[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10862]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO GLENN D. CUNNINGHAM

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, Today I wish to pay tribute to 
one of New Jersey's most acclaimed advocates of social justice, mayor 
and State senator Glenn D. Cunningham, on the 1-year anniversary of his 
passing.
  Although Glenn's life was tragically cut short by a heart attack, his 
extraordinary legacy of public service lives on. His remarkable 
accomplishments are surpassed only by the love he felt for his family, 
friends, and the people in the community he served.
  A lifelong resident of Jersey City, Glenn demonstrated his sense of 
duty early in life, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps after 
he completed high school. He served his country with distinction for 
four years, and then continued his commitment to public safety by 
joining the Jersey City Police Department in 1967.
  Aided by a strong work ethic and intelligence, Glenn rose through the 
ranks of the department over the next 25 years, attaining the position 
of Captain. Realizing the value of education and the power of ideas, 
during this same time period he attended Jersey City State College and 
earned a bachelor's degree, graduating cum laude in 1974.
  Glenn had a passion for helping people and the ability to take on 
many diverse responsibilities and perform many tasks at once. He 
expanded his public service career in 1975, serving as a Hudson County 
Freeholder until 1978. He was subsequently elected to the Jersey City 
Council, where he served two consecutive terms, including one term as 
city council president.
  Upon his retirement from the police department in 1991, Glenn was 
appointed the director of the Hudson County Department of Public 
Safety.
  In 1996, President Clinton appointed Glenn as United States Marshall 
for the State of New Jersey. This appointment broke a barrier for 
African American leaders in our State, and I was proud to support Glenn 
for the position, knowing that he would do a great job.
  Never one to be complacent or satisfied with the status quo, Glenn 
set his sights on another historic milestone, and in 2001 he became the 
first African-American mayor of Jersey City. Adding to his already 
impressive list of ``firsts,'' Glenn's 2004 election to the New Jersey 
State senate marked the first time a mayor of Jersey City has 
simultaneously held State office.
  Glenn's illustrious career in public service was marked first and 
foremost by his unwavering commitment to the citizens of Jersey City. 
Like Frederick Douglass, Glenn battled to improve the lives of the 
people he represented even if his efforts hurt him politically.
  Glenn's constituents could always approach him with their problems or 
concerns, and he made time to listen to them. His genuine care for 
others inspired hope, and his courage, dignity, and fierce 
determination helped reinvigorate a once-distressed city.
  The effects of his reform-minded, progressive initiatives continue to 
resonate today. As a friend, a dedicated public servant, and a 
groundbreaking pioneer, Glenn is sorely missed by many. His memory, 
however, lives on, and will continue to inspire others to work for the 
same positive social change that was so close to his heart.

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