[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15471]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF KEITH RICHMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 10, 2010

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of Keith Richman, a 
physician and California legislator who died earlier this month at the 
too-young age of 56.
  Keith was a big man with big ideas who repeatedly expressed optimism 
in our political system.
  He moved to California with his family when he was a toddler and made 
the San Fernando Valley his home. He was an early proponent of having 
the Valley secede from the City of Los Angeles. In 2000, the same year 
he was elected to the Assembly, the Valley electorate voted to secede 
from Los Angeles and voted Keith as mayor of the new city. However, Los 
Angeles voters outside of the Valley voted overwhelmingly against the 
change and the measure was defeated.
  As the assemblyman for the 38th District, Keith initially represented 
parts of the north San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita, and the 
cities of Simi Valley and Fillmore, which are also in my congressional 
district. In 2002, Keith's district was redrawn and Fillmore was 
removed.
  During that term, the California Journal named Keith the 
legislature's Rookie of the Year. He would serve until term limits 
forced him out in 2006.
  Keith was also one of the first leaders to advocate state pension 
reform. Although unsuccessful in qualifying a pension reform initiative 
for the state ballot, he continued his passion for controlling 
government spending by founding the California Foundation for Fiscal 
Responsibility after he left office. As part of the drive for reform, 
the Foundation posted the names of thousands of six-figure pension 
recipients online.
  Keith's other passion was medicine. He followed his father Monroe 
into the business, had a practice in Sun Valley and founded Glendale-
based Lakeside Community HealthCare, Inc.
  Tragically, Keith's brain tumor was diagnosed two days after he 
married Suzan in 2009.
  In addition to Suzan, Keith is survived by two daughters, Dina and 
Rachel; his parents, Esther and Monroe; brothers, Craig and David; and 
a sister, Marla
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join my wife, Janice, and me 
in offering our condolences to the Richman family, and in remembering a 
remarkable man whose life of service will live on in all those whose 
lives he touched.

                          ____________________