[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11555]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        HONORING ROSE ANN VUICH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 1999

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a brief 
biography on Senator Rose Ann Vuich, who, for her ethical leadership, 
has been honored with an award in her namesake. The Rose Ann Vuich 
Ethical Leadership Award is designed to increase ethical sensitivity, 
raise expectations for behavior and acknowledge personal integrity. The 
first recipient of the award was Fresno County Supervisor Sharon Levy. 
This year's recipient is Lindsay Mayor Valeriano Saucedo.
  Rose Ann Vuich was the daughter of immigrant parents who grew up on a 
farm in rural Tulare County. She became a small-town accountant and 
went on to the California State Senate as the first woman ever to serve 
in that body. Although at first she was reluctant to run for the 
office, she eventually (in her own words) ``tore into that campaign and 
campaigned from morning till night, in my own grass-roots, down-to-
earth way * * *'' Rose Ann won the primary by only 242 votes and faced 
an uphill battle in the run-off. Despite comments from political pros 
that said she didn't have a chance, she kept moving forward in a very 
simple and effective campaign and eventually won the election by more 
than 2,600 votes in 1976.
  Rose Ann's first election was the last hard-fought election she would 
face. She so handily beat her challengers in 1980 and 1984 that nobody 
ran against her in 1988. Had she chosen to run in 1992, it's likely she 
would have run unopposed again.
  The reason she became progressively more unbeatable came not only out 
of the deep roots and wide networks she had in her home district, but 
because she served in public office in exactly the way she promised she 
would.
  In 1992, after a 16-year career as one of the most respected and 
esteemed legislators in California history, Senator Vuich retired from 
office and returned to her home, here in the Valley.
  Rose Ann Vuich was more than honest. She was a person of extremely 
high integrity who took her public responsibilities very seriously and 
believed in giving the voter, the constituent, what they deserve: fair, 
ethical consideration of issues and conscientious, cost-effective 
delivery of service.
  In addendum to her biography, I would be remiss if I failed to 
recognize Rose Ann for the recent dedication to her of the Rose Ann 
Vuich Interchange. The Interchange, which links three major Fresno 
freeways, was named after the lawmaker who got it built. Vuich made the 
completion of Freeway 41 the centerpiece of her 1976 election campaign. 
Her vision has finally been realized.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Rose Ann 
Vuich, a woman of vision and integrity. I urge my colleagues to join me 
in wishing her a bright future, and many years of continued success.

                          ____________________