Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Budget Proposal submitted by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This budget delivers what the Republican budget promises--substantial and equal tax relief for all Americans. Over ten years, this budget would provide the American People's Dividend--$300 annually to every man, woman, and child, as long as the budget surplus exists. Many people may think that $300 is not a lot of money. But for a working family of four with two children, the Progressive Caucus budget represents an extra $1,200 that could be applied toward basic needs like school shoes, winter coats, and groceries. On the other hand, the Republicans have proposed giving 42 percent of the tax benefits to the wealthiest 1% of the population--essentially, a new luxury automobile. The bottom 95 percent would receive less than half of the benefit. The Progressive Caucus has focused upon spreading relief around equally, to help people to deal with the skyrocketing costs of housing, medicine, college education and other elements that we consider part of the American dream. The American people are fair people. The Progressive Caucus budget is a fair budget.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I stand in celebration of female health care professionals who are charged with the responsibility of caring for the young, the elderly, the sick and even maintaining the wellness of the hale and hearty. I stand today to salute the women who were not always recognized with a title, the women with healing skills who were for many years only known as mother, or sister, or daughter. For many generations there have been women with a special understanding of biology and illnesses who served as the healthcare providers of their communities. Mr. Speaker I would like to honor the female pioneers in the medical profession who trailblazed the way for women today to be called Nurse and Doctor. The first African-American woman to be called Doctor in the state of Ohio was Dr. Emma Ann Reynolds. In her career, Dr. Reynolds' was faced with the odds of treating communities with inferior health care facilities and limited access to materials. Nevertheless, she dreamed of improving health services for persons of African-American descent. Due to the laws and standards of the time, she was denied admission to many nursing and medical schools because of her race. Emma graduated from Wilberforce University in Greene County, Ohio and taught public school for seven years before her potential came to the attention of the prominent African-American surgeon, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, in 1891. Dr. Williams was inspired to establish Provident Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, an interracial institution which included medical care for the community in South Chicago, as well as a School of Nursing for men and women of all races. Emma graduated eighteen months later with a nursing degree. Yet, her goals propelled her even higher. Emma became the first woman and the first African-American to graduate with a M.D. from Northwestern University School of Medicine in 1895. Dr. Emma Ann Reynolds practiced medicine in Texas and Louisiana before returning home to care for her ailing parents and community in Chillicothe, Ohio in 1902. Some of the hardships and experiences of America's pioneers have not changed. Today African-American healthcare professionals are four times more likely to practice in socio-economically deprived areas that already have an alarming shortage of physicians and adequate medical facilities. They will toil in communities with disproportional numbers of people suffering from HIV and AIDS, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental illness. They will treat the sick and infirm who are not insured but cannot be left to suffer. We must remember the names and honor the dedication it requires to nurture communities of people with a scarcity of resources. Dr. Emma Ann Reynolds' legacy survives in the female nurses and doctors who practice medicine in hospitals and poor communities across the country. Her legacy lives on in Provident Hospital which still serves the South Chicago area. In celebration of the thousands of women who are nurses and doctors, who have benefited from the trail blazed by our health care pioneers, I say thank you for your work.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and to the previous speaker I would say, I am not the Wizard of Oz, I am Dorothy, and I am pulling the cloak off the wizard to let you know that the rule here, the disapproval resolution, does not only rescind the rule, it prohibits issuance of a similar rule. A bad rule. I am worried about my mother, 80 years old, who folded boxes for a company. Her hand looks like this. I have said this on the floor before. It is like this because she cannot move it as a result of the repetitive motion of folding a box. Let us make the argument that instead of just saving money for companies, we might save the health care costs for all these workers who are stuck like this, or stuck like this, from doing repetitive motion. Wake up, Republican Party. Understand that we are not saying Republican-Democrats. We are for workers. Democrat-Republican, black- white, male-female, old-young. Lifting a turkey? Lifting a turkey all day every day may present a problem. Women can lift babies, all women have lifted babies forever; but maybe that is the problem they have currently as a result of doing the repetitive motion. We are Dorothy, not the Wizard.