[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO RICK STAATS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 9, 2008

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Rick 
Staats, a man whose passion and energy for conservative principles in 
northern California have made a great contribution to the region.
  Rick was born on August 1, 1943, in Berkeley, CA, where he grew up. 
After graduating from Berkeley High School, Rick left California to 
attend the University of Oregon.
  After college, Rick returned to California and became active in 
politics. While living in the Bay Area, Rick served as the Alameda 
County chairman for the U.S. Senate campaign of then-State Senator H.L. 
Richardson. Rick was also an alternate delegate for the 1976 Republican 
National Convention in Kansas City. Rick's political activism 
eventually led him to Sacramento in 1978. At that time, Rick and I 
served together on the staff of Senator Richardson, and 2 years later 
Rick was an integral part of my successful campaign for the California 
State Senate.
  Rick worked for me in many capacities throughout my tenure in the 
state Senate, including as my district director. When I was elected to 
U.S. Congress in 1990. Rick chose to remain active in California 
politics. He served as chief of staff to Assemblyman David Knowles and 
as a consultant for the Republican caucus in the assembly.
  While working in the California State Legislature, Rick remained 
active in volunteer organizations in California. He served as the 
statewide president of the California Republican Assembly, chairman of 
the Placer County Republican Party, credentials chairman for the 
California Republican Party, and in other important roles for groups 
that were advocating the conservative principles to which Rick has 
always been committed.
  In 2004, Rick left California to retire in Idaho. Though he is 
retired, Rick remains active in politics and in public service. He 
currently sits on the board of directors for the Cabinet Mountains 
Water District and is still an important figure in California politics. 
I am pleased to have known Rick for many years as a colleague, a member 
of my staff, and a friend. I would like to express my gratitude to him 
for his work over the years for me and for the many causes he has 
championed, and I wish him all the very best in the future.

                          ____________________