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WHEREAS, Linda Johnson-Wasler, the City Clerk of the City of Pittsburgh, will retire on March 14, 2014 after an esteemed career spanning thirty-five years of dedicated service; and
WHEREAS, Linda served as Deputy City Clerk beginning in 1982 and was promoted to the position of City Clerk in 1994, becoming the first minority woman to serve as City Clerk, and throughout her tenure Linda has garnered a reputation of being a world class clerk; and
WHEREAS, when Linda initiated employment service to the City, representatives of City Council were elected At-Large, but in 1990 a Home Rule Charter amendment changed Council's election structure to a By-District system, and throughout the transition of city government and thereafter, Linda has provided impartial wisdom and service to the Council and the residents of this city; and
WHEREAS, Linda has worked alongside numerous public officials in City government during her tenure as Assistant City Clerk and City Clerk, including Council Presidents Robert Rade Stone, Eugene "Jeep" DePasquale, Sophie Masloff, Ben Woods, Jack Wagner, Jim Ferlo, Gene Ricciardi, Bob O'Connor, Luke Ravenstahl, Douglas Shields, Darlene M. Harris and Bruce A. Kraus, as well many Council Members too numerous to mention; and
WHEREAS, Linda has also worked beside numerous Administrations, including Mayors Richard Caliguiri, Sophie Masloff, Tom Murphy, Bob O'Connor, Luke Ravenstahl, and most recently William Peduto; and
WHEREAS, Linda's contributions as City Clerk most notably include serving as overseer of the historic Council Chambers and the collection of City Archives dating back to the 1800's; and
WHEREAS, Linda is a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks; she served as the former Secretary of the State Democratic Party, is a Member of the City Democratic Committee and is Vice Chair of the 11th Ward; she is a congregation member of the New Life Church of God located in Greenfield, and has been involved in many civic organizations, and in 2013 Linda was awarded the distinguished Woman of Achievement Award from the Celebrate and Share Foundation; and
WHEREAS, while Linda has always enjoyed her work, her true passion is that of her family, and Linda and her husband Philip Wasler have an extended family that includes seven children and fifteen grandchildren, many of whom are here today;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby extend sincere gratitude to Linda Johnson-Wasler for her dedicated service to the City--as well as best wishes as she embarks on a new phase of life in what promises to be a happy, active and exciting retirement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare the week of March 9th - March 15th to be City Clerk Linda M. Johnson-Wasler Week in the City of Pittsburgh.