D.C. Mayor Seeks Raise For Successor

Mayor Anthony A. Williams urged the D.C. Council yesterday to approve emergency legislation to boost the salary of his successor to $200,000 a year.

The Democrat said the increase was "appropriate and fair" given the complexities of governing a city he characterized as the "most difficult operating environment on the planet."

Williams, speaking at a council hearing, requested quick action because the salary increase needs to be approved before the new mayor takes office to apply to the next four-year term. The mayor makes $152,000 a year.

According to D.C. law, the mayor's salary is tied to the federal government executive pay schedule, but the council has latitude to increase the salary. The council chairman would get a pay increase as well, from $142,000 to $190,000, because the city charter sets the chairman's salary at $10,000 less than the mayor's.

The mayor said that being chief executive of the nation's capital is an especially challenging job but that his pay is lower than that of other big city mayors. For example, Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston, which has about the same population as the District, makes $175,000.

Williams used his trademark wit in promoting the salary proposal. He noted that even with a pay increase, the city would probably get its money's worth out of the likely incoming mayor, council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4), who displayed a tireless work ethic during his campaign. "We're going to still end up paying him about a buck fifty an hour," Williams said.

Council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) questioned why Williams didn't push the pay issue earlier this year when he sent legislation to the council to raise his agency heads' pay. According to salary figures provided by the mayor's office and the D.C. Office of Personnel, at least five members of the mayor's Cabinet make more than their boss.

The highest-paid official in D.C. government is School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey, who makes $250,000 a year. Robert C. Bobb, who recently left his post as city administrator to run for school board president, made $195,000.

Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) focused on the council chairman's salary, noting that the pay increase would create a tremendous disparity between the pay of the council chairman and the 12 other members of the legislative body.

Council members are paid $92,530. "These are very awkward and sensitive issues," Graham said.

Williams told Patterson that he hadn't considered raising the mayoral salary during his term. He agreed that council members deserve an increase in pay but made no proposal on raising their salaries.

Other local governments have recently approved salary increases in anticipation of new terms of office. In July, the Prince George's County Council voted to raise the county executive's salary by 14 percent to $160,000 a year.

The mayor also asked the council to approve $250,000 for the mayoral transition and $150,000 in transition money for the council chairman before they take office in January.