[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19372]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      COMMENDING MAYOR PAT RUSSELL

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I wish to convey my sincere 
thanks and appreciation in recognizing Pat Russell, from Keene, NH, for 
her four decades of distinguished service to the State of New 
Hampshire. On August 1, Pat is retiring from her role as commissioner 
of the New Hampshire State Liquor Commission, and I am pleased to 
submit this statement to the Record.
  Pat Russell has spent her life serving her community, her State, and 
her country. She was elected to six terms in the New Hampshire House of 
Representatives and two terms as mayor of Keene. She served with 
distinction on President Clinton's Council for Developmental 
Disabilities and for the past ten years she has served on the New 
Hampshire State Liquor Commission.
  To each of these roles, Pat brought a willingness to roll up her 
sleeves and get to work for those she served. Her record of 
accomplishment and her wide circle of admirers speak to the qualities 
that defined her work: intelligence, persistence and devotion to the 
State of New Hampshire and her beloved city of Keene.
  As Governor of New Hampshire, I was looking for someone with these 
qualities to fill a coming vacancy on the State Liquor Commission. I 
offered the position to mayor Pat Russell of Keene, who graciously 
accepted. Since that day in 1999, Commissioner Russell has overseen 
what she refers to as ``a perfectly oiled machine with absolutely 
fantastic employees.'' Indeed, under Pat's leadership, the commission 
has thrived, contributing over $100 million each year to New 
Hampshire's general fund.
  New Hampshire is proud and grateful for Pat's service and I know her 
absence will be felt by all who have relied on her leadership and 
strength. On a personal note, Pat has been a dear friend and mentor to 
me for over 30 years. I have admired not only her multifaceted 
professional abilities, but also her commitment to make a difference 
for the people of New Hampshire. I wish her well in a much-deserved 
retirement, but I also believe that Pat still has more she wants to do. 
I know that whatever she does, it will be in the service of others.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing our commissioner, the 
Honorable Pat Russell.

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