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Leggett Promises Smooth Transition for Government
County Executive-elect Isiah "Ike" Leggett, right, talks with former Rockville mayor William Hanna, center, and transition team member Phillip Singerman.
(By Susan Biddle -- The Washington Post)
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At the same time, Leggett's new administration will be responsible for negotiating contracts with teachers, police officers and other county employees, many of whom supported his candidacy.
"Ike has always said that he's prepared to support the needs of the workforce to keep them productive, efficient and competitively paid," said Gino Renne, president of the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization.
Leggett, who takes office Dec. 4, has cast a wide net in pursuit of evaluations of department directors. Interviews are being conducted by former council member Bruce Adams, who lost to Duncan in the 1994 Democratic primary for county executive; Chuck Short, a former county health and human services administrator; longtime friend and tennis partner Sol Graham; and transition team leaders Lawrence Rosenblum and Jennifer Hughes.
Leggett has kept his own counsel and has not personally signaled his intentions. That has set off rampant speculation and a rush of anxiety in the hallways of county government buildings where political appointees await their fate.
In general, Leggett said he is looking for experts, "people who are not rigid" and who share his commitment to an "accessible and open" government.
"Some people are providing a good job, and some are marginal," he said. "Where we need to improve, I'll make a change."
Duncan's aggressive dismissals in 1994, which he delivered in a series of five-minute meetings, were a major departure from the practice of his two immediate predecessors, Sidney Kramer and Neal Potter. Duncan drew sharp criticism from the NAACP and other African American leaders for firing four of the county's five highest-ranking black administrators.
Among key policy areas in which Leggett has said he would like to see changes are the transportation and human services departments.
Those offices, in addition to the office of procurement, are overseen by African Americans appointed by Duncan. It is unclear whether Leggett will make personnel changes in these areas.
