[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28772]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


       HONORING RETIRING CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY EXECUTIVE MARK THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, for the past eight years, Chautauqua County 
government has been led by one of the singularly intelligent, committed 
and respected public officials in New York State. Mr. Speaker, today I 
rise today to honor Mark Thomas, whose service as Chautauqua County 
Executive will be concluded on December 31, 2005.
  The campaign trail is a difficult path to take. Any person with a 
dream may enter but only a few are able to reach the end. Mr. Thomas 
traveled that path with his head held high and a smile on his face the 
entire way. I have no doubt that his kind demeanor left a lasting 
impression on the voters of Chautauqua County.
  Mark is the type of person who leaves a lasting impact on his 
community. For many years, as a candidate and as an elected leader, 
Mark's efforts to better Chautauqua County have left a permanent 
impression not only on the county itself but on its residents. His 
face, voice, opinions and successes were and still are a staple in 
Chautauqua County. Our county and our residents are better for the 
undying work and issues that Mr. Thomas uncovered during his campaign 
and during his tenure.
  A true testimony to Mark can be found in many areas of the county and 
in many people whose lives he touched. One doesn't have to look far to 
see what a strong work ethic can do. His campaign was full of energy 
and enthusiasm. I have no doubt that good things are still to come from 
Mark; he is a truly dedicated and determined person.
  As a state legislator from 1998 to 2004, I knew Mark Thomas well. 
Quietly, without a lot of fanfare, Mark Thomas trudged the halls in 
Albany working diligently for the reform of the Medicaid program, which 
has threatened to cripple county governments throughout New York State. 
In 2004, New York State began what is hoped to be a long process of 
providing Medicaid relief to local governments. No elected leader in 
New York State is more responsible for that success than is Mark 
Thomas.
  I had the opportunity to get to know Mark even better in 2004, when 
we competed against one another in a primary election for the 
Democratic Party's nomination for this congressional seat. Throughout 
that campaign, I always said that if I couldn't win, I wanted Mark 
Thomas to win, because Mark is a true believer, someone who believes 
that government is in place to help people, and to help make one's area 
a better place to live, work and raise a family. During that campaign, 
I was consistently amazed at the level of respect that the people of 
Chautauqua County had for him. During my first year in Congress, Mark 
and I have worked together closely on a number of projects important to 
Chautauqua County, and my respect for him, his dear wife Elaine and his 
family only continues to grow.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank Mark Thomas. Mark has shown 
me the way in Chautauqua County, and I will forever be grateful to him 
for that gift.
  Chautauqua County is blessed to have such strong individuals with a 
desire to make this county the wonderful place that we all know it can 
be. Mark Thomas is one of those people and that is why I rise to honor 
him and his service to this community.

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