Louise Beauregard - the 142nd delegate
Amid the crush of business in the session's final days, lawmakers take time out to remember Louise Beauregard, who was once a constant presence in the halls of power in Annapolis - and a reminder of the need to be mindfull of human frailty.
Beauregard, 85, who died Wednesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center, was an eccentric gadfly, who testified frequently before the General Assembly and at Anne Arundel County and Annapolis city government meetings.
She was always dressed in her Sunday best, and she spoke up for the poor, though inevitably wandered off topic. The Sun once called her daffy, but there was a constant theme in her verbal ramblings.
Her testimony on behalf of the neglected and disenfranchised reminded us all that society is measured by how it treats the least of its members. The Capital, in its obituary of her on Friday, called her perhaps the area's "most conscientious citizen." She ran for local public office several times, and even garnered 17,000 votes as the Republican nominee for county executive in 1986.
I remember, as a young reporter in the Annapolis bureau of the Baltimore Evening Sun about that time, giving her a ride from a meeting of the Anne Arundel school board, where she had presented her views. She was, as always, unfailingly gracious and polite.
Del. Talmadge Branch, a Baltimore Democrat and the majority whip, announced her death on the House floor Friday. Later, he recalled her as the legislature's 142nd delegate. "She was on everybody's committee," he said.
The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. today in her memory. There won't be another Louise Beauregard, but her kindred are always among us.
Comments
Thanks to Tim Wheeler for a lovely tribute to the memory of this unusual citizen. As a long time State employee with responsibilities that occasionally have taken me to General Assembly committee hearings, her presence is emblazoned on my memory.
I never quite knew whether to be amused by her or embarrassed for her, but ultimately gained respect for her persistence. I confess that I seldom understood quite what she was saying or meant to say, and would question myself when I thought I did understand what she was getting at.
Nonetheless, I was always struck by the deference and respect paid to her by even the most surly committee chairs and members over the years as an object lesson in the openness and patience of the our legislative process.
Posted by: Larry Fogelson | April 7, 2008 10:42 AM
Tim Wheeler to be commended for posting this reflection. For 20 Sessions (1980-2000) I was a State Legislative Contact for an Executive Branch Agency, and was always struck by Ms.Beaureguard's gentle and kind manner, and appreciated the courtesies extended to her by Committee Chairman when receiving her sometimes meandering yet always heartfelt, oral testimony, speaking as she was for those typically not given voice in the legislative process.
I always took it as kind of a sign of providential "good luck" when I saw her name entered to give testimony, as in 20 years, my agency never lost a pre-filed piece of Departmental legislation when she was attending the bill hearing.Thank you, Mrs. B.
Posted by: Bryce Be Quick | April 7, 2008 1:59 PM
Ms. Beaureguard was always kind to everyone, so that kindness was returned--even by the most curmudgeonly of legislators. She had a heartfelt passion about SO many issues.
Even when we didn't fully understand her rambling testimony, she earned our respect through her diligence and commitment to the legislative process. The General Assembly won't be quite the same without her.
Posted by: C.C. Kagan | April 7, 2008 9:11 PM
Gee, isn't it nice how we remember her now that she has died.
When she was very active during sessions, she was so suspect of questionable character that Secret Service kept her mug shot nearby whenever a political figure came to town.
Let's not forget how over the edge she was, in even in her passing.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 7, 2008 9:59 PM
I must say that I find the last comment a little barbaric. But I wouldn't expect anything less from someone whose cowardliness allows them to post such a comment anonymously.
Yes, she was over the edge sometimes, but I think her good qualities more than outweighed her bad. This is clearly so by the respect she garnered from the people whose lives she touched.
I only hope that when you, Mr./Mrs. Anonymous, give up the ghost, that people find it more important to focus on your negative attributes and paint you in a negative light as you have done to her.
Posted by: Her Grandson | April 14, 2008 12:00 AM