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to discuss the steel crisis which has forced American steel producers like LTV Corporation in my city into bankruptcy. Today under the leadership of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), we will introduce, along with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the Steel Revitalization Act. The aim of this legislation is to aid American steel producers through import relief, legacy cost sharing, adjusting the Steel Loan Guarantee Program, and providing incentives to consolidate. We hope this legislation will help all steelworkers. The flood of illegally subsidized foreign steel into American markets have caused our companies to declare bankruptcy at alarming rates. I find it somewhat ironic that we are introducing the Steel Caucus package on the same day the House is expected to debate the bankruptcy reform. Estimates of the cost of the economic impact of losing LTV in Cleveland show that the steel maker pays $338 million in annual wages and salaries and $68 million in benefits. I urge my colleagues to support the Steel Revitalization Act and would press the House leadership to bring this legislation to the floor quickly.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I have to say that in the time that I have been in Congress, although 2 years and 60 days, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) has been one of my finest friends and has given me great instruction and guidance; but I want to be invited to be the speaker at the Black History Month breakfast next year.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution to reprint the book called Black Americans in Congress; and I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), for their insight and vision to do such a thing. I rise today to honor the contributions of black Americans in the Congress of the United States. In our collective history, the period of 1865 to 1877 marked reconstruction. The first African-American Member of Congress, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels from Mississippi, Republican, served in 1870 in the 41st Congress. Senator Revels was also the first black Member of Congress and the first black Member from Mississippi. Senator Revels began an illustrious tradition that has continued through this day. The History of Blacks in Congress was last published in 1989. It is now time to update this volume to reflect the work of individual Members of Congress, as well as the collective work of the Congressional Black Caucus over the past 12 years. In the 212 years of congressional history, African-American Members of Congress have shown that effective African-American leadership is more than simple expressiveness. It must deliver substance by opening up opportunities for the poor and powerless. It must enhance race relations but also hold accountable any group or individual that may seek to disenfranchise people of color. Hiram Revels and other 19th and 20th century black Members of Congress worked to ensure that representation of African Americans through the franchise, voting rights. At this point in our history, it is highly significant that we must continue to examine the systematic disenfranchisement of voters, most recently during the 2000 elections. Most African Americans who aspire to leadership in the post-civil rights era will understand what makes a difference in people's lives: Homes and safe neighborhoods, schools that teach our children, businesses that support economic growth and jobs in our communities, faith and community institutions. These matters are at the heart of much of the work of the Members of Congress, both black and white. But until our society prioritizes fairness, economic stability, health care, security for seniors, and education, advocacy on behalf of the poor and powerless need continue. African-American Members of Congress will continue to strongly advocate to ensure that our society evolves into a more perfect union. Again, I am so happy to join my colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and my other colleagues as we push to reprint Black Americans in Congress. This time maybe I will get printed in the program since I have managed to make it here, and am blessed to be here.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. I would like to commend my colleague, the great woman from the State of California (Ms. Millender- McDonald) for her insight in pushing such a resolution. Dr. Height exemplifies the best qualities of leadership as reflected in her six decades of work to improve the lives of other people. Dr. Height once stated we have to improve life, not just for those who have the most skills and those who know how to manipulate the system but also for and with those who often have so much to give but never get the opportunity. This philosophy has never been needed more than now, at this period of our history in the year 2001. Currently, we live in a period of unparalleled opportunity. However, there are many people who are unprepared to take advantage of these opportunities. At this time in our history, we must be mindful of the goals of Dr. Height's work to lift as we climb. Today, the Congressional Black Caucus held an historic hearing regarding electoral reform, the first hearing to be held after the November election debacle. Consistent with her words to