[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 186 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO DON HORSLEY ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2022

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a devoted servant of 
the people of San Mateo County who is completing his tenure on the San 
Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Don Horsley. He has worked in law 
enforcement, education, as elected Sheriff and President of the 
Healthcare District Board. His life has been one devoted to the 
wellbeing of others.
  Don Horsley is married to Elaine and they reside in Emerald Hills. 
They have three adult children and one grandchild. Don is a native San 
Franciscan who was raised in Daly City. He graduated from Westmoor High 
School and earned his Bachelor's degree with Honors from San Francisco 
State University. He later earned a secondary school teaching 
credential.
  Don Horsley began his working career doing odd jobs as a teenager, 
then as a juvenile counselor with the San Mateo County Probation 
Department. He taught middle school students, and then began his work 
in law enforcement with the City of Pacifica.
  Don began his career with the San Mateo County Sheriffs office as a 
Patrol Deputy in East Palo Alto in 1972. He won the race for San Mateo 
County Sheriff in 1993 and served as the elected Sheriff for nearly 14 
years. His tenure was marked by innovation, modernization and upgrading 
the tools used by law enforcement. He helped establish a gang 
investigative unit, and his work resulted in the lowest county homicide 
rate in California.
  Don Horsley was elected to the Sequoia Healthcare District where he 
served as President until he was elected to the San Mateo County Board 
of Supervisors. At the Healthcare District he spearheaded efforts to 
increase funding to the North Fair Oaks Clinic and the Community Grant 
Program, and advocated annexation of the San Mateo Coastside into the 
District, and worked successfully to fund school nurses and health 
programs in District schools.
  Don Horsley was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors 
for District 3 in 2010 and has served with great distinction for three 
terms. The District includes the cities of Atherton, southeast Belmont, 
Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Carlos and Woodside. It 
also includes unincorporated Devonshire Canyon, El Granada, Emerald 
Lake Hills, Harbor Industrial Park, La Honda, Ladera, Loma Mar, Los 
Trancos Woods, Miramar, Montara, Moss Beach, Palomar Park, Pescadero, 
Princeton By-The-Sea, San Gregorio, Skyline, Skylonda, Stanford Lands, 
Vista Verde and West Menlo Park. His third and last term will end on 
December 31, 2022, and he currently serves as the Board's President, an 
office he held twice before.
  Don Horsley hosted Getting Prohibited Guns Off the Street: Firearm 
Relinquishment in San Mateo County, an inter-agency partnership with 
the Giffords Law Center on March 11, 2022. Subsequently, the Board of 
Supervisors committed $1 million to taking guns away from people with 
violent offenses and restraining orders.
  Don Horsley is a tireless advocate for farmworkers on the Coast and 
helped develop the San Mateo County Farm Labor Housing Loan Program. 
The program finances the construction of new and renovated housing for 
farmworkers, in partnership with agricultural operators.
  Don is an outspoken supporter of civilian oversight of law 
enforcement, a strong advocate for affordable housing, and is committed 
to ensuring that policies and funding for housing, transportation, job 
training and other services reach the most vulnerable residents.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House to join me in thanking Don 
Horsley for his exemplary service to the people of San Mateo County and 
in wishing him every blessing in the next chapter of his life. He is a 
good and great man and we are a better community and a stronger country 
because of him and his work.

                          ____________________