[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MAYOR GERALD DONOVAN

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                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my 
constituent and good friend Mayor Gerald Donovan who will soon be 
retiring after 32 dedicated years in elected in elected office in the 
Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD.
  Gerald Donovan comes from a long line of public servants and the 
importance of serving one's community was instilled in him at a young 
age. His grandfather, Wesley Stinnett was mayor of Chesapeake Beach 
from 1956 to 1963. After his grandfather passed away, Donovan's father 
served out his term. In 1976, Gerald was elected to the town council 
and, after 7 years of service, Donovan followed in the footsteps of his 
father and grandfather and became mayor in 1983.
  Under Mayor Donovan's leadership, Chesapeake Beach has thrived--
becoming a vibrant small town that has witnessed an improved quality of 
life and an increased sense of community. Mayor Donovan has worked to 
make the small town a great place to stay and visit. His tenure has 
seen the addition of a water park, beach trolleys, new housing, and a 
beautification initiative, all of which have won him grateful neighbors 
and constituents. New development has been matched with an updated 
infrastructure with everything from a boardwalk and new sidewalks to a 
new, clean wastewater treatment system.
  Given the town's location on the Chesapeake Bay, it is unfortunately 
often in the path of potentially destructive weather events. In recent 
years it has been impacted by several hurricanes and a tornado. In 
every case, Mayor Donovan has stood ready to tackle cleanup and lend a 
hand to neighbors and businesses touched by disaster.
  Mayor Donovan has managed to carry through initiatives that have a 
tangible positive effect on the daily lives of his constituents, 
raising overall revenue for the town. He has demonstrated what is 
possible with ingenuity, managing to leave a town surplus of over 50 
percent of the town's overall annual budget.
  Despite announcing his retirement, Mayor Donovan continues to look to 
the future, recently announcing that he is moving forward in an attempt 
to remove Chesapeake Beach from dependence on the grid and tap into 
wind and solar power as renewable, money-saving energy sources for the 
town.
  Madam Speaker, Gerald Donovan's service to the Chesapeake Beach 
community goes beyond his duties as its mayor. He also contributed to 
the development of Chesapeake Beach through charity and enterprise.
  With his brother Fred, Mayor Donovan co-owns the Rod 'N' Reel 
Restaurant, a popular meeting place and a great place to have a seafood 
dinner. For over 25 years, the restaurant has hosted the Celebration of 
Life Cancer Gala, an event created to honor the life of Gerald's 
father. The annual gala attracts an average of 1,500 people, raises 
more money for the American Cancer Society than any other event in all 
the State of Maryland. Not only that, but in his true devotion to the 
State, 60 percent of the funds raised goes to support research 
initiatives taking place in Maryland.
  Madam Speaker, Mayor Gerald Donovan has made a tremendous mark on the 
community of Chesapeake Beach and the State of Maryland. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in applauding him on his many accomplishments and 
wishing him the best as he ends his career as an elected official.

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