[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 752-753] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING WILLIAM ``BILL'' CAVALA ______ HON. BARBARA LEE of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleague, Mr. Garamendi, today to honor the exceptional life of Dr. Bill Cavala. Known throughout California politics as a brilliant democratic strategist and shrewd tactician, Bill Cavala was also renowned for his professionalism, teaching prowess and strong sense of loyalty. With his passing on December 26, 2009, we look to Bill Cavala's political legacy and the outstanding quality of his life's work. Born William Lester Cavala, February 23, 1943 to Lester and Margaret Cavala, Bill was the oldest of three sons. He grew up in Sacramento and Oakland, exercising early political interest in the Junior Statesmen youth organization. He went on to earn bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Bill's political studies never ceased as he amassed an encyclopedic and institutional knowledge of state legislative districts, California voter patterns, campaigning tactics and reapportionment. For a time, Bill Cavala worked at the university as a professor of political science, but for much of his 40-year political career he employed his passion for hands-on, field experience. In 1971, Bill Cavala joined the staff of late Democratic Assemblyman Bob Crown, and worked with the Select Committee on Criminal Justice. Later, while teaching at UC Berkeley, he continued to perform constituent work within the offices of Assembly members John Miller, Ken Meade and Bill Lockyer, his former classmate. In 1981, Bill Cavala joined the staff of California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Jr. as Senior Aide, where he served for 14 years. Bill Cavala was three- time Director of the Speaker's Office of Majority Services and worked as deputy director under seven different directors. He served Minority Leader Richard Katz and other Speakers of the Assembly, including Cruz Bustamante, Antonio Villaraigosa, Robert Hertzberg and Herb Wesson, Jr. Bill Cavala fulfilled a crucial, behind-the-scenes role as he played a part in important decisions regarding redistricting, election law and the state budget. Throughout his career, he kept in mind the counsel of his much-admired mentors the late Congressman Philip Burton, wife Sala, and brother, John. Through their influence, Bill gained a deep appreciation for the role of public service and his potential to make meaningful societal contributions via the political process. Despite his hefty workload from the California State Legislature and his commitments at UC Berkeley, Bill Cavala had a role in every election cycle over a 40-year span. His deft and daring campaign approaches resulted in [[Page 753]] countless winning campaigns, most recently in the congressional elections of Representatives John Garamendi and Jackie Speier. Friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle admired his singular focus and political passion. In addition to politics, Bill Cavala had a love for baseball, golf, fine wine, gourmet cooking, mentorship, travel and film. Today, we mourn the loss of a political pioneer, respected strategist and campaign mastermind who was considered by many the driving force in California politics for the past 40 years. Bill Cavala was a dear friend and he will be deeply missed by an extended group of loved ones, friends and colleagues. I offer my sincerest condolences to Bill's family and to the many friends and associates whose lives he has touched over the years.