[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF KRISTA JOY MARTINELLI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2018

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Krista Joy Martinelli as she 
ends her service as City Clerk of the City of South San Francisco. It's 
unusual to have an attorney as a city clerk, but Krista is unusually 
committed to helping others.
  A California city clerk has many important duties. The clerk runs 
local elections, documents the development and passage of local 
ordinances, provides public records under the Public Records Act and 
the Political Reform Act, and ensures that public meetings are held in 
compliance with California's open meeting law known as the Brown Act. 
On ceremonial occasions, the clerk's office will often organize events. 
In all circumstances, a city clerk must be accountable to the public 
and supportive of the efficient operations of all city departments.
  Krista Martinelli excelled in the performance of her duties. As an 
attorney, she recognized that a foundation of good government is 
accurate recordkeeping and ready access to information by all. As the 
duties of her job multiplied under numerous new mandates, she and her 
team managed compliance despite a tripling of compliance obligations. 
She advocated for the public and offered efficient administration of 
local elections. Residents could always count on Krista to produce 
records in a timely and accurate manner.
  In her extended professional life, Krista served on numerous 
statewide committees that support the duties of a city clerk, including 
the League of California Cities' Administrative Policy Committee and 
she worked in the state legislature to support needed changes in the 
law. As if all that wasn't enough to occupy her time, she has co-
authored five publications and authored two.
  She is leaving public life to again work as an attorney and to 
advocate for children with special education needs. Her hard-working 
autistic son, Noah, is the inspiration for her next phase in life. 
Using skills honed as a seasoned litigator during her early years out 
of law school, she will be negotiating and mediating on behalf of 
children who need representation before school districts. She will be a 
powerful advocate for parents seeking equal education opportunities for 
their children. She hopes to build collaborative relationships between 
teachers, school administrators and parents throughout all phases of 
the IEP process. She holds a BS in Human Development and Family Studies 
from Cornell University and a Juris Doctor from the University of 
California, Hastings College of the Law. She is a member of the State 
Bar of California.
  Life tosses us curveballs. In Krista's case, she's excelled in every 
undertaking. Now, out of dedication to others like Noah, she will begin 
a new phase and we will all be better off due to this new way in which 
she will serve the public's interest. We want to thank her husband, 
Greg Elliott, and her children Noah, Lucca, Santino, and Pia, who have 
allowed us to share Krista's time with them. She is a woman of faith 
and active in All Soul's Church. Her faith and her optimism will buoy 
her during this next adventure. I have always been impressed with 
Krista, her work ethic and professionalism. We in the community wish 
her well and we are blessed that she will remain a neighbor and friend 
for years to come.

                          ____________________