Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the Connie Morella Library Ribbon-Cutting and Renaming Ceremony
7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda
As prepared
Good morning! It is a pleasure to be here today.
Believe it or not, this is the second library we have opened in less than two weeks. Earlier last week, on April 2, we cut the ribbon for the refreshed White Oak Library.
Thank you to our General Services team - under the leadership of David Dise - for all their hard work. They are completing projects, on time and within budget.
I also want to thank Anita and the entire library staff for all their great work.
Together, we came up with the plan to refresh our buildings, but it is our County Council, some of whom are standing behind me, who make sure that the funds are available, so we can build our libraries and do the work we need to do.
It is a team effort. One of our most important team members is you. No library is successful without you. We can build beautiful and efficient buildings, but you are what makes our libraries special.
As you go inside today, you will see a good-looking new library. You will see a new circulation desk, new ceiling tiles, floor and roof, upgraded lighting, dual drinking fountains and enhanced entrances.
The exterior of the library has been renovated with an ADA-compliant driveway and walkways.
One of the exciting changes that you see today is that the library has a new name. For the first time, you will get to use the new Connie Morella Library!
Our library is a resource for learning and literacy and Connie Morella is an educator, who loves learning and literacy.
Our libraries are community pillars; and Connie Morella is a pillar of the community.
She served Montgomery County as a devoted public servant in the Maryland General Assembly from 1979 to 1986 and represented Maryland’s 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2003.
She represented the United States in Paris as an Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
She has worked tirelessly for equal rights for women, children and families; and advocated for human rights around the world.
She led efforts to promote economic growth through science and technology serving as a member of the House Committee on Science and Chairperson for the Subcommittee on Technology.
Throughout her career as a public servant, Connie’s thoughtfulness and courageousness have stood out – in fact, these are the qualities we need in our future leaders, who face the challenges of twenty-first century America.
We are blessed in Montgomery County to have her as our advocate and cherished friend.
Connie is my respected colleague; and I am proud to dedicate this great community asset in her honor.
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Release ID: 18-022Saturday, April 14; 10 a.m.