Oct. 21, 2019: Congressional Record publishes “TRIBUTE TO MONTGOMERY MAYOR TODD STRANGE”

Oct. 21, 2019: Congressional Record publishes “TRIBUTE TO MONTGOMERY MAYOR TODD STRANGE”

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Volume 165, No. 166 covering the 1st Session of the 116th Congress (2019 - 2020) was published by the Congressional Record.

The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.

“TRIBUTE TO MONTGOMERY MAYOR TODD STRANGE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1320-E1321 on Oct. 21, 2019.

The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

TRIBUTE TO MONTGOMERY MAYOR TODD STRANGE

______

HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

of alabama

in the house of representatives

Monday, October 21, 2019

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Todd Strange, the 56th mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, on his decade of service to his city, his state and to the people of Alabama. Mayor Strange's outstanding career has been characterized by his commitment to restoring and ensuring Montgomery's economic vitality, his unique sense of humor and, most importantly, his deep and unwavering love for his city. Since taking office on March 23, 2009, Mayor Strange has been a strong and able leader, who has consistently put people over politics, and has remained resistant to the divisions commonplace in today's political climate. He leaves the City of Montgomery a better place for his excellent leadership.

Long interested in the complexities and practical applications of politics, Mayor Strange graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama before continuing on to earn his B.A. in Political Science from Montevallo University. After graduating, Mayor Strange took the opportunity to try his own hand at politics, serving as chairman of the Montgomery County Commission and as Director of the Alabama Department of Commerce. During this time, Mayor Strange was instrumental in coordinating efforts that resulted in substantial job growth and economic revitalization throughout the city, including working with many partners to bring the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Facility of Alabama to Montgomery.

Over the course of his career, Mayor Strange also worked in the private sector, ably taking on leadership roles in the automotive and telecommunications fields. Mayor Strange served as President, CEO and Co-owner of Blount-Strange Automotive Group, where he oversaw hundreds of employees, and held several leadership roles within South Central Bell Company (now AT&T). He further served as Senior Vice President of Administration of Blount International, Ltd. and President and CEO of Blount Development Corporation.

Mayor Strange first came into office winning a special election after his predecessor, Mayor Bobby Bright, was elected to the United States House of Representatives. His election came on the heels of the economic recession, evident in the city's operating budget. Over the following six years, Mayor Strange worked diligently to continue revitalization in his city, making use of major sporting events, conferences, new jobs and economic development to drive revenue. By 2015, the City of Montgomery closed out the fiscal year with over twenty million in the coffers.

Further, during his time as mayor, Mayor Strange made use of new technologies to cut costs and keep the city safe, implementing a Smart City Initiative, which makes use of artificial intelligence to assess roads for paving projects. The initiative utilizes cutting edge surveillance and sanitation technology in order to streamline efficiency; and uses in-house software technology to keep costs in check. The project symbolizes Mayor Strange's commitment to finding practical, cost-effective solutions that make use of all that modern technology has to offer, in order for the city to run as smoothly as possible.

Mayor Strange has served as Chairman of the Montgomery Business Committee for the Arts, Chairman of the Capital City Club and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the City of Montevallo. He was formerly the Chairman of the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Foundation, the Board Chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Committee and the Chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Alliance. A testament to his enduring legacy and impact, Mayor Strange has been honored with myriad awards and recognition, including: The Business and Professional Women Boss of the Year Award, the March of Dimes River Region Citizen of the Year Award, the Auburn University at Montgomery Outstanding Community Leader Award and Time Magazine's Quality Dealer Award for Alabama.

Throughout his long and impressive career, Mayor Strange has been blessed to be supported by his wife Linda, his two daughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth and his grandchildren. The strength provided by his family has allowed Mayor Strange his remarkable professional successes and, certainly, his commitment to honoring family values has carried over to his service as mayor.

On a personal note, I have greatly enjoyed working with Mayor Strange on the federal issues that matter most to Montgomery and the River Region. I'm especially proud of the work that our community and, especially, the work that Mayor Strange and his office have done to make the 187th Air National Guard home to the new F-35 Lightening II Jets, resulting in the creation of hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in economic investment. As we usher in this new era for the City of Montgomery, I know that Mayor Strange's legacy will be the foundation upon which others will lead. While he may be retiring from his service as Mayor, I know he will still be an active, lifelong advocate on behalf of the people of the City of Montgomery and the River Region.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Todd Strange for his outstanding service as mayor of the City of Montgomery.

____________________

SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 166

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