BILL NUMBER: HR 82 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Villaraigosa AUGUST 17, 1998 House Resolution No. 82--Relative to commending the Honorable Michael Sweeney. HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST WHEREAS, The Honorable Michael Sweeney, the distinguished and able Assembly Member from the 18th Assembly District, has announced his retirement from the California State Assembly, and it is appropriate at this time to highlight his many achievements and to commend him for his illustrious record of service to the State of California; and WHEREAS, Michael Sweeney grew up in Hayward and received his bachelor's and master's degrees form California State University, Hayward, and he worked at Hunt's cannery to put himself through college; and WHEREAS, He was elected Mayor of Hayward in 1990 and, prior to being elected Mayor, served on the Hayward City Council for eight years, where he took a leadership role in local government issues and advocated for sufficient funding of essential local services; and WHEREAS, He is a teacher by profession, who has fought for legislation on technology in schools since he first walked into the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Michael Sweeney was first elected to the California Assembly in November 1994 as the representative of the 18th Assembly District, he has distinguished himself as a strong advocate for consumers through his efforts to eliminate ATM fees and to lower gas prices; and WHEREAS, Mr. Sweeney consistently has led the fight on environmental protection issues and his significant legislation included the fight to clean up San Francisco Bay; in 1996, he led the effort to block attempts to eliminate major portions of law that protect the environment, endangered species, and our quality of life; and WHEREAS, In 1995 he was named Legislator of the Year by the League of California Cities and the California Chapter of the American Planning Association; in 1996, he was named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the California School Boards Association and the Planning and Conservation League; and he also has been honored with the Leadership Award for Technology in Learning from the Computer Using Educators Association, the Legislative President's Award from the California State Association of Counties, and the Leadership Award from the Association of California Water Agencies; and WHEREAS, Assembly Member Sweeney is Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee and serves on the Assembly Education, Appropriations, Natural Resources, and Insurance Committees and the Select Committee on Education Technology, and he also has served as Majority Whip; and WHEREAS, Michael Sweeney is married to Maria Ochoa; and WHEREAS, Through his professional, public, and community activities, he has made a significant impact on the people of the 18th Assembly District and throughout the state, and he will be sorely missed by those individuals with whom he has been associated; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That they take great pride in honoring Assembly Member Michael Sweeney for his outstanding service to the people of 18th Assembly District and the people of California during his tenure as a Member of the Legislature, and extend to him heartiest best wishes for happiness and success in his future endeavors.