The memorable moment this week wasn’t Mayor Vincent Gray’s recitation, yet again, of his bootstrap personal narrative or his grab bag of policy initiatives previewed during his State of the District address. Rather, it was a public hearing of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, where unforgettable and stunning information was revealed about Gray’s hiring of key managers, former campaign operatives and their children. Gray has been embroiled in scandals emanating from apparent violations of personnel laws and from allegations by Sulaimon Brown, a 2010 mayoral candidate. Brown claimed he was paid cash and promised a job by the Gray campaign, if Brown remained in the race, ostensibly to trash incumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Those allegations have been denied. Nevertheless, five separate investigations have started, including the one by the council committee, which is headed by Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, a Gray ally.
Testimony at the hearing made clear the scandals aren’t necessarily innocent “missteps.” Through relentless probing by At-large Councilman David Catania and Cheh, who initially appeared interested in rehabilitating the mayor’s image, a portrait was painted of aggressive, rapacious political operatives positioning themselves and others at the public trough for an all-you-can-eat feast.
It also became clear that Gerri Mason Hall, the mayor’s former $200,000-a-year chief of staff whom he forced to resign — wasn’t solely responsible for the cronyism and nepotism that has marked Gray’s administration thus far. According to testimony, only three people were principally and directly involved in personnel decisions — former campaign chairwoman Lorraine Green, transition committee member Constance Newman, and Gray. The mayor reportedly approved all the salaries of political hires.
Based on testimony, it appeared Hall and interim human resources director Judy Banks essentially implemented hiring decisions made by the trio.
That doesn’t completely absolve Hall or Banks in the controversy, however.
Hall got her son hired almost immediately after Gray took office. The children of other campaign operatives also were quickly employed. Even Rochelle Webb, who came from Arizona to head the Department of Employment Services, pushed to get her son Brandon hired by the government.
While Hall tracked down a job for Brown, she wasn’t his buddy. There weren’t text messages or telephone calls exchanged between them, as there were among Brown, Green and Gray. Hall likely was following a directive when she called Inspector General Charles Willoughby Jan. 14, hoping to score for Brown, whom she later described as a “special case,” according to Banks.
Banks is a critical link in this appalling story. She served as human resources director during former Mayor Anthony Williams’ administration, making her an expert in local personnel laws. While she had questions about some of the hiring decisions, she didn’t stop the process.
Could her hesitation have been because she, too, was feeding?
Banks is on leave from her job at the convention center, where she’s paid $127,000 a year. As interim human resources director for Gray, however, she was pulling in an annual salary of $180,000.
See what I mean about greed?
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
