[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF KATHY LEROUX

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 2019

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Katharine S. Leroux for 
almost three decades of outstanding public service to the town of 
Hillsborough, California, the last three years as the first female city 
manager. Kathy is a remarkable community leader and a force to be 
reckoned with.
  After leaving her career in the telecommunication industry, Kathy 
started her public service career as a water rationing coordinator in 
1990, in the midst of a severe drought. She credits that job with 
deeply connecting her with Hillsborough residents. When her second 
child was born in 1991, she took some time off to focus on her family 
and then returned to the city in 1992 as an account clerk in the 
Finance Department. In 1995, she was promoted to City Clerk in which 
role she updated the city council agenda process and the municipal 
code. She also attained her Certified Municipal Clerk designation.
  In 2003, Kathy was promoted to Assistant to the City Manager and then 
two years later to Assistant City Manager where her responsibilities 
increased tremendously. She oversaw the office she formerly held, City 
Clerk, and Human Resources. She led labor negotiations, developed 
annual operating budgets and served as the Acting Director for the 
Building and Planning Department and the Public Works Department when 
there were vacancies.
  Working in and with all of these departments perfectly prepared Kathy 
to become City Manager and to effectively run the town's business. In 
May 2015, she became Interim City Manager and the following January 
City Manager. She maintained Hillsborough's fiscal stability and 
General Fund reserves, navigated State mandated water use reductions, 
developed a process for small wire development, revamped the website, 
developed the Climate Action Plan, expanded management teambuilding and 
employment recognition, and enhanced communication with residents--an 
impressive list of accomplishments that has benefitted the town and 
will continue to do so long after her retirement.
  Kathy says she was afforded amazing growth opportunities by taking 
two life-changing educational programs. The first one was Continuing 
Education for Public Officials which she completed in Santa Barbara in 
the late 1990s. The second was the Senior Executives in State and Local 
Government program at the Harvard University Kennedy School which she 
completed in 2007.
  During her tenure, Kathy served on several boards including The 
Cities Group, San Mateo County Telecommunications Authority, and the 
Association of Bay Area Governments. She was also the Administrative 
Officer for the Central County Fire Department.
  Born in San Francisco, Kathy grew up in South San Francisco and 
attended El Camino High School. She took classes at San Diego State 
University, Michigan State University, Skyline College and the College 
of San Mateo and then spent three years working in the private sector 
for PacTel InfoSystems in San Francisco.
  Kathy and Bert, her husband of 32 years, are devoted parents of Louie 
and Victoria. In her well-deserved retirement, Kathy plans to remodel 
her San Bruno house, adopt a dog, take golf lessons and spend more time 
reading, cooking and traveling.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the members of the House of Representatives to 
join me in recognizing Katharine Leroux, an exemplary public servant 
and dear friend, who leaves behind big shoes to fill for the next City 
Manager of Hillsborough. Her contributions to the town over the last 28 
years will be felt for years to come.

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