[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 116 (Thursday, July 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E733-E734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF DARRELL FONSECA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2022

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Darrell Fonseca who 
is retiring after 32 years as the City Manager of Dos Palos, 
California. Darrell Fonseca is currently the State of California's 
longest serving City Manager in a single city.
  Born and raised in Dos Palos, Darrell Fonseca graduated from Dos 
Palos High School and attended Fresno State. After obtaining a minor in 
Philosophy and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Darrell 
Fonseca went on to University of California Berkely, and received a 
Management of Water certificate, and graduated from Cal's Goldman 
School of Public Policy in Strategic Management of Public 
Organizations.
  Darrell was a part of successful political campaigns, including the 
``Great Speakership War''. One of his employees was a college student 
who later became President Barack Obama. He served as a floor manager 
at the National Convention for Gary Hart and was a key player in Hart's 
California primary campaign for president. At 28 years old, he was 
elected as a Delegate from the 15th Congressional District. Darrell 
knows how to work in many governmental positions. He was an intern for 
State Senator George Zenovich, a Legislative Assistant to then 
Assemblyman and future Congressman Jim Costa, an Associate Consultant 
to the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, Chief Consultant 
to the Select Committee on Energy & Agriculture, Assistant to the 
Majority Whip, and Administrator to Congressman Richard Lehman. Fonseca 
also worked for the Fresno

[[Page E734]]

County Board of Supervisors, was interim Executive Director of the 
Fresno County and City Chamber of Commerce.
  After the passing of his first wife at the age of 24 due to cancer, 
Fonseca moved back to Dos Palos to care for his parents. During that 
time, he served on the Economic Development Commission, and met the 
future Mayor, Ron Skinner, who encouraged him to apply for city manager 
and a new chapter in his life began. This decision led him as the 
city's 7th City Manager, its 14th CEO, 14th Police Commissioner, and 
the 15th City Clerk. As City Manager, Darrell worked with 10 mayors and 
32 councilmembers.
  He attributes his success to having a hard working and knowledgeable 
staff and by listening to their advice. Darrell has helped with the 
emergency services for nearby schools, Measure V, transportation 
improvements, paying off debts, helped in building a new water plant, 
and more. During his free time, Darrell spends time with his wife 
Maria. Together, they have three children, 8 grandchildren, and 1 
great-grandson, and hosted a foreign exchange student from Ukraine.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Darrell 
Fonseca in his retirement after 32 years as the City Manager of Dos 
Palos, California and among California's 482 cities, currently holds 
the title as the State of California's longest serving city manager in 
a single city.

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