Thank You, Mr. Mayor
As Lake Mary Mayor David Mealor retires, he looks back on the city’s tremendous growth and his own approach to leadership
Life is a collaborative effort, whether in the workplace or personal relationships. David Mealor could teach a master class on that.
As the longtime mayor of Lake Mary, as well as other professional stops along the highway, David has made it a point to work with people who get the job done and make him a better leader. He embraces the mantra of There is no I in team, a simple concept that defines him as he approaches his 80th birthday.
“All my life I’ve been able to be surrounded with people whom I respect and admire,” says David over a recent lunch at one of his favorite hangouts, the 4th Street Bar & Grill in Lake Mary.
It’s easy to see that David’s feelings are reciprocated by those around him. Within a span of a few minutes, he is chatting up a local police officer. A waitress comes over to give him a hug.
“Whenever I see David, he always has a smile on his face,” says Deana Schott, his friend and a Lake Mary resident.
At Your Service
Yet there is obviously much more to David than a happy face. He will step away from his distinguished career as a public servant on November 5, his last day as mayor. It will mark the first time he will not be seeking elected office after 38 years of having been elected to either a city commission, state legislature, or mayoral post.
David graduated from the University of Georgia, earning bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees there, and served in the United States Army. His first stint as Lake Mary’s mayor was from 1996 to 2000, after serving on the Lake Mary City Commission from 1988 to 1996. In 2000, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, serving from 2000 to 2007.
He was then reelected as Lake Mary’s mayor in 2008 and has continued to be reelected to that role ever since. David’s decision to walk away from public office now is a personal one made on his own terms. He will finally get to take a deep breath and enjoy the perks of retirement with Laurie, his bride of 45 years, by his side. That will mean more opportunities for reflective neighborhood walks in the evening, vacations, and family time.
“After 38 years of being elected every two years, either on the commission or the state legislature, my wife said, ‘Do you realize it’s been 38 years?’ And I didn’t. I never thought about the longevity. And as soon as she said that, I said, ‘Absolutely. We’re done.’”
From Sleepy Town to Major Player
David can now look back with pride on his years as an elected official and how he was part of a transformative time for Lake Mary.
“I think about this often,” he says. “When I was elected [for his first term], Lake Mary was basically a bedroom community and not well-respected.”
“David has always been a true gentleman, an individual who has his community at the heart of everything he does.” – Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine
From his first day in office in 1988 as a city commissioner, David understood the assignment: Diversify Lake Mary’s economic footprint. The sleepy little town would morph into a blend of large employers and mixed-use developments, becoming an integral part of the 46A business corridor – while remaining a desirable place to live and raise a family.
David took the lead in developing a healthcare infrastructure in Lake Mary, partnering with AdventHealth and Orlando Health systems, both of which have built new medical facilities in the city.
On the technology side, one example is the software company Superion LLC, which invested more than $12 million in 2018 toward an expansion that created 355 new jobs over a three-year period.
Home for a Lifespan
“We’ve created what I call a lifespan community,” says David. “It’s conceivable now you can be born in Lake Mary, you can get a great education, you can get a great job and reinvest back in the community. And by the way, for your entire lifespan, you will have any healthcare needs that may be required provided in your own community.”
David’s success in leading Lake Mary can be attributed in large part to a couple of important character traits: his honesty and drive to succeed. His collaborative leadership style has played a pivotal role, too.
“David has always been a true gentleman, an individual who has his community at the heart of everything he does,” says Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine, who served with David in the Florida Legislature. “He loves Lake Mary, but he also loves all of Seminole County, and he has represented both very well.”
As David closes the curtain on his time as mayor, he reflects on the best career advice he ever received.
“I once asked a gentleman whom I really, really respected to tell me about leadership,” says David, who inquired, “What do you do?”
He says the man replied: “Well, I have a philosophy. Hire the very best. Tell them what you want. Don’t tell them how to do it, but give them the resources to be successful.”
David’s legacy proves that he listened very well.