More News

Leggett begins filling jobs

Firestine will take over as chief administrative officer

Friday, Dec. 1, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Laurie DeWitt⁄The Gazette Montgomery County Executive-elect Isiah Leggett (left) introduces Tim Firestine, his new chief adminstrative officer, at a press conference Thursday.

And his first appointment won high praise.

Isiah Leggett (D) named Timothy L. Firestine, Douglas M. Duncan’s finance director, as the county’s chief administrative officer. Firestine replaces Bruce F. Romer in the job. Duncan (D), who leaves office on Monday when Leggett is sworn in, brought Romer, Rockville’s city manager when Duncan was mayor, to the County Executive Building when he was elected in 1994.

‘‘I’m ecstatic,” said County Councilwoman Marilyn J. Praisner (D-Dist. 4) of Calverton. ‘‘I think this is a big win for Ike Leggett and an even bigger win for the county government.”

Praisner said she has known Firestine since she was elected and got to know him better when he appeared before her Management and Fiscal Policy Committee and on annual trips to New York to meet with bond rating agencies.

‘‘He is a superb professional,” she said. ‘‘He knows the county and knows the county executive system of government.”

Councilman Steven A. Silverman, who lost the Democratic primary to Leggett, praised the appointment.

‘‘Tim’s a great guy and exceptionally bright,” said Silverman (D-At large) of Silver Spring. ‘‘I think he’ll make a great CAO.”

Firestine ‘‘has been a great public servant for years” whose knowledge goes well beyond his finance role and who has the respect of returning and new council members, he said.

Councilman Michael L. Subin (D-At large) of Gaithersburg, who attended Thursday’s announcement, called Firestine ‘‘one of the most competent people in county government. His ability to act as CAO is unquestionable.”

Gail H. Ewing, a former councilwoman, called Firestine ‘‘a great choice. I admire Bruce Romer so much. I told [Leggett] get Bruce Romer or get someone just as good.”

Romer’s departure was inevitable, said former Planning Board Chairman Gus Bauman.

‘‘[Romer] worked in the City of Rockville when Doug was [mayor] and as CAO for all of Doug’s 12 years at the county,” Bauman said. ‘‘It’s natural Ike would want his own CAO. Ike recognized that whomever he picked had to be as good as Bruce Romer, and I think he did that today.”

Duncan called Romer ‘‘the best Chief Administrative Officer in the country. ... His leadership led us to greatness. His loyalty and friendship will always be appreciated. It truly has been a privilege serving with him for 18 years.”

Romer did not return calls.

Leggett also announced that other key Duncan people would stay on during his administration, including:

*Corrections Director Arthur M. Wallenstein

*Fire Chief Thomas W. Carr Jr.

*Police Chief J. Thomas Manger

*Homeland Security Director Gordon A. Aoyagi

*Libraries Director Parker Hamilton

*Liquor Control Director George F. Griffin

*Intergovernmental Relations Director Melanie L. Wenger

*Public Works Director Arthur Holmes Jr.

*Human Resources Director Joseph Adler

‘‘The change agent in Montgomery County is Ike Leggett,” the new county executive told county workers and reporters during the afternoon news conference in Rockville, ‘‘... and these people can implement that.”

Leggett is also retaining Constantia B. Latham as a special assistant. Latham performed the same job for Duncan. She will be joined by Jennifer Hughes, a staff member for County Councilman Howard A. Denis (R-Dist. 1) of Chevy Chase and a member of Leggett’s transition team.

‘‘I thought we needed some continuity from the last administration,” Leggett said of Latham. ‘‘Out of the four special assistants [to Duncan], I felt I had the best working relationship with her.”

The changes were not necessarily an overhaul, but a desire to keep administrators who understand and buy in to his vision for the county.

‘‘What some see as radical changes, others see as minor changes,” he said. ‘‘We have to recognize that the county itself is changing. ... From the beginning, I maintained that there would be changes in growth and development.”

He confirmed that several Duncan appointees would lose their jobs. They are:

*Health and Human Services Director Carolyn W. Colvin

*Housing and Community Affairs Director Elizabeth B. Davison

*Economic Development Director David W. Edgerley

*Permitting Services Director Robert C. Hubbard

*Budget Director Beverley K. Swaim-Staley

*Procurement Director Beatrice P. Tignor

*Recreation Director Gregory A. Bayor

But others will keep their jobs, including:

*Youth and Family Services Chief Catherine Garvey

*Special Needs Housing chief Corinne Stevens

*Health Officer Ulder J. Tillman

*Assistant police chiefs John A. King, Drew J. Tracy and Deidre Walker

More appointments will be made over the next two weeks, Leggett said.

Duncan praised his management team as nationally recognized ‘‘leaders of distinction and accomplishment. Together, we led Montgomery County to improve educational excellence, strengthen environmental protections, fight poverty and urban blight, expand access to health care and position Montgomery as an international biotechnology leader.”