Williams Names Deputy Mayor To Be New City Administrator

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams said yesterday that Edward D. Reiskin, one of the city's four deputy mayors, will serve as the interim city administrator for the last three months of Williams's tenure in office.

Reiskin came to the District in 2003 as chief of staff to City Administrator Robert C. Bobb, who has resigned to run for president of the D.C. school board. Reiskin worked for Bobb in Oakland, Calif., and has served for nearly two years as the city's deputy mayor for public safety and justice. As deputy mayor, Reiskin oversaw the police, fire and emergency medical services departments.

Williams said he wants Reiskin to help ensure a smooth transition when a new mayor takes office in January. The city administrator oversees government operations and the four deputy mayors.

"We have come too far in our city to have any confusion during the transition period, and I believe Ed's experience and city-wide knowledge will serve our residents well during this period of turmoil," Williams said in a written statement.

Reiskin's new role was the second personnel change in the District administration announced this week.

On Wednesday, Brenda Donald Walker, deputy mayor for children, youth and family issues, said she had appointed an acting director of the Department of Human Services.

Brian Wilbon, chief of staff for the deputy mayor and director of the Office of Medicaid Operations Reform, will replace Kate Jesberg, who is retiring Sept. 30. Jesberg, a 26-year District government employee, led the department's Income Maintenance Administration, which assisted the city's poor and low-income residents. She is an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.

Wilbon, who has held management positions at Arthur Andersen and Maximus consulting firms, has been Walker's chief of staff since November.

In announcing the appointment, Walker said she has "the utmost confidence in Brian Wilbon and trusts that he will ensure the continued management of DHS and its vital programs for District residents."

Williams expressed disappointment last month when Bobb announced his resignation. Bobb had served as city administrator for three years.

Bobb's "energy, drive and focus have helped this administration immensely, and I will be sorry to lose a man of his talent," the mayor said.

Bobb joins several high-ranking mayoral appointees who have left the administration since Williams announced last September that he would not seek reelection: Andrew Altman, the Anacostia Waterfront Corp. director and former D.C. planning director; Neil O. Albert, a deputy mayor; Dan Tangherlini, head of the Transportation Department; Gregory M. McCarthy, the mayor's deputy chief of staff for policy and legislative affairs; and Martha B. Knisley, head of the Mental Health Department.