City Councilman Retires, Relocates
The Laurel History Boys are saddened by the resignation of Laurel City Councilman Carl DeWalt, who also served on our Board of Directors. DeWalt has retired and moved out of state to spend more time with his family. He’s been planning the move since last Fall and the timing was right this month to do it. Anyone who has coordinated selling a house and buying a new one will understand this. Leaving the town he loves was not an easy decision.
Contrary to rumors being spread by those who opposed him during his tenure on the council, DeWalt’s health is fine. He asked Voices of Laurel to thank everyone who texted or emailed good wishes since his announcement. He expressed much appreciation for his constituents who supported his many initiatives on the council.
His one regret, he told us, was that he left before he saw the Mayor’s office and City Council evolve into the nonpartisan legislative body that it could be, with the city’s progress its priority, not personal gain.
DeWalt was a three-term Laurel City Councilman since retiring from the Laurel Police Department after 28 years. He is a member of the Laurel Lions Club, Laurel Board of Trade, Laurel Historical Society, and American Legion Post 60, and a past president of Laurel FOP Lodge 11. He is a 30-year supporter of Maryland Special Olympics.
But more than that, he deeply cared about Laurel and its people. DeWalt seemed to be everywhere, always lending a hand to any community project, whether it was city-sponsored or not. He provided his personal cell phone number to anyone who asked. People in need of assistance or advice often would knock on his door or approach him in his front yard.
He said that his proudest achievement was being a three-time recipient of the Lelia McCeney Memorial Award for unselfish devotion to others. He fondly remembered the award’s namesake, who frequently made baked goods for the city’s public servants, and said that he feels honored to be mentioned in the same breath as her. After retiring from the police, DeWalt says, he wanted to live up to the McCeney honor by continuing to give back to Laurel.
Three issues stand out among his priorities on the City Council:
Along with former Councilman Martin Mitchell, DeWalt championed a city-wide rent stabilization act. He felt that having a rent-stabilization law specifically for the city would enhance protection of its tenant residents, “especially our most vulnerable seniors and individuals with disabilities,” regardless of what actions are taken at the county level.
DeWalt was also a strong supporter of the on-going unionization efforts by the City’s Department of Public Works employees. He said that the city’s police are “doing very well with collective bargaining, and I strongly believe that anyone who works for the city should be able to be unionized if they want to be.”
He also worked to reinvigorate the Hometown Heroes program, which he sponsored as a way to honor local military veterans and heroes through banners placed throughout the city. He wanted to flank Main Street with the banners, starting at American Legion Post 60 and continuing throughout the downtown.
He’s been a good friend to The Laurel History Boys and always encouraged our efforts to educate the community about local history and report the news truthfully. We wish him well. He will be missed.
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