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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO CHAD PADGETT
______
HON. DON YOUNG
of alaska
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 18, 2019
Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I want to pay tribute today and thank Chad
Padgett for his years of service on my staff, the great state of
Alaska, and to the United States of America.
Chad Padgett first came to work in my office in 1994 and has served
as my State Director for more than a decade. Madam Speaker, to put the
magnitude and demands of his job into perspective requires some
explanation. There are only seven other states in the U.S. House of
Representatives that have State Directors. In the other 43 states, the
position is commonly referred to as District Director. For example, the
State of California has 53 House District Directors.
During Mr. Padgett's tenure in my office he has traveled to almost
every city, town, village and road stop in the state. That's quite an
accomplishment in and of itself, when you think about how large the
49th state actually is. Alaska has 6640 miles of coastline representing
50 percent of our nation's total coastline and is one-fifth the size of
the entire country. Many of the places Mr. Padgett has traveled to have
only been accessible by air or water. Remember, even our state capitol,
the third largest city in the state, can only be accessed by plane or
ferry. He has traveled by car, truck, jet, single-engine plane,
helicopter, state ferry, and boats of all sizes and makes.
Madam Speaker, Mr. Padgett has had a lot of geography to cover in
Alaska--more than California, Texas and Montana combined. These three
states have 90 people doing what Mr. Padgett does.
As mentioned earlier, Mr. Padgett joined my team in 1994 as a
Campaign Assistant. In 1995, he became a Special Assistant in my
congressional office and quickly became my Deputy State Director. He
remained in that position until, under President George W. Bush's
administration, he received a Presidential nomination to serve as State
Director for the Farm Services Agency. From there, he became the State
Director for USDA Rural Development. He remained with the USDA until
2009, when he chose to come back to work as my State Director.
As much as I hate to see Mr. Padgett leave my office, I am equally
pleased that he has been selected to serve as the State Director for
the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska.
Mr. Padgett will excel in his new position. He brings to the job the
right temperament, integrity, experience and knowledge necessary to
provide leadership and stewardship overseeing our federal lands.
Mr. Padgett has proven himself as a loyal, competent and respected
public servant. He has shown care and compassion for literally
thousands of Alaskans by helping them resolve their problems and
navigate the bureaucratic mazes.
He is well-liked by his co-workers and has helped mentor many young
staffers by instilling his core values of hard work, loyalty,
responsibility and maintaining a positive attitude.
To me, Chad Padgett is more than my State Director. Most of all, he
is a trusted friend. He is an advisor with my best interests always at
heart. He is like family--and always will be.
While it is difficult thinking of his departure from my staff, it
gives me a great sense of pride and comfort knowing he will oversee and
be the steward for about a quarter-of-a-billion acres of federal land
in Alaska.
On behalf of the countless number of Alaskans that he has helped, his
co-workers, and most of all, my family and me--I thank him and God
bless.
We are excited and extend our best wishes to him for the challenges
ahead.
____________________