"Connie worked tirelessly in all corners of the state, always taking time to listen to constituents and to help them find solutions to their different problems."

"She was a pioneer who gave of herself without reservation, devoting her life to improving the lives of others, especially those with the greatest needs. In doing so, she raised the bar for public service in Orange County and beyond."

"I believe in public service, and to me public service is: You serve the public, not the other way around."

"She was a mentor and dear friend who has left an enduring legacy."

"Connie loved her family, both immediate and extended. She enjoyed nothing more than welcoming all into the home she and John shared on beautiful Glen Lake. Kids and grandkids were always coming and going, with swimming and boating, and many conversations and meals together."

"I’m not a liberal or a conservative. I look at the issues and make decisions based on what I believe."

"All of Connie Binsfeld’s life was devoted to children and families, particularly children in need."

"I have a vested interest in what goes on here. She went on to add that the members of the council worked together to serve the entire community, even though we disagree at times."

"Interviewer: In a newspaper article that I glanced at, you mention that a woman’s voice was needed in the government, and I wanted to know what you meant by woman’s voice. What could a woman bring? Georgette Berube: I think a woman can bring a little more sensitivity to particularly issues like childcare, education. Not that men are insensitive, but they don’t view it the same way as a woman might. And I think that women proved that they could also handle budget issues. In fact a very dear friend of mine who was a colleague who chaired, was the house chairman of appropriations back in ’78, I guess, or ‘80, ‘76, ‘78, which was unheard of, a woman did not chair the appropriations committee. So you break the barrier, but you have to do it carefully, you have to put your best foot forward and do it with dignity. And if you go up there and slam things around, that doesn’t go with the general public."

"Interviewer: How did your becoming involved impact your family life? You mentioned that you’d already had two children. Georgette Berube: Yes, my son was four at the time, he was younger than my daughter. It didn’t impact because I was home every night. Now it would be a little more difficult because I serve for example on two committees and that takes me, I stay there a little longer during the day, but I only had one committee assignment the first time I was there. And you really get very busy only toward the end of the session, like April and May, in the first year of the two-year term. And there was always someone here when the children came home from school. I had a housekeeper then who came in every morning. She’d leave when I got home or my husband got home."

"What I will do is change their minds…. If I can’t change them, then I will have to work with them."

"Rachel had definite opinions on just about any topic and had little trouble expressing herself. On the subject of women’s fashion, she was delighted to see women shortening their skirts so they no longer swept dusty, dirty streets."

"If smoking were abolished it would be a benefit to mankind. It’s all nonsense about tobacco quieting the nerves. If the men did not use it they would not be nervous."

"I like to keep up with the fashions, but I had enough of long skirts when I was a girl. My dresses suit me fine when they’re just a little below the knee, and I hope sincerely that styles never take the hemline to the ankle again."

"Being without a home should not mean being without an education. Yet that is what homelessness has meant for far too many of our children and youth today; red tape, lack of information, and bureaucratic delays that result in their missing school and missing the chance at a better life."

"Yet she had no intention of retiring to a quiet life. She never wanted to be just an old lady with nothing to do."

"Part of it was not so much to be able to prove everything. Because we don't know that we can prove ... it was to go back to the motherland to see if she could trace where she believes her ancestors came from. Walk the walk that they walked. Go to the places where they might have had to be held."

"It turned out to be very emotional."

"We all have a story, and especially as African Americans, we've contributed much to the making of America. In some way — whether your great grandmother was enslaved in South Carolina, whether your grandfather was a sharecropper — all of them have played a role in what America is today."

"I don't know what I expected, but I don't know if I was prepared [for the result]. It showed that I'm actually related to a woman I've been writing about."

"Whether they are in a motel or jumping from couch to couch, these kids need help."

"I'm still kind of overwhelmed by just the whole story. Even looking through the census records I felt some kind of sadness that I could only go so far. Even when I tried to go back further, all I could find was records that said 'free colored' or 'slaves.' There were no names attached to those people, so we weren't even counted."

"So, if you have time, and you have the passion, then take the time to go find out more about your family."

"Connie lived an unbelievable, full life and was successful at everything she did. She was a thoughtful, kind, generous person who just happened to make a lot of history in a rather remarkable career."

"She would say you just have to deal with life on life's terms and do the best you can. That is all that anyone can expect."

"I was 24 years old when I became a widow, and I think about all those mothers who have husbands in Iraq. It will be harder for them than it was for me. I always said that if anything happened to my husband I would take the kids up North. I thought they would have a higher quality education."

"Things are going so backwards in Milwaukee, makes you wish for those days to come back."

"I supported them. I thought what they were doing was correct."

"She was a great supporter when we started the child-abuse laws."

"On a professional level, my law firm also enacts her philosophy. If we make Lucille proud, I know we’re doing our job and making good on our mission statement."

"And she taught her family to persevere as she did."

"It was a lot of hard work, And I knew I wasn’t going to win. There are two kinds of power: money power and people power. If you don’t have the money, you can still win with people."

"Nevada faces unique challenges given its rapid growth and an increasingly diverse community. These challenges require dynamic leadership combined with the ability to achieve political consensus to meet the needs of our state. I believe my varied experiences have helped me develop the qualifications necessary to serve as an effective secretary of state."

"She got her way more than she ever lost. She was a very tough woman. She could handle herself in any situation and you didn't have to mince words around her."

"She had a great sense of fairness"

"I want change for my grandchildren."

"I’m never afraid to walk the streets of Milwaukee."

"Representing the people of this area has been the great honor of my lifetime. I can never thank them enough for their kindnesses towards me, their generosity with their ideas, their patience when we don’t see eye-to-eye, and their deep love of community and country."

"She was a real defender of the women legislators. She was a beautiful person. She was kind and she was sensitive and yet, she was tough."

"It came down to wanting somebody that would truly be a partner who I could work with. I knew she was a very effective campaigner. She was also somebody who believed we could win."

"Carol Berman was a hardworking public official who continued to benefit the community long after her service as a senator."

"My mother lived a wonderful life. On hundred years is a lot to cover."

"Ms. Berman developed relationships with governors, county executives, school districts and political representatives as well as sports and entertainment notables."

"I can only say, as former president of the Mill Brook Civic Association, Carol was always there for us with issues that affected us. You could always reach out to Carol and she was quick to respond. She was a very warm and caring person, and will be greatly missed."

"She lived an extraordinary life. Carol had this unending warmth of kindness, and I can see how she got things done … (She was) a leader to be reckoned with."

"She had many firsts, even though the Dodgers deserted Brooklyn. My mother empowered me to have an interesting and fun career. She has empowered our whole family and many people who knew her."

"Thank you for everything, Mom . . . love you forever."

"Her dedication to professional development led to many leadership roles in varied vocational and special-education related community services."