The word “surprise” was used over and over by colleagues of David Beal Tuesday in reaction to Beal’s decision not to seek re-election to the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners.

With the opening of the candidates’ filing period for the 2009 municipal elections in Surry County now just five days away, the 10-year council veteran announced Tuesday that he will not be running for another four-year term.

“After due consideration, I have decided not to seek another term on the Board of Commissioners, and to retire from public service at the end of my present term on Dec. 3, 2009,” Beal wrote in a four-paragraph statement.

The Cherry Street resident, who has served 31 years in various public offices locally, has represented the South Ward on the city council since 1999, when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner Johnny Edwards. Beal later was elected to full four-year terms in 2001 and 2005.

As for a possible successor, “We are fortunate to have a number of people living in the South Ward who are very capable of serving the city and bringing a fresh supply of energy, enthusiasm, patience and new ideas to the Board of Commissioners,” Beal’s statement added.

When contacted at his home after the statement was released, Beal, 67, declined to answer follow-up questions, including providing specific reasons for his decision to end a long career in public service.

“I have decided not to make any further comments,” he said. “I will continue to represent the citizens of Mount Airy to the best of my ability for the remainder of my term.” Other than that, Beal said his comments would be limited to those contained in the statement.

There were indications Tuesday that the veteran commissioner simply wants to step down from the board in order to have more free time with his family and for other pursuits that city government service often doesn’t allow.

Reaction To Move

Beal notified others on the five-member council of his decision not to seek re-election through an email.

“He let us know last night,” At-Large Commissioner Deborah Cochran said Tuesday. Though Cochran said she appreciates the experience and leadership Beal has supplied to the board, she understands his motivation.

“Well, I respect his decision,” Cochran said. “He’s served 31 years in public service and I’m sure he has prayed about it, and he wants to spend time with his family and do some of the things in life he enjoys.” Among Beal’s interests is baseball, including many years devoted to supporting minor-league baseball in Winston-Salem.

Todd Harris, the other South Ward commissioner on the board, expressed dismay over Beal’s decision. “If you want to play a word-association game, I guess the first thing that pops into my mind is surprise and disappointment,” Harris said of his reaction.

“I hadn’t asked David if he was going to run again or anything of that nature,” he continued. “I would have expected him to run again.”

Commissioner Dean Brown of the North Ward offered a similar response regarding Beal’s decision.

“I was really surprised, because I’ve been asking him off and on for a long time and he never would tell me,” Brown said of his fellow commissioner’s re-election plans. “I wish he would reconsider and run again.”

However, he understands Beal’s desire to want to move on, added Brown, who said that while he was acquainted with Beal over the years, “I’ve enjoyed getting to know him better in the last two and a half years.”

The fifth board member, Jon Cawley, said Tuesday he also was “surprised” by Beal’s announcement and the possible reasons behind the move. “I’m sure they’re good ones and I wish him well,” said Cawley, whose North Ward seat also is affected by this year’s election.

Cawley earlier announced that he would seek his first full term on the board after being appointed on an interim basis in 2008. The council’s newest member said he regrets being able to serve with someone of Beal’s caliber for only a short time.

“But that’s been my experience and I’m grateful for it,” Cawley continued. “I look forward to working with him until December.”

Another official, City Manager Don Brookshire, said he will miss working with Beal, who also spent seven years on the Mount Airy Board of Education and was Surry County’s clerk of Superior Court for 14 years.

“Obviously, he’ll be missed,” Brookshire said. “He’s got well over 30 years of public service behind him and when folks with that kind of a history decide that it’s time to hang up the uniform, or whatever you call it, it’s certainly a loss to the public because you lose all that experience that goes along with it.

“David’s been a great person to work with,” the city manager added.

Beal’s service also was praised by Mayor Jack Loftis.

“Of course, I regret that he felt like he needed to do this,” Loftis said of the decision. “I think the best expression I can say is he’s just a fine Christian gentleman and he’s been a fine commissioner representing all the citizens of Mount Airy to the best of his ability.”

The mayor also said that while he wishes Beal would stay around, he understands the sacrifices that city government representatives must endure. “It gets to be many times a burden and a hardship on individuals and their families.”

Loftis is facing a re-election choice of his own this year, but as of Tuesday afternoon had made no decision on whether to file for another term.

“Great Facilitator”

Beal has brought many good qualities to his job as a commissioner, his colleagues say.

“David has a lot of experiences,” Harris said. “Very much in my service with him on the board, he’s been a great facilitator and compromiser and I think these are the two best attributes he brought to the board.”

Harris added, “I’m going to miss his service and I think it leaves quite a vacuum, frankly.”

Cochran said she also appreciated Beal’s experience, especially on issues related to law enforcement which reflected his background as a former city police chief and State Bureau of Investigation agent.

Cawley said, “I’ve always thought that David’s primary concern was the people who worked for him, which is a good thing. He was a champion for the employees of the city, and that was always the point of view that I got.”

During a June 18 meeting, Beal was the only board member to vote against the city’s tight 2009-10 budget, explaining that he thought it shortchanged municipal employees. For the second-straight year, they are receiving no cost-of-living raise and 401(k) contributions have been cut for everyone except police, among other budgetary considerations.

“He didn’t necessarily look to the next election,” Brookshire said of positions Beal took. “He looked to the future as to what was best for the community as a whole, and that’s one of the things I’ll remember about him.”

Cawley said that Beal probably spent more time at City Hall than any of the other council members. “We’ll be losing a man who had his finger on the pulse.”

Beal additionally has set a fine example with his dedication to public affairs, according to Cawley. “He’s been in public service for 31 years. Man, how commendable is that?” he said. If everyone gave of themselves in such a manner, “the world would be a better place.”

The mayor pointed out that Beal has excelled at dissecting complicated issues and arriving at well-thought-out decisions. “David has just been a real help and a blessing to me,” Loftis said. “I totally respect his wisdom and vision on many of the things we are faced with today, and I hate to see him make this move, but I wish him and his family the best of everything.”

Brown said that Beal has “given me a lot of insights into city government that I did not know about and he’s provided me with some leadership, which I needed, and he deserves a lot of credit for things he’s accomplished as a commissioner.”

Memorable Prayers

Some of the commissioners applauded the human qualities Beal has brought to the board along with his service.

Brown said he always has been impressed with the prayers offered by Beal at the start of commissioners’ meetings, a role that the board members take turns filling. Commending Beal’s ability to offer beautiful prayers in an impromptu manner, Brown said, “I’ve told him that if I died first, I wanted him to pray at my funeral.”

Cawley, meanwhile, referred to the closing remarks presented by individual board members at the conclusion of meetings, in which they comment on virtually anything they desire.

“In our commissioners’ thoughts at the end of each meeting, I appreciate the warmth that he always brings to what could be an institutional meeting,” he said of Beal.

The mayor added, “The citizens of Mount Airy are going to lose a great representative when he steps down.”

In his statement, Beal said it has been “an honor” to serve as a commissioner for the past 10 years. “I appreciate the opportunity to represent our citizens on the board, and thank everyone for the support and encouragement I have received during my terms in office.”

Beal added that he has “great respect” for the citizens of Mount Airy as well as all the mayors, city managers, city attorneys, fellow commissioners and municipal employees who have served during his time in office.

“I hope that all of us will be motivated to work together in the future to be sure our city continues to be the place we are proud to call home.”

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.