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Home | Office Holder | William W Gullett
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William Waitman Gullett (born October 11, 1922) served as the first County Executive of Prince George's County, Maryland from 1971 to 1974. He had previously served three terms as the Mayor of College Park from 1963 to 1969, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Maryland, 1967-68 and a Presidential Elector for Maryland in 1972. Gullett was born in Springfield, Illinois to parents Noah and Clara Virgin (Willett) Gullett. He married Helen Jaunita Hammons in Springfield on March 20, 1943. Their first son, William Jr., was born in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by Christopher and twin daughters, Michele and Nicole, in Washington, D.C. Gullett's son, William, was shot and killed on February 16, 1969, as a young Prince George's County police officer. Gullet was elected as County Executive in a 1971 special election to choose the county's first executive under the new home rule charter, defeating one Republican and five Democratic candidates. Although initially supported by a broad coalition of Republicans and a pro-charter, anti-development group led by local activist Julian C. Holmes, he lost support because of perceived poor performance and constant conflict with the Democratic-controlled County Council. He lost his bid for reelection in 1974 when the Prince George's County Democratic Party swept Republicans from power, defeating every Republican running for state or local office. |