[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF DARLENE DUNHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 17, 2010

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable 
public service career of Darlene Dunham. Darlene is retiring from her 
work in Monterey County as the chief of Staff for County Supervisor 
Simon Salinas. However, she has had a long path of education and 
leadership before going to work for the County of Monterey. Of 
historical interest, Darlene was one of the top 16 money winners on the 
old television game show The Joker's Wild.
  Darlene returned to college after having two children, Troy and 
Denyse. In 1983, she opened her own political consulting and training 
firm named Darlene Dunham and Associates. By 1998, she had expanded her 
business by 3 partners and focused on management training and 
consulting to the agricultural community. She finally received her 
Masters degree in Leadership at the age of 57.
  Darlene spent a decade working in state and local political campaigns 
as a fundraiser and campaign consultant for now famous Willie Brown, 
former Speaker of the California Assembly, and former state 
legislators, now Members of Congress, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Xavier 
Becerra, Jim Costa, Maxine Waters, Diane Watson, and myself. While 
serving as chair of the Monterey County Commission on the Status of 
Women, Darlene led the first sexual harassment training course for 
county employees and was one of the first persons certified by the 
California State Bar Association to train public and private sector 
personnel including California prison guards.
  Along with running her business, Darlene found time to get involved 
in the community. Darlene has served on the Monterey County Arts 
Council, she has volunteered with the Salinas Women's Crisis Center, 
she served as a representative on the Hartnell College Board of 
Trustees, Vice Chair of the City of Salinas Recreation-Park Commission, 
and a board member of the Education Foundation for Salinas Union High 
School District. She was recognized as one of the outstanding women of 
Monterey County's Commission on the Status of Women. The Salinas 
Chamber of Commerce gave Darlene their Athena Award for outstanding 
businesswoman.
  Darlene's passion and leadership led her to organize a trip to 
Morelia, Mexico to provide an opportunity for a group of Elementary 
School teachers to study the Spanish language and the Mexican culture. 
Darlene notes that she is looking forward to being retired so she can 
return to traveling the world with her husband and enjoying her 
grandchildren Emma, age 4, and Truman, age 1\1/2\.
  Madam Speaker, I know that I am not alone in recognizing the work of 
this amazing woman. Darlene has always been involved in the community 
and her dedication to make Monterey County a better place will surely 
continue, even after she retires. For all that she has done and all 
that she will undoubtedly do, I extend my most sincere thanks and 
warmest wishes to our friend and professional colleague, Ms. Darlene 
Dunham.

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