Republican Parties of Leslie County 
and Kentucky for many years and was inducted into the Kentucky Fifth 
District Lincoln Club Hall of Fame in 2010.
  James' leadership has been highly respected, reliable and resourceful 
for one of Kentucky's most rural and impoverished counties. He is a 
beloved friend to the people of Leslie County who has made a lasting 
impact through his devoted kindness and fortitude for a brighter 
future. I wish James and his wife, Betty, a retirement filled with joy 
and peace with their daughters, Danika and Wendy, and their 
grandchildren, Kelsey and R.J. May their gardening and fishing days 
together be fruitful.

                          ____________________