improve life, we move to say we are not going to get over it; we cannot get over it, and Dr. Height would not want us to get over it. With Dr. Height's graduation from New York University in 1933, she earned a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in educational psychology. Not many opportunities were available to women and people of color. Her career then began to unfold and it represents the liberation of African America, of black African America, and the advance of women's rights and the struggle and effort to lift up the poor and powerless. She became a volunteer with the National Council of Negro Women and worked with Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, became President of that organization after Ms. Bethune's death. She worked closely with other great civil rights leaders. As a self-help advocate, Dr. Height has been instrumental in the initiation of NCNW-sponsored food. I close with this: I am proud to honor Dr. Height today; proud to be a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a national service sorority dedicated to providing assistance to those in need.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois very much, and I yield to my colleague, the gentleman from the great State of Maryland (Mr. Wynn).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on and to include therein extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas. I now call on my colleague, the gentlewoman from the great State of California (Ms. Lee).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, once again on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus we rise to celebrate Black History Month. As we said yesterday, this is a continuation of presentations from yesterday. Black History Month is an excellent time for reflection, assessment, and planning. A full understanding of our history is a necessary and crucial part of comprehending our present circumstances and crafting our future. I want to recognize, if she chooses to be recognized once again, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlewoman from the great State of Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson.)

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. If the gentleman will allow me to interrupt the gentleman, due to the large amount of people we have coming, I am going to ask my colleagues to try to restrict their comments to 3 to 5 minutes, please, and I thank the gentleman very much.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to take my last minute to wrap up. This has been a great pleasure for the past 2 days to have an opportunity to host a Special Order for Black History Month. We decided this year to focus specifically on the whole issue of voter reform and the history of voter disenfranchisement that has occurred in this country. If I have 30 seconds left, Mr. Speaker, I want to yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I thank the gentlewoman. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure at this time to yield to my colleague, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia. For the record, I support voting rights for the District of Columbia, as many of us do, and we are going to continue to work this year in this Congress to see that each of the residents of the District of Columbia have a vote and a voice. Mr. Speaker, let me just read a quote from the last black to leave Congress back in 1901, George Henry White, from North Carolina. He stood up on this very floor and declared, ``You have excluded us. You have taken away the right to vote, and so I am the last one to leave. This, Mr. Chairman, is perhaps the Negro's temporary farewell to the American Congress. But let me say, phoenix-like, he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words are on behalf of an outraged, heartbroken, bruised and bleeding but God-fearing people, a faithful, industrious, loyal people, rising people, full of potential force.'' With that quote, I yield to my colleague, the gentleman from the great State of Illinois (Mr. Rush). Just like the phoenix rising, he represents one of 37 African-American Members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn) for his comments. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Illinois (Mr. Davis). Mr. Speaker, I would like to also thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), because it was through his work that we were able to secure the hours to be able to have this Black History Month special order.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his comments. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from the State of North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone). He has stood up on this issue. Last year was my first term in the U.S. Congress, and there was not a greater voice on the issue of health care than that of the gentleman from New Jersey. I appreciate the gentleman yielding the balance of this hour as we celebrate Black History Month this year, and I thank the gentleman, who should let me know when he needs a speaker and I will be there for him. Mr. Speaker, Black History Month is an excellent time for reflection, assessment, and planning. A full understanding of our history is a necessary and crucial part of comprehending our present circumstances and crafting our futures. An understanding of our history helps illuminate and inform the present discussions concerning voter rights, particularly the travesty we recently