E84 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 14, 2009 

Security Coordinator and understand the daily 

threat Israelis live with every single day. The 

constant and deliberate attacks by Hamas on 

Israeli civilians are unconscionable. The Israeli 

people must be allowed to go about their daily 

lives—and the only way to do that is by defending themselves. 

The United States has always been and 

must always be a steadfast ally of Israel. We 

will support Israel’s right to defend itself and 

continue to push for a return to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

I, like so many throughout the world, hope 

for a peaceful resolution to the current fighting 

and look forward to a sustainable peace when 

Israelis and Palestinians alike can live free 

from terror. 

f 

IN REMEMBRANCE OF MICHAEL C. 

BARRETT 

HON. PETE SESSIONS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today in memory of my dear friend, Michael C. 

Barrett. He was a brilliant attorney, involved 

civic leader, and philanthropist always looking 

for ways to give back to his community. 

Although born in Salt Lake City, Michael 

was a Texan at heart. He was raised in Sherman, Texas and went on to graduate with a 

Bachelor of Science from the University of 

Texas at Arlington in 1974 and the Dedman 

School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 1977. His academic excellence in law 

school earned him the American Jurisprudence Award and membership with the Journal of Air Law & Commerce. After graduation, 

Michael practiced with various firms before deciding to start his own firm, Barrett Daffin 

Frappier Turner & Engel, in 1990. As the 

founder and Chairman, he turned this Texasbased company into one of the nation’s leading mortgage banking law firms. He was a pioneer and a leader of the mortgage banking industry, serving as a trusted advisor on mortgage banking issues for the Texas Supreme 

Court and Texas Legislature. 

Aside from his professional career, Michael 

was an enthusiastic supporter of many local 

nonprofit organizations and causes like the 

Addison Police Department and veterans support groups. His generosity extended to nonprofits such as Hope’s Door, KickStart, Dallas 

Junior Forum, and the Special Olympics. In 

2007, Michael founded the BDF Homeworks 

Foundation, which encourages employees to 

become more involved in their local community by providing volunteer and contribution 

opportunities. Not only did this provide valuable financial support to nonprofits, but also 

boosted the esprit de corps among employees. 

Michael was always full of life and had an 

amazing ability to captivate people’s attention 

with his stories. He was as wise as he was 

generous and loving. He cared deeply for his 

friends and family and will be greatly missed. 

May the peace of God be with those he loved 

and sustain them through this hour of sorrow. 

TRIBUTE TO OLIVER B. CONOVER 

UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM 

THE LEHIGH ACRES CHAMBER 

OF COMMERCE 

HON. CONNIE MACK OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 

Mr. MACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

honor Mr. Oliver ‘‘Ollie’’ Conover of Lehigh 

Acres, Florida upon his retirement from the 

Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce. 

Ollie served as the Executive Director of the 

Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce for the 

last seven years, and during that time, has 

helped to make the Chamber an influential organization in Lehigh Acres. 

Ollie’s community and public service didn’t 

start with the Chamber, however. Ollie served 

in the Ordnance Corps in the U.S. Army and 

continued on to serve in the Reserves when 

his active duty service was completed. 

Ollie’s subsequent professional career 

spanned 22 years as an insurance agent and 

broker, and 25 years in non-profit fundraising 

for educational and cultural organizations. It’s 

this unique experience that made him wellsuited to take the helm of the Lehigh Acres 

Chamber of Commerce in 2002. 

Since moving to Lehigh Acres 10 years ago, 

and serving with the Chamber for the last 

seven, Ollie has made an indelible mark on a 

community that is growing by leaps and 

bounds. In fact, Ollie has joined a number of 

community officials and activists on the Lehigh 

Acres Community Planning Corporation to put 

together a master plan for controlling the substantial growth in the area. Ollie’s leadership 

and guidance on the issue of controlling Lehigh’s growth while expanding opportunities 

for residents and businesses will undoubtedly 

leave a lasting impact on the Corporation, its 

members and the people of Lehigh Acres. 

Madam Speaker, Ollie’s enthusiasm and 

passion for serving his community is inspiring. 

His efforts have helped to make Southwest 

Florida a great place to live, work and visit. It 

is truly an honor and a privilege to represent 

Ollie in the U.S. House of Representatives, 

and I wish Ollie and his family all the best during his retirement. 

f 

INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL 

ELECTION INTEGRITY ACT OF 2009 

HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, 

I rise today to introduce the Federal Election 

Integrity Act of 2009. This legislation would 

take the long-overdue step of prohibiting chief 

state election officials from taking part in the 

political campaigns of Federal candidates in 

elections over which the officials have supervisory authority. 

As a former President of the League of 

Women Voters in San Diego and a proud 

American voter myself, I know that election officials are entrusted with a crucial responsibility for our democracy. Their only allegiance 

must be to the will of the voters, not to partisan political agendas. 

I think we can all agree that an inherent 

conflict of interest exists when a state’s chief 

election official is responsible for monitoring 

and certifying the results of a Federal election 

while actively participating in the campaign of 

one of the candidates in that election. 

In recent years, multiple Secretaries of State 

have captured national attention and incited 

great controversy because of their political involvement in elections they were responsible 

for overseeing. 

Although such individuals may be honorable 

public servants with no improper intentions, it 

is of the utmost importance for the integrity of 

our democracy that we provide legal safeguards to ensure the public trust is never violated. 

This is not a partisan issue. The record 

shows that officials of both parties have in the 

past held these two types of positions simultaneously. Rather, this is an issue of preserving 

the American people’s faith in the integrity of 

our democracy. 

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to offer this important legislation to protect the public’s trust in the electoral process. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF RON 

SHELTON, NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION’S CHAIRMAN 

OF THE BOARD FOR 2009 

HON. PETE SESSIONS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to honor Ron Shelton, elected Chairman 

of the Board for 2009 for the National Apartment Association (NAA). 

Ron has been a part of the multi-family 

housing industry for twenty-eight years. His 

career began with Lincoln Property Company 

where he started as a part-time grounds person while attending the University of Texas at 

Arlington. He quickly moved up the ranks into 

a leadership role that oversaw properties in 

Dallas and Houston before leaving to become 

Vice President of Operations for SBC Realty 

Company in 1989. Since then, he dedicated 

thirteen years to the Apartment and Investment Management Company (AIMCO) and 

subsequently moved over to Amalgamated 

Management Corporation. 

Ron is committed to quality rental housing 

and meeting the housing needs of the public. 

He has served in numerous roles such as 

chairing the New Technology Task Force, 

President of the Apartment Association of 

Greater Dallas and the NAA’s Education Institute. His career exemplifies his enthusiasm for 

NAA’s mission. As Chairman Elect, Ron’s hard 

work, skills, and insight garnered from his 

many years of experience will greatly benefit 

the NAA. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my esteemed colleagues to join me in expressing our best 

wishes to him on this special day. 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with REMARKS