Former Lobbyist Joan Claybrook Helps Preserve Small-Town Charm, Fights Development
DEWEY BEACH — The fast track of Washington seems to be the polar opposite of Dewey Beach’s relaxed “way of life.” But for one veteran Beltway power player, the coast is home away from home, and she doesn’t mind fighting for it.
Joan Claybrook, a lawyer and former lobbyist who served as head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under President Jimmy Carter, is now one of the area’s part-time residents and a member of Citizens to Preserve Dewey — a group of residents and business owners who aim to maintain Dewey’s small-town charm.
The 72-year-old Baltimore native co-owns her condominium with Joy Howell, head of the CPD.
For several years, Claybrook has been working with Howell and other community members in CPD to fight development, namely the Ruddertowne complex.
“Joy called me and said ‘You’ve got to come down here,’ ” Claybrook said. “It was clear they were marching forward to build this building.”
That was the birth of CPD, according to Claybrook. Since then, the group has rallied against development, supporting the campaigns of Diane Hanson, Rich Hanewinckel, Marc Appelbaum and Martin Seitz.
Howell said Claybrook has been instrumental in spreading the word about CPD issues.
“She’s a fabulous advocate and a great resource of ideas and information,” she said.
And Hanson, who Claybrook helped get elected to the Town Council, has lots of praise for her well-known friend.
“Joan is probably one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met,” she said. “She’s extremely talented, intelligent and she is the reason that we have seat belts and airbags in our cars. She is such an advocate for the safety of people. They have no idea how many people she’s actually saved from being killed or maimed because of her work.”
Claybrook worked closely with Ralph Nader during the 1960s on automobile safety, eventually helping to pass the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Highway Safety Act, both of which mandated safety measures in automobiles, including seat belts, shatter-resistant windshields, and break-away sign posts and utility poles.
By Andrew Ostroski | Coast Press