witnessed in Florida, a social, political, and legal travesty ultimately sanctioned by the United States Supreme Court. At this time, the subject matter of our special order is black history. We are going to be talking about voting rights, and historically, the disenfranchisement that occurred through the years. It gives me great pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, in 1901, the last black to leave Congress as a result of the Jim Crow laws was George Henry White from North Carolina, who stood up on this floor and declared, ``you have excluded us. You have taken away the right to vote, and so I am the last one to leave.'' This, Mr. Speaker, is perhaps the Negro's temporary farewell to the American Congress. But let me say, Phoenix-like, he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words are on behalf of an outraged heart-broken, bruised and bleeding, but God-fearing people, fateful, industrious, loyal people, rising people, full of potential force. The Congressional Black Caucus, 37 strong, are the Phoenix that have risen up, just as George Henry White said back in 1901. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues have already said, we cannot get over it. Every time someone raises their voice to question the results of the most recent election, we are told to get over it. Well, I am not ready to get over it, and neither are millions of Americans who watched with horror as the votes of so many people were discounted, and the Supreme Court that we had every reason to hope would protect the rights of all citizens went out of its way to trample on those rights. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague, the gentleman from the great State of New Jersey (Mr. Payne).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, ``get over it; get over it.'' That is what those in power often say to people whose rights have been violated yet still have the audacity to raise their voice in protest. Get over it. We have heard that whenever our objections make it inconvenient for those in power to peacefully relish the fruits of their wrongdoing. But it is important that this Nation understand why so many people cannot get over this one. The inability to get over it is not based upon stubbornness or misdirected anger or a victim mentality or an eagerness to play the race card. It is the logical and understandable by-product of years, decades, and even centuries of concerted efforts to disenfranchise minority voters in this country. We must not look at this as an isolated incident, a fluke, or an aberration because it is not. Instead, we must view it in its proper historical context. When we do this, we see why the debacle in Florida is the latest, but certainly not the only example of why the long struggle to win the franchise is not over. Attempts by blacks to gain the right to vote go back even back before the Civil War. We have already heard some of the testimony and statements given my colleagues, and I note that I have been joined by another one of my colleagues, who I would like to give an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Speaker, I yield time to my colleague, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Hilliard).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, as we continue this special order, many want to know why we have chosen to focus in on the electoral forum and to replay what happened in Florida. It is history. It is history that many of us lived through. It is a history that we do not want our young people in this country to forget. It is a history where we want to encourage those who are out listening to us to remember how precious the vote is, to not be discouraged and not feel that we cannot talk about this, to not think that their vote does not count. We should be more encouraged that now more than ever we must bring all of our people to the polls. We must turn out as many as we can. We must educate our people on the issues that are coming to the ballot. There is not a Presidential election again for 4 years, but there will be elections in every city and State over the next 4 years and we must have our voice heard. Attempts by blacks to gain the right to vote go back before the Civil War. In the 40 years prior to the Civil War, none of the new States that joined the Union recognized black voting rights. By 1869, 4 years after the Civil War had ended, only 6 northern States had extended the franchise and no State with a large black population had accepted the notion of black suffrage. Obviously prior to the Civil War, none of the slave States granted the vote to blacks. Following the Civil War, the Federal Government made numerous efforts to expand suffrage rights to blacks. Southern States intimidated and blocked newly freed slaves from voting by using literacy tests, the grandfather clause, poll taxes, ``white primaries,'' and other schemes. Southern States did all in their power to continue to subjugate their former slaves. Only when the Federal Government stepped in and sent Federal troops into the South were blacks able to vote. Nevertheless white Southerners continued their efforts to recapture political control of State governments. Recognizing the vote as the great equalizer, they immediately set about undermining the 15th Amendment. In ``From Freedom to Slavery,'' noted historian John Hope Franklin cataloged a number of tactics used during that period that are disturbingly similar to some of the things that