[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 209 (Thursday, December 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO PETE SFERRAZZA

 Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today I am honored to 
recognize former Reno mayor and justice of the peace for the Reno 
Justice Court, Pete Sferrazza, who retired in October of this year.
  Mr. Sferrazza has a long history of public service to the great State 
of Nevada. He served as Reno's mayor from 1981 until 1995, an 
unprecedented length of service, and served as a judge on the Reno 
Justice Court from 2008 until his retirement earlier this year. In the 
intervening years, Mr. Sferrazza served as county commissioner for 
Washoe County, from 1998 to 2007.
  During his time as mayor and throughout his life of public service, 
Mr. Sferrazza focused on advancing labor rights and economic 
prosperity, while promoting the beauty of the Reno community. As mayor, 
he led the establishment of the City of Reno Arts Commission, as well 
as the creation of Reno's Victim Advocate Program, which has served as 
a model for the rest of the State. Mr. Sferrazza was also responsible 
for helping to preserve the Mt. Rose Wilderness and supporting the 
iconic Truckee River Walk.
  In a time of seemingly stark political divide, Mr. Sferrazza is a 
shining example of what an elected official can and should be. As 
county commissioner, he approved a number of expansions of Reno's 
downtown and helped to consolidate various local emergency services, 
increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Finally, during his time on 
the Reno Justice Court, Mr. Sferrazza was elected by his colleagues as 
president of the American Judges Association, the largest judges' 
association in the United States. His willingness and desire to help 
everyone in his community have been crucial to the city's development, 
especially as the city continues to grow into the 21st century.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Pete Sferrazza as 
he retires after decades of serving the city of Reno, Washoe County, 
and the State of Nevada in so many ways. His time in public office has 
made the Reno-Sparks community stronger and more inclusive for 
everyone, and I want to thank him for his service and lifelong 
commitment to leaving the Truckee Meadows a better place than he found 
it.

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