By Yolanda Woodlee and Michael H. Cottman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 6, 1999; Page B08

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams and the leaders of the city's three largest suburbs emerged from a three-hour meeting last night pledging to work together to tackle traffic, the deteriorating Woodrow Wilson Bridge and other regional quality-of-life issues.

The meeting of the "Big Four" – Williams, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Katherine K. Hanley, Prince George's County Executive Wayne K. Curry and Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan – was a first. Afterward, the group of Democrats said they would build an alliance that would make the region stronger.

"This is the beginning of a renewal of a relationship of the Big Four . . . working together to compete in a global economy with the District as a vital center," Williams said. "We believe it is important for the leadership of these jurisdictions to get together on a regular basis. . . . A lot is on the table."

The meeting came on Williams's second working day as mayor. The three county leaders said they had not established a collective relationship with a D.C. mayor in the past but called this encounter productive. Two of the main topics were economic development and finding better ways to move people in and out of the city.

"We are part of a region, and the region is stronger when we work together," Hanley said.

Curry said: "This has been a wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with the mayor to talk about the ways in which we can work together to advance the interests of these jurisdictions. This is a constructive group that is working to advance the city."

Duncan invited Williams, who has visited several cities across the country to gather ideas for improving Washington, to come to the three neighboring jurisdictions "to see what we do well."

"It's important because – not the four of us here – but our four positions getting together and working to find solutions to our common problems that will affect the everyday quality of life of people in our region," Duncan said. "We are united."

Williams said that if Europeans can come together to create a new currency, the euro, the Big Four should be able "forge a partnership" and establish a series of major initiatives.

John R. Tydings, president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, which hosted the meeting at the Capital Hilton Hotel, characterized it as "a get-together" of Williams and the three county leaders. He said the inclusion of Williams was a significant move toward solidifying the region's leaders.

"We said that Tony Williams, in our judgment, had the capability and the interest to link the city with the rest of the region. Tonight is one of the early steps," Tydings said. "It is a chance for these four to get to know each other and to let them decide what are some of the critical things they want to discuss in a regional setting."

The Big Four dinner meeting was modeled off a long-standing tradition in Maryland that brings together the heads of the state's six largest counties and the City of Baltimore to establish relationships and set agendas.

Tydings said that Williams also has been invited to the Board of Trade's Potomac conference this weekend. This is the ninth year for the conference, which provides an outlet for regional business and government leaders to address issues such as education and transportation that affect the entire metropolitan area.

"We think the District is absolutely critical to the region and its economic health," Tydings said.

Earlier yesterday, Hanley played down expectations for the dinner, calling it a "get-acquainted meeting." Although she said there was no formal agenda and predicted that the meeting would not lead to any immediate proposals, she said transportation issues were crucial to the region.

"As we think about where rail and transit goes next, that's an issue of interest to all of us. The Wilson Bridge is an interest to all of us.

"This is a chance for us to all get to know each other and develop relationships," she added. "With Doug and Wayne, we feel comfortable calling each other and working on issues. Certainly, I'd like to have that kind of relationship with the mayor of the District."

Staff writer Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.