we saw in Florida: ``Elaborate and confusing election schemes, complicated balloting processes, and highly centralized election codes were all statutory techniques by which blacks were disenfranchised,'' he wrote. Sounds familiar, does it not. The Hayes-Tilden deal of 1876 sold out blacks and signaled that the Federal rights to protect the former slaves would yield to States rights, which would put blacks at the mercy of hostile State governments. That deal nullified the 15th Amendment and restored exclusive political controls to whites. The ingenuity of opponents of the franchise for black Americans is what prompted the United States Supreme Court, in a series of voting rights cases, to remind the Nation that ``The 15th Amendment nullified sophisticated as well as simple-minded modes of discrimination.'' Nonetheless, efforts at disenfranchisement continued throughout the first half of the century necessitating Congress to enact the 1957 Voting Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Those laws aimed at protecting the voting rights of African Americans were passed after a long and shameful orgy of lynchings, capped by the assassinations of Harry T. Moore in Florida, Medger Evers, Michael Schwerner, James E. Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Viola Liuzzo in Mississippi. There is one major difference, however, between past disenfranchisements and what we saw in Florida. Traditionally, we could generally count on the Federal Government, particularly the Supreme Court, to step in and stop the rampant violations of minority voting rights in this country. Sadly, that is no longer the case. In our last election, our U.S. Supreme Court not only failed and refused to protect voting rights, it used a ludicrous constitutional argument to actively thwart voting rights, and in so doing validated the obnoxious tactics we watched with such horror. Knowing this, why are people so surprised that so many of us look at the Florida situation not as a fluke but as a continuation of a pattern of disenfranchisement? Anyone looking at this in the context of the history of voting rights in this country would understand why we will not just get over it. We will not just get over it. We will not just get over it. I thank my colleagues for listening and participating in this Special Order on black history and voter reform and the history of voting in our country.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a part of a celebration of the Cuyahoga County Bar's Association 55th annual government service merit awards luncheon. On Friday, in Cleveland, Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Bar Association will recognize public servants who have given at least 25 years of service in the public arena. I would like to briefly go through and say a little bit about each of the persons who are going to be recognized. The first, Sandy Patton Campbell in the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office. Since 1974, she has been an employee of the office of the prosecutor. Since 1999, she has been the administrative secretary to the person who nominated her, County Prosecutor William Mason. Mr. Mason is my successor. I previously served as a Cuyahoga County prosecutor and had the opportunity to supervise Sandy Patton Campbell, and she did a wonderful job. The second person, Carolyn Cervenak, she works in the Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations. She is the assignment commissioner nominated by the Domestic Relations Administrative Judge Timothy Flanagan, and she is the person whose name is often spoken of at the court. Not only does she supervise the initial processing of newly filed cases, she is also in charge of the processing of pre- and post-decree motions. The third person, Albin T. Chesnik, is in the clerk's office of the Court of Common Pleas. He has worked there since 1973 and it is the only full-time employer he has ever had. That employer is Gerald E. Fuerst, the clerk of courts. Mr. Chesnik is the chief clerk for the Eighth District Court of Appeals and is responsible for maintaining the court's dockets and files and supervising data entry. The fourth person, William Danko, he has been employed by the General Division of the Common Pleas Court most recently as a court administrator. Again, I had the pleasure, when I served as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, to have Mr. Danko as the administrator, where he did a fine job. It gives me great pleasure to celebrate him today. The fifth person, Linda Frolick in the Cuyahoga County Probate Court. She is the deputy clerk in the psychiatric department and has been with the Probate Court for the past 30 years. Her nominator is presiding Judge John J. Donnelly. The sixth person, Mary G. Gambosi of the Shaker Heights Municipal Court since 1975, she has worked for either the Shaker Heights Law Department or the Municipal Court, nominated by Municipal Court Judge K.J. Montgomery. The next person, Richard Graham of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Court Division, nominated by Judge Peter Sikora, he has been an employee at the Juvenile Court since 1973, advancing through the series of positions to his current title of chief magistrate and judicial counsel. Again, I am able to say that I had an opportunity to work closely with Mr. Graham when I served as a Cuyahoga County prosecutor and would like to personally congratulate him. The ninth person, Yvonne C. Wood, United