[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 10364] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL A. MAIER HONORING HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OREGON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT ______ HON. GREG WALDEN of oregon in the house of representatives Wednesday, June 7, 2006 Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to one of Oregon's most dedicated and accomplished public servants. After 27 years, Mr. Michael A. Maier is retiring from the position of Deschutes County Administrator. During his career, Mike has led Deschutes County through a period of unprecedented growth which has transformed a small rural community into a thriving region that attracts visitors and new residents from throughout the country. Mike was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. Upon entering adulthood, he proudly served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps, holding the position of Group Communication Center Supervisor. Following his discharge, he attended, California State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public and Business Administration in 1974. He then proceeded to obtain a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California in 1976. After completing his education, Mike moved to Oregon and became an Administrator in the Oregon Circuit and District Court system. However, Mike's interest in government continued to grow, and by 1979, he chose to pursue a career in the broader field of public administration. He assumed his current position as Deschutes County Administrator in May 1979 and has been a highly respected and valued contributor to both the community and local government ever since. During Mike's tenure, Deschutes County has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. The rapid increase in population, from approximately 62,000 in 1979 to nearly 145,000 in 2005, has presented a wealth of challenges and opportunities. Mike skillfully guided the County through this transition, managing organizational growth from 250 employees to well over 800 and an annual budget of just over $16 million in 1979 to almost $228 million today. Among Mike's many accomplishments as a Public Administrator, he is justifiably proudest of those that brought fiscal strength and stability to Deschutes County. His creativity and innovation are the source of a system in which existing property and partnerships are leveraged to construct new County facilities without additional cost to the taxpayer. He also initiated a self-insurance program that has saved millions of taxpayer dollars while creating an environment of trust and cooperation between County management, employees, and labor organizations and serving as a model for other communities. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring one of Oregon's finest public servants, Mike Maier. On behalf of the citizens of the Second District of Oregon, I am proud to recognize Mike's numerous achievements and to wish him the best as he enters a well- deserved retirement. ____________________