[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING BRUCE McPHERSON FOR HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE 
                     PEOPLE AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 14, 2025

  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bruce McPherson 
for his tireless dedication to not only public service but to the 
people of California. Mr. McPherson was nominated to be the 30th 
Secretary of State for California and was previously an Assemblyman and 
a State Senator. However, his career did not begin with politics.
  Mr. McPherson was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California. He 
attended Santa Cruz High and then went on to study at California 
Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. After graduation he 
worked for the Santa Cruz Sentinel starting as a reporter and 
eventually rising to the position of editor, after being inspired by 
his father, Mr. McPherson began his career in public service.
  Mr. McPherson was first elected to the California State Assembly in 
1993, representing the Monterey Bay region, and later serving two terms 
in the California State Senate. In both the Assembly and the Senate Mr. 
McPherson was committed to bipartisanship, often working across the 
aisle with elected Democrats. In 2005 Mr. McPherson was nominated to 
replace the former Secretary of State. He was confirmed unanimously by 
both Democratic-controlled houses of the California State Legislature. 
As Secretary of State Mr. McPherson oversaw a 500-person department 
with five offices across the state which managed the state's election 
system.
  Following his time as Secretary of State, Mr. McPherson returned home 
with the aim of replacing the Fifth Districts' County supervisor. In 
2013 he began his 12-year stint as county supervisor. During this time 
California underwent the COVID-19 pandemic, the CZU fires, and 
atmospheric river disasters. His biggest achievement, in his opinion, 
was the establishment of Central Coast Community Energy, a clean-energy 
provider that now covers the five counties of the central coast of 
California.
  His time as a public servant has been the highlight of his career. 
After stepping down from the dais for the final time Mr. McPherson 
plans to spend more time with his wife of 55 years, Mary, as well as 
his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

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