D.C. Mayor-elect Vincent C. Gray hasn’t made any appointments that would cause controversy. Actually, he’s followed his predecessor’s model, selecting veteran government bureaucrats, and a few political allies. In 2006, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty initially plucked people from Mayor Anthony A. Williams’ administration. Changes occurred later during Fenty’s first 18 months in office. But, he eventually built an impressive, top-notch team, which residents have praised for putting the city on the right track.
Gray, fortunately, also hasn’t felt the need to change every agency director simply because he could. After all, William Howland, head of the Department of Public Works, first took over that agency during Williams’ tenure. Lucinda Babers had been a second-level manager in the Department of Motor Vehicles before Fenty elevated her to the top post.
For me, Gray’s most troubling move has been his decision to resurrect the position of deputy mayor for public safety and justice. Williams first created the post. Fenty wisely eliminated it.
Its restoration signals the mayor-elect hasn’t focused sufficiently on reorganizing the government to reduce its size and costs. Further, he apparently needs layers of bureaucracy between himself and agency directors. And, he already has begun dicing the city administrator’s portfolio.
“I don’t think there is much more important than public safety,” said Gray, when I asked him about recreating the position, soon after he named Paul A. Quander Jr. deputy mayor.
The current director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Quander is well-respected. But he lacks important frontline experience. Many of the professionals he will supervise have far greater direct knowledge and expertise than he.
Unfortunately, Gray isn’t just following Williams’ lead, he’s repeating his mistakes: Williams picked Margret Kellems as deputy mayor. But Metropolitan Police Chief Charles Ramsey’s experience dwarfed her, leaving many to characterize Kellems as nothing more than a high-priced coordinator.
Ironically, creation of the new office, comes just days after the D.C. Council — led by Gray — approved a revised budget that mandates a four-day employee furlough and cuts spending for various entitlement programs. Those actions will help to close a projected $188 million budget shortfall.
“It’s not so much creating a new office, but a reconfiguration of positions coming out of the city administrator’s office,” Gray said, defending his actions.
That’s simply rearranging deck chairs. What’s more, there is every reason to believe the city’s fiscal 2011 problem isn’t completely resolved: There are agencies that historically have overspent their budgets. Revenue projections are likely to fall yet again, as they have over the past year. And even if the new deputy mayor assumes some of the CA’s staff, his salary and benefits must be paid.
Gray’s decision to fatten the bureaucracy contradicts his rhetoric warning everyone there are tough budget decisions ahead and sacrifices that must be made. The mayor-elect obviously didn’t include himself in that cut-’til-it-hurts scenario. Or, he’s just counting the days until he proposes tax increases to pay for his excess.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
