The end of this year’s D.C. Council session also marked the end of Carol Schwartz’s (R-At-large) lengthy tenure on the legislative body. Schwartz has been a fixture in District politics since the late 1970s/early 1980s, serving first as the Ward 3 member of the Board of Education, and later as a D.C. Council member, off and on, for 16 years.

As you’ll recall, Schwartz lost the Republican primary this year to upstart candidate Patrick Mara. She then launched a write-in campaign, but the seat in the general election ended up going to Democrat-turned-Independent Michael A. Brown.

The Post’s coverage includes some notes about Carol’s goodbye last night, which was apparently tearful.

“I am sad. I can’t say that I am not sad. People come up to me and say how are you, and I say, ‘I have been better,’ ” she said in an interview. “I was here to 10 o’clock last night packing up my office, so it is a tough time for me. I am really proud of my years here.”

She remained spirited on the dais, however. Before the lottery vote, she said that she could have taken a lame duck approach but that “this stalemate is not helpful.”

“This is my parting gift. Thank you very much,” Schwartz said as she voted for the W2I contract.

Schwartz is also fondly remembered by many District residents for the number of times she rose to the challenge of running against Marion Barry for mayor. We’ll most certainly miss her candor and particular brand of no-nonsense politics on the Council. We also wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t the last D.C. has seen of her.