By Lena H. Sun
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 21, 2006; B01

Metro's board of directors voted yesterday to launch a national search for a general manager to head the regional transit agency even as some members said the pursuit could lead them back to Dan Tangherlini, the interim director since February.

Board Chairman Gladys Mack said members chose to cast a wide net to ensure that Metro, the country's second-busiest subway and fifth-busiest bus system, is led by the most qualified chief executive. Mack, who represents the District, said that the board hopes to pick a general manager in 90 days or fewer and that Tangherlini has done an "excellent job" and would make an "excellent candidate."

Maryland and District members have pressed to appoint Tangherlini permanently. But Virginia officials have balked because they are concerned that Tangherlini's chief political backing is from the District and Maryland, said Gerald E. Connolly (D), chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, which appoints Virginia's representatives to the Metro board.

For the past several weeks, jurisdictional politics have deadlocked the board, which is made up of six voting members and six alternates. Maryland, the District and Virginia appoint two voting and two alternate members each.

At a news conference Wednesday announcing increased service on Metro's Red Line, Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan expressed some frustration at the selection process, saying, "We'd like to knock the 'interim' off as soon as possible."

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who represents the District on the Metro board, said of Tangherlini, "He's been superb."

Arlington County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman (D), who represents Virginia, said the Metro panel needed to make good on its promise this year to initiate a search and find the best candidate. "We're encouraging the interim general manager to apply as part of that process."

Virginia officials say their stance on Tangherlini, who was the District's transportation director, isn't personal.

"Virginia has no beef against Dan Tangherlini at all," Connolly said. "We just don't know him."

Connolly asked, "Can somebody so long associated with the District, can he rise above a D.C.-centric perspective and be the region's general manager?"

After the board forced then-General Manager Richard A. White to resign in January, Tangherlini was named interim general manager for a year. In addition to heading the D.C. transportation department, Tangherlini, 38, was an alternate board member representing the District.

Virginia's leaders are concerned about protecting plans to build a $4 billion Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport. Whoever becomes Metro's general manager needs to be "an enthusiastic cheerleader for the project," help with technical assistance and winning needed federal approvals, and encourage business support, Connolly said. "Then they'll find Virginia quite supportive."

Connolly also said several of Tangherlini's first hires have come from the District government.

The board's decision is also complicated by Maryland's gubernatorial election Nov. 7. If Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) loses to Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D), the state's two voting board members would become lame ducks.

The board is likely to choose one of three businesses on retainer with Metro to conduct the search. Mack, who is also an official with a human services agency, said she did not know how much it would cost.

"We are going to pick a solid professional who is acceptable to the region and who will make a commitment to serve the entire region without partisanship," Mack said after the board voted in a closed session.

Tangherlini said he will apply to hold the job permanently.

As the D.C. transportation chief, he worked closely with regional transportation partners after the Sept. 11 attacks to coordinate information-sharing. He also gained regional experience from leading a northeastern state transportation group.

"I can't entirely be judged by people who support my candidacy," Tangherlini said. "I have to be judged on my own actions, and I have been working tirelessly on the Dulles issue to do whatever we can to have [Metro] support it. I do understand the importance to Northern Virginia of that project."

On personnel, he said his interim status has, in some cases, limited his ability to make hires outside of "people I knew who could fill the role." But among his hires, he said, have been a former Arlington County transit official and Fairfax paratransit expert. Executive searches are underway for key positions in procurement and engineering, he said.

In his first five months at Metro, rank-and-file workers say, Tangherlini has boosted morale with visits to rail yards, bus depots and other work sites, something the previous general manager never did.

Board members said Tangherlini, who has made customer service his top priority, has brought them fresh ideas and initiatives, often suggested by customers and employees. These include Metro's recent decisions to allow passengers to use credit cards to pay when exiting parking lots and to improve lighting in the dim underground stations.