[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18849]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DAN McCORQUODALE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2014

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues, Congress members 
Anna Eshoo, Mike Honda, and Mike Thompson to recognize the four decades 
of tenacious, dedicated service of Mr. Dan McCorquodale to the County 
of Santa Clara, the City of San Jose, and the State of California.
  For over 40 years, Dan has been a fixture in public service in 
California after becoming interested in remedying the pervasive, 
lingering injustices of racial, gender, and disability discrimination. 
Having served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, 
attended college, and worked as a teacher, Dan joined the City Council 
of Chula Vista, California in 1962 as the youngest person in history to 
ever be elected to the Council. Only four years later, Dan became the 
City's first Mayor, elected by a broad margin.
  Consistent with his lifelong passion for teaching and the cause of 
individuals struggling with mental health issues, Dan returned to 
education from 1969 to 1972, teaching learning-disabled fourth, fifth, 
and sixth-graders. During this time, Dan initiated the first 
Educationally Handicapped program for the Evergreen School District. 
After discovering the need to increase access to mental health centers 
in Santa Clara County, among other issues, Dan decided to run for the 
Board of Supervisors there.
  In 1972, Dan was elected to the Board, serving as a Chairperson for 
two of his three terms. As a Supervisor, Dan took local leadership on 
justice and gender and racial equality, health care access, 
environment, and transportation issues.
  Dan never backed down from his lifelong fight against discrimination 
and injustice. He worked to bring in women, minorities, and individuals 
living with developmental disabilities to the workforce. For example, 
Dan appointed the first woman commissioner to the Fire Commission. He 
also garnered Board consensus regarding supporting workshops, job 
training, and a program to ease job access for the developmentally 
disabled.
  During his tenure on the Board, Dan expanded his efforts beyond local 
leadership, representing Santa Clara County on regional and state-wide 
governing Boards and Commissions, including becoming a member and 
Chairperson of the Bay Area Quality Management District, and a member 
of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the Association of 
Bay Area Governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and 
the Advisory Council of the State Office of Planning and Research.
  In 1982, Dan was elected State Senator where he served for three 
terms. As a Senator, Dan authored legislation in a variety of areas 
including: comprehensive water plans for the State, water reclamation, 
conservation, consumer protection, people with disabilities, LGBT 
issues, and humane treatment of animals.
  After leaving office, Dan worked as a Commissioner on the California 
Medical Assistance Commission with the Office of the Governor, working 
to enhance access to medical care for those in need.
  Throughout his career Dan has been known for his stellar work ethic, 
incredible resilience, professionalism, and commitment to hard work in 
the best interest of the people. I wish Dan the happiest of birthdays, 
congratulate him on his impressive career, and commend him for his 
invaluable service to our community and the State of California. We 
have been lucky to have him.

                          ____________________