OK, so Dan Tan out as city administrator; Neil Albert in.
But who replaces Albert as deputy mayor for planning and economic development? That is, after all, one of the most powerful slots in city government, in charge of shaping building and development in all corners of the city.
Allow LL to run some names, in order of likelihood:
Greg O’Dell: Currently CEO of the Washington Convention Center Authority, O’Dell’s got a crackerjack reputation for getting things done—-not least because as president of the Sports and Entertainment Commission he presided over the on-time completion of Nationals Park. The timing is good, too—-with the SEC folding into the WCCA, either he or SEC chief Erik Moses will be in need of a job. Working against him: He might be just too nice of a guy.
Robin-Eve Jasper: The current director of the Office of Property Management is a former top aide to Albert and would certainly have his trust, if he has any say in the decision. She’s also tough as nails by reputation. Working against her: Fenty’s probably happy to have her keep doing what she’s doing right where she’s doing it.
Valerie Santos Young: If Fenty looks to promote from the bench, as he so often does, he’d have to consider DMPED’s current chief operating officer. Good reputation; knows how things have been getting done.
Erik Moses: See above. In his tenure as Fenty’s head of Small and Local Business Development, he won Hizzoner’s confidence. He’s got the relationships. Working against him: Like O’Dell, he’s a low-key, laid-back dude.
Leila Finucane Edmonds: The director of the Department of Housing and Community Development has gotten strong reviews from affordable-housing developers, and she’s a Fenty loyalist. Working against her: She hasn’t been in D.C. that long, and may not have the relationships other candidates do.
Harriet Tregoning: The planning office director would be the out-of-the box choice for Fenty. She’s widely respected by the urbanist crowd for her progressive views on development; she’d been a strong advocate for green building and smart growth. However, in this economy, don’t look for Fenty to get particularly revolutionary with this pick. At the end of the day, being a planning director’s about standing in the way of development (in a good way!), not getting projects done.
Fenty said this afternoon he expects to name the new DMPED in “a few weeks.”