Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-05-29

HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES WOOD

EnvironmentCrime & Justice

Context

On 2026-05-29, Representative Mike Levin (D-CA-49) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES WOOD" in the House.

Full Text

HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES WOOD

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E500] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES WOOD ______ HON. MIKE LEVIN of california in the house of representatives Friday, May 29, 2026 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of James Wood, of Oceanside, California, who passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 78. In honor of his passing, I pay tribute to and reflect on the life he led and the impact he had on our community in the 49th District. James Wood, or Jim, as he was known by all his friends, served the Oceanside community for more than four decades as a police officer, city councilmember, and mayor. Jim came to Oceanside as a young boy in 1955 and never left. He attended North Terrace Elementary School and Jefferson Junior High School and went on to graduate from Oceanside High School and MiraCosta College. Jim joined the Oceanside Police Department in 1971, serving more than 31 years as an investigator in some of the department's most demanding assignments, including homicide, narcotics, and crimes against children and seniors. He collaborated with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Services. Jim was elected to the Oceanside City Council in 2002 and became Mayor in 2004, a position he held for more than 13 years, and served one of the longest mayoral tenures in the city's history. Under his leadership, Oceanside's crime rates fell to their lowest levels in 30 years, and the city earned recognition as one of the safest and most livable beach communities in San Diego County. Jim was recognized for his lifetime of service when the City of Oceanside renamed Rancho Del Oro Park, as Jim Wood Community Park in 2022 in a wonderful ceremony attended by Jim, his wife Pam of 48 years, and his entire loving family. Jim is remembered as a dedicated public servant and a wonderful friend who has left behind a lasting legacy of prioritizing public safety, fighting crime, and protecting seniors. Jim Wood exhibited a deep love for the City of Oceanside and forged a legacy of service, commitment, and lasting bonds with the greater Oceanside community. He was a light to all who knew him and I share in the celebration of his life. ____________________

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HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES WOOD Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E500] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES WOOD ______ HON. MIKE LEVIN of california in the house of representatives Friday, May 29, 2026 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of James Wood, of Oceanside, California, who passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 78. In honor of his passing, I pay tribute to and reflect on the life he led and the impact he had on our community in the 49th District. James Wood, or Jim, as he was known by all his friends, served the Oceanside community for more than four decades as a police officer, city councilmember, and mayor. Jim came to Oceanside as a young boy in 1955 and never left. He attended North Terrace Elementary School and Jefferson Junior High School and went on to graduate from Oceanside High School and MiraCosta College. Jim joined the Oceanside Police Department in 1971, serving more than 31 years as an investigator in some of the department's most demanding assignments, including homicide, narcotics, and crimes against children and seniors. He collaborated with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Services. Jim was elected to the Oceanside City Council in 2002 and became Mayor in 2004, a position he held for more than 13 years, and served one of the longest mayoral tenures in the city's history. Under his leadership, Oceanside's crime rates fell to their lowest levels in 30 years, and the city earned recognition as one of the safest and most livable beach communities in San Diego County. Jim was recognized for his lifetime of service when the City of Oceanside renamed Rancho Del Oro Park, as Jim Wood Community Park in 2022 in a wonderful ceremony attended by Jim, his wife Pam of 48 years, and his entire loving family. Jim is remembered as a dedicated public servant and a wonderful friend who has left behind a lasting legacy of prioritizing public safety, fighting crime, and protecting seniors. Jim Wood exhibited a deep love for the City of Oceanside and forged a legacy of service, commitment, and lasting bonds with the greater Oceanside community. He was a light to all who knew him and I share in the celebration of his life. ____________________