[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1176-S1177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIM LAZARUS

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
friend and senior member of my team, Jim Lazarus, upon his recent 
retirement from public service. Jim has been a key adviser to me, in 
official roles and otherwise, for the past 40 years, and I wish him all 
the very best in retirement.
  Jim has spent nearly 50 years of dedicated service to San Francisco 
and the people of California. After graduating from American University 
and the University of Santa Clara Law School, he was admitted to the 
California Bar in 1974 and went to work for Governor Jerry Brown where 
he, among other things, made strides in protecting the

[[Page S1177]]

rights of farmworkers. He then served as the deputy city attorney for 
the city of San Francisco when I was serving on the board of 
supervisors.
  After a few years in private practice, I was lucky enough to bring 
Jim back to city hall in 1983 as executive deputy mayor for finance and 
administration. Jim helped run San Francisco, managing our operations 
and keeping us in good financial shape. Jim has said, ``The best job I 
ever had was the years I was deputy mayor to Feinstein, a great job if 
you're a San Franciscan and love the city.'' And I will add to that: 
The City of San Francisco benefited greatly from Jim's legal acumen and 
management during that critical time.
  Jim served in a variety of public and civic positions after that, 
including with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Hunters Point 
Citizens Advisory Committee, chief of staff to Mayor Frank Jordan, and 
even chief operating officer of the San Francisco Zoological Society.
  Wherever there was a need to solve a problem, Jim was ready and 
willing to go. It was my good fortune to have him come back to my 
office in 1999 as State director for my Senate operation. In that role, 
he oversaw the staff across our State offices and advocated for 
California's needs in the U.S. Senate.
  Unfortunately, Jim was a rolling stone and returned to the San 
Francisco Chamber of Commerce in 2006, where he remained for 13 years 
as senior VP for public policy.
  Anyone who knows San Francisco can imagine how challenging and 
sensitive that role must be. It combines the business interests of 
cutting-edge leaders in high tech, the longstanding commercial goals of 
mainstream U.S. businesses, and one of the most challenging legal and 
regulatory frameworks in the United States.
  To my eternal gratitude, I was able to convince Jim, at the end of 
2018, to put off retirement and come back one last time to be my State 
director. He was in that position when COVID hit the Nation, and our 
office went into overdrive to help Californians get through the 
pandemic and the economic collapse. He has overseen the State staff 
through California's two worst fire seasons on record and the growing 
drought. For many months, he has been a trusted friend and partner, 
going over the issues of day, business before the Senate, and life in 
San Francisco.
  Jim's last day with the Senate was February 28, a day fittingly named 
``Jim Lazarus Day'' in San Francisco by Mayor London Breed. His efforts 
have made the city a better place and have made me a more effective 
Senator. In addition to his work at the Federal level, he has been 
pivotal in protecting and strengthening the rights of so many 
Californians, to include the LGBT community, the business community, 
renters, and those seeking clean air and water. He has made a huge mark 
over decades improving the services and culture of San Francisco.
  Jim has now retired and plans to spend more time with his wife Ann 
and their children Kate, Nicole, Jack, and Michael. I have no doubt 
that he will keep his oar in civic life, and I will leave the door open 
for another chat over a glass of California Chardonnay.

                          ____________________