Senator Robert C. Jubelirer

Tribute to Departing Members

November 17, 2004

 

One of the emotional times during the course of our session comes when we say goodbye to Senate members whose lives will take a different course.

 

With five departing members, we lose a lot of experience, and a lot of character, and a lot of collective contribution.  Between them, they have 50 years of Senate service, honorable and productive service.

 

One is retiring, three have been elected to higher office, and one is probably far from finished with public service.

 

While they are different in life experience, political philosophy, and geography, they share some striking similarities.

 

Each is intelligent, and thoughtful, and articulate.

 

Each overcame substantial electoral challenges in coming here, whether in a primary, or in the general, or in Senator Mowery’s case, in both.  They had to work hard to earn the title of state Senator, and they did not relax their advocacy once they got here. 

 

Each cared about issues, each had an extensive agenda and a strong sense of purpose, and not a one was reticent about expressing their views and pushing for their priorities.  Those who review Senate Journals in the future will find that Senators Dent, Kukovich, Mowery, Schwartz, and Wagner were in word and deed key contributors to our debates and our actions.  As we debated jobs, education, health care, taxes, and senior issues, we could bank on them being vocal and involved players.  They had an impact, lasting and meaningful.

 

We are reminded too that, while we can find ourselves on the opposite sides of issues, sometimes heatedly, it does not diminish the value of the contributions that anyone who serves here makes.

 

As has become a fine tradition, we have a video tribute for our retiring Republican member, Senator Hal Mowery.

 

Hal is a gentleman, a man of commitment, someone who is rarely in doubt as to where he wants to go and what he wants to accomplish.  He is a superb advocate, and the persistence and salesmanship he learned in the insurance business served him well in the political world.

 

Hal had the blessings of a wonderful family and private world success, yet he signed up repeatedly for public service, in order to make a broader contribution to his community.

 

We are grateful for the time he gave us, for the intensity of effort he made, and for the constructive changes in law and policy he inspired.  I think we will all enjoy this video tribute to a career well-served.