States Bankruptcy Court since 1969, she served in the Northern District of Ohio, nominated by Judge Randolph Baxter. She is now the deputy clerk in charge managing an office staff of 23 persons trained in preparing budgets, providing administrative tasks, and interacting with the public. Finally, Frances Zagar of the Eighth District Court nominated by Judge Ann Dyke. He has worked since 1977, been a judicial secretary at the Eighth Appellate District Court. Currently serving for Judge Terrence O'Donnell, her duties include editing and preparing journal entries for circulation to other judges. It gives me great pleasure, in light of the fact that I represent the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, to celebrate all of these public servants who have given of their time and energy on behalf of the public. Congratulations to each and every one of them, and I will provide them with a copy of the Congressional Record. Sandy Patton Campbell--Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office Since 1974, Sandra Patton Campbell, has been an employee of the office of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. Since 1999, she has been the Administrative Secretary to the man who nominated her, County Prosecutor William D. Mason. Sandy is responsible for a myriad of tasks from, among others, making appointments for her boss to preparing correspondence and pleadings to maintaining bank accounts to preparing and processing office vouchers and employee time sheets to helping with the extradition of defendants from other states. She takes pride in helping the office become modernized. She recalls helping the Prosecutor's office in its first attempts to computerize more than 20 years ago and takes pride in her efforts in assisting such new programs as the Community Based Prosecution Program in East Cleveland. Married to Thomas Campbell since 1988, Sandy, the mother of Thomas and Mary Kate, is a graduate of Our Lady of Angels School and St. Joseph Academy. She continues to be active as a coach for her children and those of others at Our Lady of Angels and St. Mark's. She enjoys being a working Mom. Sandy spends her time involved in any kind of sport, making crafts, decorating and shopping. Carolyn Cervenak--Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations Assignment Commissioner Carolyn Cervenak, nominated by Domestic Relations Administrative Judge Timothy M. Flanagan, is, perhaps, the person whose name is most spoken at the Court. Not only does she supervise the initial processing of newly-filed cases, she also is in charge of the processing of pre- and post-decree motions and the scheduling of hearings in front of more than a dozen motion and support magistrates. She also serves as Network Administrator of the Division's computer system and was Project Manager in implementing the Case Management System. A graduate of St. Augustine Academy, Carolyn joined the Court after service as a claims processor at an insurance company and as a secretary to an attorney. Carolyn and her husband of over three decades, Richard, are the parents of Scott, Robb and Cindy. Carolyn is an active member of a woman's investment group and enjoys cooking classes (and cooking). She also attends special classes in computers and database technology to insure that she will acquit herself well of her position as ``Computer Czar'' for the Court. Carolyn recalls one incident, some years ago, when a fellow employee was filing and was startled by someone coming up behind her. She thought it was a co-worker who liked to bother her and reacted by shouting ``What are ya' doin', pervert!'' Carolyn remembers her colleague's shock in turning around to find not the other individual, but instead Judge Flanagan, who cordially (and jokingly) invited the startled employee to get her discharge notice from the Court Administrator's office. Albin T. Chesnik--Clerk's Office, Common Pleas Court Albin T. Chesnik works now, as he has since 1973, for the only full time employer he has ever had, the Common Pleas Court's Clerk's Office. Nominated by Clerk Gerald E. Fuerst, Albin is Chief Clerk for the 8th District Court of Appeals and is responsible for maintaining that Court's dockets and files and supervising data entry of filings in the appellate court. Beyond that, he insures that there is coordination between filings in the 8th District with the necessary filings in the trail courts and the Supreme Court of Ohio and coordinates the return of files to the trial courts for proceedings consistent with the decisions issued at the appellate level. After graduation from St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford, Albin attended Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University. In his spare time, Albin enjoys model railroading and railroad photography and is proud of his collection of thousands of slides he has taken in his travels around the country. William Danko--Court of Common Pleas, General Division Since 1972, William Danko has been employed by the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas, most recently as the Court Administrator, where he takes charge of non-judicial employees and their compliance with court policies and procedures, is liaison for the Court with other courts and governmental agencies, prepares the court's annual budget, performs human resources functions and a myriad of other responsibilities. Prior to his current position, Presiding and Administrative Judge