RECOGNIZING BRUCE McPHERSON FOR HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA

RECOGNIZING BRUCE McPHERSON FOR HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E30] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING BRUCE McPHERSON FOR HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA ______ HON. JIMMY PANETTA of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bruce McPherson for his tireless dedication to not only public service but to the people of California. Mr. McPherson was nominated to be the 30th Secretary of State for California and was previously an Assemblyman and a State Senator. However, his career did not begin with politics. Mr. McPherson was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California. He attended Santa Cruz High and then went on to study at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. After graduation he worked for the Santa Cruz Sentinel starting as a reporter and eventually rising to the position of editor, after being inspired by his father, Mr. McPherson began his career in public service. Mr. McPherson was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1993, representing the Monterey Bay region, and later serving two terms in the California State Senate. In both the Assembly and the Senate Mr. McPherson was committed to bipartisanship, often working across the aisle with elected Democrats. In 2005 Mr. McPherson was nominated to replace the former Secretary of State. He was confirmed unanimously by both Democratic-controlled houses of the California State Legislature. As Secretary of State Mr. McPherson oversaw a 500-person department with five offices across the state which managed the state's election system. Following his time as Secretary of State, Mr. McPherson returned home with the aim of replacing the Fifth Districts' County supervisor. In 2013 he began his 12-year stint as county supervisor. During this time California underwent the COVID-19 pandemic, the CZU fires, and atmospheric river disasters. His biggest achievement, in his opinion, was the establishment of Central Coast Community Energy, a clean-energy provider that now covers the five counties of the central coast of California. His time as a public servant has been the highlight of his career. After stepping down from the dais for the final time Mr. McPherson plans to spend more time with his wife of 55 years, Mary, as well as his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. ____________________