[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15558]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING DIRECTOR JOE JUDGE UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE SANTA CLARA 
                         VALLEY WATER DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge and 
honor Director Joe Judge upon his retirement from the Santa Clara 
Valley Water District.
  Joe has been a Director at the Santa Clara Valley Water District 
since 1986, when the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors appointed 
him as At Large Director to represent North County. He was elected to 
the Board of Directors in 1996 to represent District 2, which includes 
central and downtown San Jose, portions of East San Jose, and Willow 
Glen.
  During his tenure, he served as vice chairman in 1995 and 2009. Joe 
also served as chairman in 1989, 1996, and 2004. Joe championed the 
importance of Santa Clara County's water supply and flood protection. 
He gained community support for eighteen flood protection projects 
totaling $529 million for District 2, including eight projects for the 
Guadalupe River, four projects for Calabazas Creek, mitigation 
plantings at the Children's Discovery Museum, erosion repair along the 
Los Gatos Creek, and the construction of a local child care center. He 
played a key role in the development of the Guadalupe River Park as a 
collaborative effort within the District.
  While at the Santa Clara Valley Water District, he was able to help 
ensure that the county had a plentiful pure water supply, improve our 
water infrastructure, and preserve our watersheds, creeks, and trails. 
He advocated for state and federal policies to resolve long-standing 
Delta issues, including the restoration for the Delta ecosystem and a 
reliable Delta conveyance system.
  Joe graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in 
business administration. He owns and operates his construction firm, 
Judge Construction. As a local businessman, he provided an open channel 
of communication between the business community and government, which 
advanced water conservation countywide. As a dedicated public servant 
for 26 years, his presence will be missed.
  Director Joe Judge is retiring and I wish him all the best in the 
years to come. I commend Joe for his valuable service and wish him the 
best in his future endeavors. The community is very fortunate to have 
benefited from his expertise, passion, and commitment. He has left his 
mark in Santa Clara County.

                          ____________________