On the recordOctober 4, 2013
We're here today to honor a true public servant and a longtime friend of mine, Superintendent Pete Mehas. My Republican colleagues, Congressmen Nunes and Congressman Valadao, and I certainly have our disagreements, but among those things we all agree on is how important and meaningful the work of Pete's life was to so many in our valley and those that he touched throughout the State of California because he was a true public servant. He committed his life to the furtherance of education for the young people throughout California. He and I worked together on so many issues, from special education, to bringing the Keeping Score program to the kids of Fresno County, to dealing with challenged school districts like West Elementary, the implementation of charter schools, and, yes, one of the last tasks that Pete did, even though he was in retirement, was to head the selection committee for the new president of Cal State University of Fresno, Dr. Joe Castro. A good selection that was. It's time that we set our differences apart and find the solutions to the impasses that are affecting this Congress and this country today. It's what Pete would have done. It's what we should do. ____________________
