Veteran Fire Official Appointed Chief; He Will Deal With Tightening Budget

Anne Arundel's county executive announced the retirement of the county's fire chief yesterday and introduced his replacement, Deputy Chief John Robert Ray, a department veteran of 31 years.

To help with the transition, the current chief, David L. Stokes, said he will not retire until Oct. 1. Stokes said he is stepping down primarily for financial reasons.

"We had a good run; I have no complaints," Stokes said. "I didn't want to retire, but this way I can draw on my pension and work another job to support my family."

County Executive John R. Leopold (R) said he spent two weeks looking for Stokes's replacement, interviewing six candidates, five from within the department.

"I was looking for someone inside because I wanted a seamless transition and someone who would have the respect of the rank and file," Leopold said.

One major criteria in choosing the next chief, he said, was someone with a strong fiscal hand who could oversee a tightening of the department's budget. Another was someone who could continue to unite the volunteer and the career firefighters, a relationship that has been problematic.

Ray is the department's deputy chief of logistics and has worked in various other positions and as the county's fire marshal. In 2002, he was also appointed head of the county's Department of Inspections and Permits.

"There are going to be some tough decisions ahead, especially on the economic side," Ray said of his new job.

"The relationships between volunteer and career and with other agencies are going to be crucial because we'll have to pull together to get through it."