[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18671]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                      IN RECOGNITION OF GINA PAPAN

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 11, 2013

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Gina Papan for her eight 
years of service on the Millbrae City Council, two of them as mayor, 
one as vice mayor.
  In her role as mayor this past year and throughout her tenure on the 
council, Gina has focused on sustainable finances and revenue 
enhancement in Millbrae. She has played an instrumental role in the 
adoption of the Economic Development Plan and the ongoing negotiations 
for a fire department merger with Central County Fire and San Bruno 
Fire. She is an avid advocate for public-private partnerships that 
benefit the local community.
  Gina serves on the City and County Association of Governments Board 
of Directors and Legislative Committee, the Congestion Management 
Program and Environmental Quality Committee, the High Speed Rail 
Policymakers Working Group, the San Mateo County Council of Cities, the 
Mayor's Civic Coordination Council, the Budget/Finance Subcommittee, 
the Field Agreement Subcommittee, the Fire Shared Services Subcommittee 
and the Commission/Committee Subcommittee.
  In the past, she represented Millbrae on the San Mateo County Housing 
Endowment and Regional Trust, the Grand Boulevard Task Force, the 
Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, the San Mateo County 
Emergency Services Council and the Airport Land Use Committee.
  Gina continues a family tradition of public service and philanthropy 
following in the footsteps of her late father, Lou Papan, known as the 
``Dean of the Assembly'' for his 20 years of service in the California 
State Assembly and her late mother Irene Papan, a dedicated community 
leader and tireless supporter of her husband.
  Gina began her professional career as a corporate attorney, but 
quickly moved to the public sector and served as Deputy Attorney 
General for the state for 19 years. She litigated to protect civil 
rights and prevent fraudulent use of taxpayer money. She was appointed 
deputy director of Governor Gray Davis' Office of Criminal Justice 
Planning. In that capacity, she served on the School Violence 
Prevention and Response Task Force, the Child Abduction Task Force and 
as a legislative advisor to the High Technology Crime Advisory 
Committee. School safety became an immediate focus on her second day on 
the job when the nation was shocked by the school shooting in 
Columbine.
  Gina grew up in Millbrae and graduated from Capuchino High School. 
She received her Bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from UC 
Santa Barbara and her law degree from the University of the Pacific's 
McGeorge School of Law. She completed the Senior Executives in State 
and Local Government program at the John F. Kennedy School of 
Government at Harvard University.
  Her commitment and dedication to others is unwavering. She and her 
sister Diane run John's Closet which provides free new clothing to 
underserved children and offers them confidence to achieve. John Papan 
was Gina's brother who suffered from a congenital condition that 
tragically and prematurely ended his life at age 21. In response and to 
continue its advocacy for disabled children, the Papan family set up 
John's Closet. Gina also is the co-director of the John Papan Memorial 
Scholarship Fund which was founded by the family to help special 
education students and late bloomers, kids who overcome early learning 
difficulties in high school.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
honoring Gina Papan who is retiring today as mayor of Millbrae and who 
has committed her life and career to serving her community and fighting 
for justice.

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