Welch to retire, council colleagues say
Baltimore Sun colleague Julie Scharper reports:
City Councilwoman Agnes Welch, who has represented Southwest Baltimore for more than a quarter century, is planning to retire before the end of the year, her colleagues say.
Welch, 85, has not set a firm date for her retirement, Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young said. She is serving her seventh term on the council.
“She said she was really enjoying her work on the council, but there comes a time when you want to leave still at the top of your game,” said Young, who met with her before Monday’s council meeting.
Calls to Welch were not immediately returned Tuesday.
Her son and longtime aide, William “Pete” Welch, said the councilwoman is contemplating retirement, but has made no formal announcement.
City Hall observers consider William Welch the likely successor to his mother’s seat and speculate that her retirement will be timed to allow him to go into next year’s election as the incumbent.
When a council seat is open, the 14 other council members host public interviews for the seat and vote on a successor.
William Welch laughed off questions of whether he would run for his mother’s seat, saying it was “putting the cart before the horse.”
“When a councilperson who has served for a long time takes a new direction, you don’t know where the dust settles,” he said. “If I’m the dust, I haven’t settled yet.”
Welch said he is a certified public accountant and runs his own accounting practice on evenings and weekends. He has served on his mother’s staff since she was first elected, and was grandfathered when a change in the city charter prevented council members from hiring close relatives.
The Ninth District, home to Poppleton, Rosemont and Sandtown, is one of the city’s poorest.
The chairowoman of the council committee on aging and urban affairs committee, Welch led a group of senior citizens to protest in the spring when Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake threatened to eliminate the budget for the recreation and parks senior programs. The funds were restored when the council approved a package of new taxes proposed by Rawlings-Blake.
Comments
She should have retired twenty years ago. I wil not miss her. She did not do any the people she represent any good.
Posted by: Derrick | November 9, 2010 4:27 PM
Good! Perhaps we will elect a new councilperson who will respond to the needs of the people in SW Baltimore.
Posted by: avalon | November 9, 2010 4:36 PM
As a member of Agnes's district, I can't say she has been anything but a failure for her district. Agnes hasn't shown any political might in fighting for the district, and hasn't been available for its citizens to speak with. Billy isn't much more than a liar himself doesn't return calls, claims accomplishments that don't materialize. This position vacated by Agnes needs to go to a fresh face, someone outside Baltimore politics. Goodbye Agnes, please go today.
Posted by: ALLEN | November 9, 2010 5:02 PM
Here is the first of many set up seats we shall see in the near future! Next shall be Governor Martin O'Malley stepping down right after US Senator Barbara Mikulski retires, allowing for interim Governor Anthony Brown (Current Lt. Governor) to then appoint O'Malley to the open US Senate seat. Then in 2014, Brown shall run for the Attorney General's office as current AG, Doug Gansler shall look to win the Governor's race of 2014! The Democratic shenanigans are ridiculous, yet strategic!
Posted by: MrGiordano | November 9, 2010 5:05 PM
This is good news for her district. She and all of the other city council members and members of the legislature from that area should be ashame of themselves for neglecting the welfare of the people of their district all these years. Larry and the Mitchels also share some of the blame.
Posted by: Poplaw18 | November 9, 2010 9:36 PM
To those looking for real leadership in the 9th District, please visit www.bullockforcouncil.com.
Posted by: Dr. John Bullock | November 10, 2010 7:49 AM
It is crazy that she been in office a quarter century and have not done anything in terms of improvements. We know while she was dozing at her steering wheel over the years the 9th district missed out on numerous proposals, grants and programs. Now at 85 she has one great idea…Retire and put her son Pete on the throne to continue her legacy. Really??? Someone please post 3 things that he brings to the office or or at least has done since he has been her aide?
I definitely think it is time for some new blood. Hopefully this time elect an energetic person that really cares. At the minimum start revitalizing some parts of the 9th district by communicating with the citizens that live there, address crime and encourage businesses and investors to move into the area. Look at East Baltimore - Wal-Mart coming soon, expanding John Hopkins, a possible $1.8B biotech school and etc. Can 9th district tax payers wake up from the nightmare and learn from mistakes?
Posted by: Sean | November 23, 2010 1:18 PM