Recognizing Charles Michael ``mike'' Futrell

Floor Speech

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Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize one of the most extraordinary city managers I have ever known. My friend and colleague Charles Michael ``Mike'' Futrell leaves his position as city manager of South San Francisco, my hometown, after nine years of exemplary service. Mike has proven over and over again that he is one of the most productive, most creative, and most professional community leaders in the region. He superbly led this city of 67,000 people with a budget of over $400 million and set it on a path to success.

Most residents of cities don't realize how much impact a city manager has on every aspect of their lives. Mike led 900 full and part-time personnel across all departments: police, fire, emergency medical services, emergency management, public works, parks and recreation, library, human resources, finance, communications, and economic and community development. He greatly improved South San Francisco's finances earning the city its first ever AAA bond rating. During his tenure, the city yielded budget surpluses every year, and he delivered record budget reserves.

To appreciate how much Mike brought to the table when he started his job as city manager, it helps to know his background. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Louisiana State University, a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. Amherst, and a JD from Louisiana State University Paul M. Herbert Law School. He was a Ph.D. scholar in Management of Complex Systems at the University of California, Merced, and he received a Learn, Engage, Accelerate, Disrupt (L.E.A.D.) Certification in Corporate Innovation from Stanford.

Mike did not confine his accomplishments to academics. He also served in public office and held other senior administrative positions in both the public and private sectors. He was an elected member of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, an elected member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, a state director for a U.S. Senator, the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Baton Rouge, a U.S. Navy Captain at the U.S. Pacific Command, and an Executive Vice President for Hawaii Gas. As you can surmise from this impressive background, there isn't any situation or problem Mike can't tackle.

Among the most visible changes in South San Francisco during his tenure are the increase in the construction of housing units and the revitalization of the downtown, both priorities for Mike. More than 4,500 new residential units will be built in the next five years, a significant effort to address the crushing housing shortage in the Bay Area. Press reports indicate that, under his leadership, the city's biotechnology employers are expected to more than double their square footage. from 12 million to 25 million square feet, within the next few years.

Madam Speaker, South San Francisco is a remarkable community, and Mike contributed greatly to its success. He will now take his talents to Riverside, California, where he will also be closer to his children. We wish Mike and his wife, Susan Freeman, our very best for a successful future in their new home. Both will be missed, but fondly remembered, in the years ahead.

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