Mayor Vincent C. Gray sent Judy Banks to the D.C. Department of Human Resources to serve as interim director and ensure his people were put on the payroll posthaste. That’s what she did, according to government sources, who said she forced workers to violate rules — sometimes threatening them when they resisted her orders. “She treated people like they were a bunch of bumbling fools,” said one source, who, like others, requested anonymity. “[The administration] was focused on settling scores and hiring people. When she was told there was a problem, she said ‘Do it or get fired.’ ”
Banks, who has returned to her job at the Washington Convention Center, didn’t respond to my request for comment.
Last week, during testimony before the D.C. Council’s Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, Banks seemed to respond to criticisms by blaming others for violations of regulations and breakdowns in the standard personnel protocols: Background checks weren’t conducted before individuals started work. In some cases, DC 2000 employment application forms weren’t completed or signed until after the committee, headed by Chairman Pro Tempore Mary Cheh, launched its investigation. But a source told me Cheh’s office had heard complaints before the hearing about Banks’ involvement in the flawed hirings and mistreatment of personnel workers.
It’s unclear whether Banks will appear again before the government operations committee later this week when it continues its probe, which was prompted by allegations of cronyism and nepotism.
Cheh declined to draw any conclusions from the first hearing. “I am reserving judgment until I hear from everyone,” she said, adding, “Everyone is being co-operative,” which is “quite unlike my experience with the last administration.”
Meanwhile, Angelia Rowe-Garner is the new interim human resources director. But sources said don’t expect any dramatic change. She has been described as the “goddaughter” of Lorraine Green, the former chairwoman of Gray’s 2010 campaign who is at the center of current mayoral scandals. Green and Howard Brooks, also a Gray campaign worker, have been accused of paying cash to Sulaimon Brown, a minor mayoral candidate, and promising him a job if he remained in the race, ostensibly to continue to trash incumbent Adrian M. Fenty.
According to a Gray spokeswoman, Rowe-Garner and Green worked together during Sharon Pratt (Kelly’s) administration. Banks and Green also have a longtime professional relationship.
Brown, Green, Brooks, and Gerri Mason Hall — Gray’s former chief of staff allegedly responsible for some of the controversial hiring decisions — are scheduled to testify Thursday.
Learning specifics about Gray’s hiring practices may be important. But eliminating cronyism and nepotism is critical. Cheh has said personnel reform tops her agenda; she will issue a report that will include recommendations for change.
But, if the council doesn’t abolish the “excepted service” system that permits elected officials to hire political appointees without requiring them to compete for the job, then it’s just tinkering. It’s hard to justify infecting the government with hundreds of individuals whose claim to fame may be they answered telephones for a campaign or bashed a mayoral candidate during community forums.
Jonetta Rose Barras’s column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
