Democrats Change Leaders

The D.C. Democratic State Committee elected Anita Bonds , head of the Ward 5 Democrats, as its chairman last week. She will replace Wanda Lockridge of Ward 8.

Bonds, who is a top aide to D.C. Council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large), said she is excited about the challenge to lead Democrats citywide.

"It's something that I've always aspired to do," Bonds said. "I am honored that my colleagues have placed their trust in me and are willing to allow me to work with them to fulfill our collective goals for the Democratic Party on behalf of the residents of the District of Columbia."

The other newly elected Democratic State Committee officers are: Jeff Richardson (Ward 6), vice chairman; Yvette Alexander (Ward 7), corresponding secretary; Ronald Collins (Ward 6), recording secretary; and Lenwood Johnson (Ward 1), treasurer.

Raise for Inspector General?

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) not only thinks the salary of the incoming mayor should be raised but he wants the inspector general to make more money, too.

Last week, just days after Williams urged the D.C. Council to approve emergency legislation that would increase the new mayor's annual salary from $152,000 to $200,000, he suggested raising the annual paycheck of the District's chief investigator. The inspector general makes $140,000 annually.

"I believe the District government needs more flexibility to set the pay of the inspector general," said Lisa R. Marin , director of the city's Office of Personnel, speaking on behalf of the mayor. "As the District continues to make great financial strides, it is imperative that we have exceptionally talented and experienced professionals to maintain and increase accountability."

Marin, who spoke before the council's Committee on Government Operations, said the higher salary would allow the city to compete for, hire and retain the most qualified job candidates.

According to law, the salaries of the mayor and the inspector general are determined by the federal government executive pay schedule, although the council has the authority to increase the pay scale. The city administrator's salary, which is $195,000, had been tied to the federal guidelines, but that was changed in 1997.

Marin said the bill does not set a specific salary range. That would be determined by the mayor with the council's approval. She cited salaries of several positions comparable to city auditor across the country. The pay ranged from $104,450 for a comparable post in Cambridge, Mass., a city of 101,355 residents, to $180,000 for the council auditor of Jacksonville, Fla., which has 825,793 residents.

The inspector general's position is held by Charles J. Willoughby , who accepted the post last year. Willoughby had been the assistant inspector general and counsel for the Federal Communications Commission's Office of the Inspector General for seven years.

The position had been held by Charles C. Maddox , who resigned after questions were raised about his residency and legal credentials. Austin A. Andersen held the position as interim director for 18 months. The council changed the qualifications of the job in 2003, requiring the inspector general to be a graduate of an accredited law school or a member of the D.C. Bar for seven years.

Nominations Withdrawn

Williams has withdrawn 29 appointments to city boards and commissions he had submitted to the D.C. Council for approval in the past few months.

In a letter last week to council Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D), Williams said he took the action in deference to council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4), his likely successor. Williams will leave office Jan. 2.

The withdrawn nominations included four appointments to the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, including the reappointment of current board Chairman Mark H. Tuohey III . One of the appointees to the agency would have been Vincent S. Morris , the mayor's chief spokesman.

Williams asked Cropp to move forward with six appointments, which he said would ensure the continuity of government.