[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 HONORING THE LIFE OF ANNABETH SURBAUGH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHARICE DAVIDS

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 23, 2024

  Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of 
Annabeth Surbaugh. Throughout her career, Annabeth was a pioneer in 
Johnson County, Kansas. A community leader and trailblazer for women, 
Annabeth changed the way county governments were structured across the 
state of Kansas and was a standard-bearer for everyone who followed in 
her footsteps.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On September 23, 2024, page E946, in the first column, the 
following appeared: HON. SHARICE DAVIDS OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, September 23, 2024 Ms. DAVIDS of 
California. Mr. Speaker, I
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: HON. SHARICE 
DAVIDS OF KANSAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, September 
23, 2024 Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  Annabeth's community-building began early in life at McCluer High 
School in Florissant, Missouri, where she created a Welcoming Committee 
to help fellow students adjust to the challenges of starting at a new 
school. She continued her education at The University of Missouri, 
Columbia, earning a bachelor's degree in retailing. After graduating 
from college, Annabeth moved to Johnson County, Kansas to start her 
family. She stayed home with her children for more than 10 years before 
starting her own business, an interior design firm.
  Her career in public service began with her work preserving historic 
neighborhoods and ensuring her local fire department had access to 
enough water to keep her community safe. In 1988, Annabeth was elected 
to the Rural Water Board No. 2 of Johnson County, becoming the first 
woman to hold that position. Later, she led the merger of that water 
board with the larger Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, improving 
the reliability of her community's water supply. Shortly thereafter, 
she would become the first woman to chair the newly consolidated 
WaterOne Board.
  In 1992, Annabeth won a seat on the Johnson County Board of 
Commissioners, on which she served for 18 years. In office, she led the 
effort for government reform, including the creation of the first 
county charter in the state of Kansas. With a county charter in place, 
positions such as county treasurer and county clerk became appointed 
rather than elected, and county commissioner elections became non-
partisan. The charter also changed the position of commission chair to 
be publicly elected instead of rotated among the members. In 2002, 
Annabeth was elected the first county-wide elected chair.
  Annabeth didn't stop with government reform. Her accomplishments on 
the Johnson County Commission also included championing for increased 
energy efficiency in development projects, opposing the creation of an 
unpopular beltway in the county, and creating a criminal legal council 
to determine the root causes of behavior that leads to incarceration 
and provide alternative solutions to traditional incarceration. 
Annabeth cared about everyone, and she fought for everyone,
  Annabeth Surbaugh passed away on August 28, 2024, surrounded by her 
friends and family She leaves behind a legacy that has shaped the 
subsequent leaders of Johnson County and the community activists that 
have followed in her footsteps.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our gratitude and 
appreciation for Annabeth Surbaugh and her lifetime of public service 
and advocacy. She set the standard for what a citizen activist and 
public servant should be, and we can all learn from her exemplary life.

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