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




                 HONORING COUNCILMEMBER TOM SCHWEDHELM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2022

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tom 
Schwedhelm of Santa Rosa, California in honor of his retirement and 
eight years as a council member and mayor.
  Mr. Schwedhelm moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1981. He received 
an Associate degree in the Administration of Justice from Santa Rosa 
Junior College's Police Academy, a Bachelor's degree in Business 
Administration and Management from St. Mary's College, and a Master's 
degree in Organizational Development from Sonoma State University.
  In 1983, Mr, Schwedhelm joined the Santa Rosa Police Department 
beginning a three-decade career as a police officer in Santa Rosa. He 
also served as an adjunct faculty member for Santa Rosa Junior College 
from 1985 to 2002. In 2009, Mr. Schwedhelm was named Chief of Police 
for the City of Santa Rosa and was the first chief to be hired from 
among the department's ranks in over 70 years. He oversaw the 
department until his retirement in 2013.
  Mr. Schwedhelm's service did not end there. In 2014, Mr. Schwedhelm 
was elected to the City Council and has now served two terms. He helped 
lead the city through some of its darkest days. In 2017, the Tubbs Fire 
destroyed 1,400 homes, most of which were in his neighborhood of Coffey 
Park, and took at least 22 lives. Mr. Schwedhelm was appointed mayor in 
2018. During his tenure, Mr. Schwedhelm worked tirelessly to represent 
fire survivors and support Santa Rosa's recovery from the Tubbs Fire. 
In addition, he led his city through massive evacuations caused by the 
2019 Kincade Fire, the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, social 
unrest following the murder of George Floyd, and the 2020 Glass Fire 
which destroyed 334 homes in Santa Rosa and wider Sonoma County.
  Madam Speaker, we thank Mr. Schwedhelm for his selfless service and 
commitment to the people of Santa Rosa. His leadership steered Santa 
Rosa through numerous crises and accelerated his city's recovery in 
their wake. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here 
today.

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