WHEREAS, Paul C. Smedberg, a leading advocate for the members of the Alexandria community, diligently served his fellow residents on the Alexandria City Council for five terms; and

WHEREAS, a 2001 Fellow of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, Paul Smedberg was first elected to the Alexandria City Council in 2003, becoming only the second openly gay man to be elected to public office in the history of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure on the Alexandria City Council, Paul Smedberg was a champion for fiscal responsibility and a passionate advocate for local public schools; using his collaborative style of leadership, he worked diligently to increase government efficiency while increasing the quality of life for all Alexandria residents; and

WHEREAS, as an Alexandria councilman, Paul Smedberg worked with affected residents and local officials to renegotiate agreements with the aging Mirant Plant, which had violated state emissions standards, ultimately leading to the plant's closure in 2012; and

WHEREAS Paul Smedberg co-chaired the City Council of Alexandria's Legislative Subcommittee and served on the Waterfront Commission, the Audit Committee, the Employee Pension and Compensation Committee, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Planning Committee; and

WHEREAS, a recognized expert on local and regional transportation concerns, Paul Smedberg served as co-chair of Alexandria's Transportation/Transit Corridor Study Group and continues to be a voice for traffic and pedestrian safety in city neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 2016, Paul Smedberg facilitated regional cooperation on complex transportation challenges as the Alexandria representative to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Paul Smedberg has also volunteered his leadership and expertise to the Virginia Railway Express Board of Directors since 2011, including terms as chair in 2013 and 2017, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission since 2012, including terms as chair in 2014 and 2018; and

WHEREAS, Paul Smedberg previously worked as a medical service volunteer at the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, D.C., and served on the boards of the local chapter of the American Red Cross and Senior Services of Alexandria; and

WHEREAS, Paul Smedberg has received many awards and accolades for his work, including a 2010 OUTstanding Virginian award from Equality Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Paul C. Smedberg hereby be commended for his decades of civic service to the City of Alexandria and the residents of Northern Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Paul C. Smedberg as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for his personal and professional achievements in service to the Commonwealth.