Watch Betty Deliver the Statement

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-4) delivered the following statement on the House floor in support of H.R. 6229, which names the Post Office located at 2523 – Seventh Avenue East in North Saint Paul, Minnesota after the late William “Bill” Sandberg, the longtime mayor of North Saint Paul.

“I want to thank the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for bringing this bill to the floor.  I also want to thank my colleagues in the Minnesota delegation for their support as original cosponsors of this bill.

“Naming this post office in honor of Bill Sandberg is a fitting tribute to a dedicated public servant, a successful businessman, and wonderful human being.

“Bill was loved by the residents of North St. Paul. He was also my dear friend and a political mentor.  A committed Republican, Mayor Sandberg took me under his wing and instilled in me the lesson that community always comes before politics.

“William Sandberg was born in the Selby-Grand neighborhood of Saint Paul in 1932.  His family later moved to North Saint Paul where he lived the remainder of his life. Bill graduated from North Saint Paul High School and the University of Minnesota.

“After serving our country with honor in the U.S. Army, Bill returned home to the family business, Sandberg Funeral Home, with his brother Paul. As funeral director, he was respected by his peers and a true business leader.

“In 1978, the voters of North Saint Paul elected Bill Sandberg to serve as mayor. With a fatherly hand, he guided the city for 30 years sharing his warmth, optimism and generous spirit with everyone he encountered. A person of great faith, Bill always sought to bring people together in a constructive way to solve the problems of the community. 

“As mayor, Bill Sandberg’s legacy is one of exemplary public service, distinguished by common sense, fairness and compassion. I was honored to serve under his leadership on the North Saint Paul City Council and worked closely with him in the following years. I learned room Bill’s leadership that the political maxim “all politics are local” was true – whether you served on a school board or in Congress.

“Mayor Bill Sandberg passed away on April 20th, 2008.  He left behind a colleagues, city staff and constituents who loved him. He also left behind loving family members who miss him – his daughter Karen, son-in-law Jack,  and his grandchildren Carolyn and William. Bill’s wife, Delores, who he loved profoundly, preceded him in death.

“Mayor Bill Sandberg loved the people he served. Upon learning of his leukemia diagnose, Bill wrote a letter to the residents of North St. Paul. His letter speaks volumes about the great leader he was. I would now like to enter Mayor Sandberg’s letter into the Congressional Record.

“In his letter, Bill acknowledged his illness and expressed his deep pride for the community of North Saint Paul – a pride that came directly from neighbors coming together to meet the city’s challenges. Bill also wrote of his sincere gratitude for having had the opportunity to serve the people of his city for so many years.

“I would like to conclude with Bill’s words to the people of North Saint Paul:

“I’d like to thank everyone, again, for making this town a very special place to live and raise families. I do not know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future!”

“At the time of this death, Mayor Bill Sandberg was the longest-serving mayor in Minnesota.

“His spirit and service are irreplaceable. For all who knew and worked with him, the blessing of his friendship is a treasure for us all. Recognizing Mayor Sandberg’s service and leadership by naming this post office in his honor is a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the community he loved.”

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-4) serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

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