[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 18592] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING MIKE KERNS ______ HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a fellow resident of the city of Petaluma, Mike Kerns, who retires in December after serving 12 years on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Mike and I go back many years. When I was serving on the Petaluma City Council, Mike was the big, friendly cop who was involved in the city's tobacco and drug education programs. He served in many positions on the Petaluma Police Force beyond the usual enforcement programs. Mike was a Crisis Team Supervisor, a Peer Counseling Supervisor and a Youth Diversion Counselor and the department's liaison to the Stop Tobacco Access to Minors Program, which significantly reduced illegal tobacco sales to children and teens. He is best known, however, for his role as Press Information Officer in the Polly Klass kidnapping. He became a familiar face on television and his calm demeanor and his compassion for the victim and her family provided a sense of stability as the public witnessed the unfolding of a senseless tragedy. Mike Kerns was born and raised in Napa, California. He was an athletic young man and in 1967 won a Golden Gloves championship. He began his public service career as a counselor for the Jobs Corps in Pleasanton. In 1973 he put on his first blue uniform as a police officer for the city of Tiburon in Marin County. In 1978 he transferred to the Petaluma Police Department, and was promoted to Sergeant in 1980. Sergeant Kerns married Carol Madsen the next year and they raised two children, Katie and Matt. In 1998 following the retirement of popular, veteran Supervisor Jim Harberson, Mike was elected to represent the 2nd District for the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. His ``southern Sonoma'' district includes the cities of Petaluma and Cotati and a portion of Rohnert Park, along with the unincorporated agricultural communities of Penngrove, Two Rock, Bloomfield and Valley Ford. Mike's humor, directness and listening skills have served him well in dealing with his diverse constituency. Mike also represents a portion of Sonoma County's bay lands, an area public agencies, non-profits and citizen's groups have joined together to restore watersheds and wetlands. Mike counts among his biggest achievements in office the county's purchase of the 1769-acre Cardoza Ranch in 2005. Now known as the Tolay Lake Regional Park, it includes hills and grasslands, a seasonal lake, creeks, ponds and wetlands, and is a major wintering stopover for migrating waterfowl. The park is currently under development with plans calling for new hiking and biking trails, a natural and historic education center and restoration of Tolay Lake. Supervisor Kerns should also be congratulated for his major role in the Supervisors' decision to place on the ballot two successful transportation measures which provided the financial foundation for the long-awaited widening of Highway 101 and the future construction of the SMART rail system. These transportation improvements will help ensure that Sonoma County continues to have corridor-centered growth while lowering its carbon emissions and more quickly move goods and people. Madam Speaker, I thank Mike Kerns for his years of service as both a law enforcement officer and a lawmaker, and wish him a well-deserved happy, and healthy retirement. ____________________