[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING ELIZABETH E. (LIZ) BASS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2012

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor 
Tuolumne County Supervisor Elizabeth E. (Liz) Bass on her retirement 
from the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors and to thank her for her 
dedicated public service.
  Liz Bass has been a resident of Tuolumne County for 40 years, and her 
entire time in Tuolumne County has been spent serving in either public 
education or local government.
  Liz began her local public service career in 1972, when she joined 
the faculty at Sonora High's ``Opportunity School,'' a continuation 
program, as a teacher. She continued her service in public education 
until her retirement as Principal of Cassina High School in 1996. Even 
before her retirement as a teacher and school administrator, Liz made 
time to run a successful election to the Sonora City Council in 1994, 
where she served for 10 years.
  Also, unique to any other locally elected official, Liz hosted a 
radio show on KVML called ``Talk Back'' between 1997 and 2000. On the 
show, Liz would hold on-the-air conversations with everyday residents, 
as well as local political figures.
  One of Liz's most cherished accomplishments is to have served as the 
first female Mayor of Sonora between 2000 and 2002. Liz stepped down 
from the City Council, when she was elected to the Tuolumne County 
Board of Supervisors in 2004. In 2002, she was recognized for her 
service on the City Council with the Tuolumne County Chamber of 
Commerce's ``Excellence in Government Award.''
  Liz is leaving the Board of Supervisors after eight years of service 
as the District 1 Supervisor. During her time on the Board, Supervisor 
Bass worked hard to bring civility to boardroom dialogue; champion 
issues related to youth, seniors and affordable housing; privatize 
Tuolumne General Hospital; support recreation, library and behavioral 
health services; push for reforms in the County's solid waste program; 
initiate and complete an overhaul of the Board's committee and 
commission system; and provide the political leadership needed to 
establish the first ever Tuolumne County Flag.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Tuolumne County Supervisor 
Liz Bass on her retirement and commending her exemplary service to the 
community as an educator, member of the Sonora City Council, and 
representative on the Board of Supervisors

                          ____________________