Richard J. McMonagle's nominee served in a variety of positions from scheduler to project coordinator, among others. After receiving his bachelor's degree from John Carroll University, William received graduate degrees in social work and law, from Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University. Prior to his tenure at the Common Pleas Court, he was employed at Catholic Family & Children's Services and at Parmadale Children's Village. William is proud to have been married to his wife Mary Lou since 1966, and they are the parents of two adult children, Michael and Kristen. William is active in professional organizations of court administrators and a number of diocesan organizations and is a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 1992. Linda Frolick--Cuyahoga County Probate Court Linda Frolick, Deputy Clerk in the Psychiatric Department, has been with the Probate Court for the past thirty years. Her nominator, Presiding Judge John J. Donnelly, writes that she is ``a conscientious and willing member'' of the staff. Mary Jane Gambosi--Shaker Heights Municipal Court Since 1975, Mary Jane Gambosi, nominated by Shaker Heights Municipal Court Judge K.J. Montgomery, has worked for either the Shaker Heights City Law Department or the Shaker Heights Municipal Court. In her position as Administrative Manager of the Court, she plans, organizes and directs the Court's activities, keeps the judge's calendar, coordinates the judge, acting judges and magistrates, deals with the public, handles human resources, prepares the budget and has, from time-to-time, been involved in almost every non-judicial activity of the Court. Mary Jane is active in various local and state organizations for court clerks and administrators and also has helped her bosses in the administrative work of their professional organizations. A graduate of Maple Heights High School, Mary Jane has been married for over 40 years to Frank, and they have three adult children: Frank, Mary Catherine and Theresa Ann. Previously honored by the City of Shaker Heights for her years of public service, Mary Jane, in her spare time enjoys swimming, golf, travel, music, dancing, computer classes, and, most of all, her nine grandchildren. She takes pride in solving problems, although she was a little taken aback when an elderly lady asked for permission to come into the secure area where Mary Jane's office was located, after which that lady lifted her skirt above her head to get to funds she had ``stored'' in her lingerie prior to using those funds to pay a traffic ticket. Richard T. Graham--Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Court Division Nominated by Juvenile Court Administrative Judge Peter Sikora, Richard Graham has been an employee at the Juvenile Court since 1973 (with one short hiatus), advancing through a series of positions to his current title of Chief Magistrate and Judicial Counsel. Prior to this position, Richard served in other positions, including Director of Legal Services and Referee. He supervises the Court's magistrates, helps develop and update procedures, provides advice to the judges and magistrates and helps implement new law as they are promulgated from Columbus. Raised in St. Clairsville, Ohio, Richard received his undergraduate degree at Ashland University and his law degree from Cleveland State University. He and his wife, Diane, to whom he has been married since 1973, are the parents of Brent and Adam. Now retired from a long-time commitment as a soccer referee for youth soccer leagues, Richard enjoys golf, cooking and computers. Yvonne C. Wood--United States Bankruptcy Court Since 1969, Yvonne C. Wood has served at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Nominated by Bankruptcy Judge Randolph Baxter, Yvonne is now the Deputy Clerk in Charge, managing an office staff of 23 in training those staff members, preparing a budget, performing administrative tasks and interacting with the public. Yvonne rose to her current position from service as an Intake Clerk, Docket Clerk and Case Administrator. Raised in McMinnville, Tennessee, Yvonne is the mother of Ericha and enjoys cooking and gardening. She cites the reward of activities in which one can see the ``fruits'' of one's labor. Frances Zagar--Eighth District Court of Appeals Nominated by Chief Judge Ann Dyke, Frances Zagar has, since 1977, been a Judicial Secretary at the 8th Appellate District, Court of Appeals of Ohio. Currently serving for Judge Terrence O'Donnell, her duties include edit and preparing journal entries for circulation to other judges, tracking case status, data entry and any other tasks required of her. For over 40 years, she was married to William, who passed away in October 1997, and she still finds his loss devastating. William was in advertising and art, and Frances treasures his oils and watercolors. She is fond of bridge, her cats and music. Prior to assisting Judge O'Donnell, Frances is proud to have worked for now-retired Judges Thomas Parrino and Blanche Krupansky. She maintains close contact with her ``wonderful, fun'' family and still can count on them, including her identical twin, Catherine. She is pleased that the statute of limitations has passed and that she can now confess that her sister took a course in high school for her and that she and her sister are still so close that, on a vacation, they brought the same books to read and that they have even separately ordered the same dress from a catalogue.