[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING VICE MAYOR JAKE MACKENZIE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 8, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Vice 
Mayor Jake Mackenzie, and to celebrate his retirement from the Rohnert 
Park City Council after 24 years of storied service.
  Vice Mayor Mackenzie is an outstanding public servant, a committed 
environmentalist, and a tireless advocate for the Rohnert Park 
community. After earning his PhD in pesticide research in 1970, he 
spent three decades working as a pesticide regulator for both the State 
of California and the Environmental Protection Agency. He was first 
elected to the Rohnert Park City Council in 1996, running on a platform 
of natural land preservation in the city. He has served 24 years on the 
council, including 5 terms as Mayor.
  Throughout his time on the City Council, Vice Mayor Mackenzie has 
been a regional leader on environmental preservation and transportation 
issues. His environmental expertise has been instrumental in creating 
long-term sustainable growth in Sonoma County. While leading the North 
Coast Resource Partnership, Vice Mayor Mackenzie secured over $65 
million in funding to protect Northern California open spaces for 
future generations. He has been a fierce advocate of affordable housing 
and public transportation, serving on the board of the Metropolitan 
Transportation Authority for 12 years, and the Sonoma County 
Transportation Authority for 20 years. He played a vital role in the 
development of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit passenger train, an 
extremely important service that will benefit the entire region for 
years to come.
  Madam Speaker, Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie is an exceptional public 
servant with a deep dedication to his community. He exemplifies the 
integrity we should expect from our leaders, and he has undoubtedly had 
a significant and lasting impact on the City of Rohnert Park. I am 
proud to call him a friend. It is therefore fitting and proper that we 
honor him here today.

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