[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1275-E1276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING CHARLES MICHAEL ``MIKE'' FUTRELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2022

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize one of the most 
extraordinary city managers I have ever known. My friend and colleague 
Charles Michael ``Mike'' Futrell leaves his position as city manager of 
South San Francisco, my hometown, after nine years of exemplary 
service. Mike has proven over and over again that he is one of the most 
productive, most creative, and most professional community leaders in 
the region. He superbly led this city of 67,000 people with a budget of 
over $400 million and set it on a path to success.
  Most residents of cities don't realize how much impact a city manager 
has on every aspect of their lives. Mike led 900 full and part-time 
personnel across all departments: police, fire, emergency medical 
services, emergency management, public works, parks and recreation, 
library, human resources, finance, communications, and economic and 
community development. He greatly improved South San Francisco's 
finances earning the city its first ever AAA bond rating. During his 
tenure, the city yielded budget surpluses every year, and he delivered 
record budget reserves.
  To appreciate how much Mike brought to the table when he started his 
job as city manager, it helps to know his background. Mike earned a 
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Louisiana State 
University, a Master's in Business Administration from the University 
of Massachusetts. Amherst, and a JD from Louisiana State University 
Paul M. Herbert Law School. He was a Ph.D. scholar in Management of 
Complex Systems at the University of California, Merced, and he 
received a Learn, Engage, Accelerate, Disrupt (L.E.A.D.) Certification 
in Corporate Innovation from Stanford.
  Mike did not confine his accomplishments to academics. He also served 
in public office and held other senior administrative positions in both 
the public and private sectors. He was an elected member of the Baton 
Rouge Metropolitan Council, an elected member of the

[[Page E1276]]

Louisiana House of Representatives, a state director for a U.S. 
Senator, the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Baton Rouge, 
a U.S. Navy Captain at the U.S. Pacific Command, and an Executive Vice 
President for Hawaii Gas. As you can surmise from this impressive 
background, there isn't any situation or problem Mike can't tackle.
  Among the most visible changes in South San Francisco during his 
tenure are the increase in the construction of housing units and the 
revitalization of the downtown, both priorities for Mike. More than 
4,500 new residential units will be built in the next five years, a 
significant effort to address the crushing housing shortage in the Bay 
Area. Press reports indicate that, under his leadership, the city's 
biotechnology employers are expected to more than double their square 
footage. from 12 million to 25 million square feet, within the next few 
years.
  Madam Speaker, South San Francisco is a remarkable community, and 
Mike contributed greatly to its success. He will now take his talents 
to Riverside, California, where he will also be closer to his children. 
We wish Mike and his wife, Susan Freeman, our very best for a 
successful future in their new home. Both will be missed, but fondly 
remembered, in the years ahead.

                          ____________________