[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 26273-26274]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF FAIRFIELD CITY MANAGER KEVIN O'ROURKE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2007

  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Kevin O'Rourke, who 
has served the City of Fairfield, CA as city manager since 1997.

[[Page 26274]]

  Mr. O'Rourke has dedicated over 30 years of his life to serving the 
public. After serving as the city manager for the cities of Stanton 
from 1981 to 1985 and Buena Park from 1985 to 1997, Mr. O'Rourke came 
to Fairfield, inspiring an unprecedented revitalization in the historic 
town.
  During his tenure, Mr. O'Rourke spearheaded the effort to modernize 
the public services available in Fairfield as the city was undergoing a 
radical transformation. He helped to modernize both the police and fire 
departments, enabling them to serve a rapidly urbanizing and growing 
region. As a part of the project, he built new fire stations and 
increased personnel, guaranteeing 24/7 paramedic service and quality 
law enforcement to the entire population.
  Always a friend to the business community, Mr. O'Rourke's creativity 
and vision helped to achieve the longest labor agreements in the State 
of California, guaranteeing a stable and positive environment for 
employee groups as they serve the residents of the community. In 
addition, his efforts brought a vibrant commercial center to the 
Cordelia area of Fairfield, something the residents had identified as a 
critical need.
  As chairman of the Travis Community Consortium, his legislative 
efforts assured the continued livelihood and superiority of Travis Air 
Force Base, the largest air mobility organization in the Air Force. His 
hard work brought a squadron of C-17s to the base, enhancing its 
mission as the West Coast terminal for aeromedical evacuation aircraft 
returning sick or injured patients from the Pacific area.
  Mr. O'Rourke also successfully coordinated city, county, and State 
resources to bring many projects to Fairfield such as a state of the 
art public library, a successful auto mall along Interstate 80--a 
project that had eluded the city for decades and brings needed sales 
tax revenues to the general fund--and numerous recreational facilities 
important for after school programs and neighborhood events.
  Mr. O'Rourke's many accomplishments have immeasurably improved the 
city of Fairfield and enriched the lives of its residents. I would like 
to thank him for his years of public service and wish him success and 
happiness in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________