[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18158-18159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE OCCASION OF DANIEL BENTON'S RETIREMENT FROM THE BERKLEY CITY 
                 COUNCIL AFTER FIFTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Daniel Benton 
for his fifteen years of leadership in the Berkley, Michigan community 
as a City Councilman.
  A resident of Berkley since 1979, Dan has been an active member of 
the community, working to improve the lives of its residents. With his 
wife, Carol, he raised their three sons, all of whom attended Berkley 
Public Schools. Outside of his own family, Dan's values are evident in 
his support of local Park and Recreation programs like Hoops Basketball 
and Dad's Club Baseball, which promote athletic programs that help 
local youth make healthy life choices. And, as a dentist, Dan also 
operates his own practice within Berkley, providing area residents with 
important healthcare services.
  One area of particular focus for Dan's activism has been the Berkley 
Public Library, which he has supported in many different capacities 
over the years. He served the library both as an elected board member 
and then later as a member of the Friends of the Berkley Library. Dan 
was also on the Library Building Committee which oversaw the expansion 
of the library and the acquisition of new materials. Thanks to his work 
and those of his colleagues, the newly renovated library opened in 1998 
and has continued to be a valuable resource for the community.
  Beyond his advocacy and support of the Berkley Public Library, Dan is 
involved in many other local organizations and projects geared toward 
strengthening the community. As a concerned citizen, prior to his 
election to the City Council, Dan served on the Planning Commission, 
working to secure continued future prosperity for Berkley residents. In 
furtherance of that goal, Dan also helped establish the Woodward 5, a 
local association of surrounding communities and school districts along 
the Woodward Corridor dedicated to promoting the region to prospective 
businesses and residents. As a Berkley resident passionate about the 
health of his city, Dan

[[Page 18159]]

has also organized annual sweep operations, which bring Berkley 
residents together to clean up the city's downtown area.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing 
Dan's positive impact on the Berkley community and wish him well in his 
retirement from the Berkley City Council. As a true advocate for 
building a strong community, I know Dan's work on behalf of his city 
and its residents will be felt far into the future. I wish Dan many 
years of happiness and trust he will continue to advocate for the 
brightest future for Berkley and its residents.

                          ____________________