Talk of Annapolis

Mayor-Elect Josh Cohen this morning named his “Core Administrative Team”.

It breaks down as follows:

• Doug Smith, Chief Administrative Officer*
• Karen Hardwick, City Attorney
• Tim Elliott, Director of Finance
• Kimla Milburn, Director of Human Resources
• Gail Smith, Director of Services*
• Phill McGowan, Public Information Officer

* Indicates a new presumably un-budgeted position

Their Bios are as follows:

Douglas E. Smith, Chief Administrative Officer, is a business professional and a leader in community service. Mr. Smith has helped build successful commercial operations for major corporations while also contributing to improve the quality of life in his local community.  On the commercial side, he has held senior management positions with Fortune-100 corporations, and has been a founder, president and CEO for a number of high-tech start-up companies. Mr. Smith holds a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Ohio State University, with post-graduate work in mergers and acquisitions. His business background includes senior positions with PPG Industries, Digital Equipment, Compaq Computer and EMC. Mr. Smith’s industry experience covers large-scale manufacturing, high-value pharmaceuticals, computer software and services, and most recently, solar energy products. Mr. Smith is president of the Annapolis Ward One Residents Association and treasurer for the Downtown Annapolis Partnership, a 501 c (3) organization working with city government and local businesses to strengthen the commercial business climate in downtown Annapolis. He and his wife, Karen, have been homeowners in Annapolis since 1999, moving permanently to the city in 2005. They have two grown sons, both attorneys, and four grandchildren.

Karen M. Hardwick, ESQ- City Attorney, is a seasoned general counsel and litigator. Ms. Hardwick joined the law firm of Hogan and Hartson L.L.P. as an associate in 1988 and eight years later became the first African American woman to rise through its ranks to partnership. In her sixteen years of practice with the firm, she successfully litigated business tort, unfair competition, public utility, intellectual property and contract disputes in the Maryland and District of Columbia state and federal courts and in federal courts across the country. Ms. Hardwick’s clients included Fortune 100 telecommunications and technology companies, real estate owners and developers, nonprofits, energy conglomerates and nationally known entertainers. She lives in Sixteenth Street Heights in northwest Washington, DC and in Eastport, Annapolis, MD.

Kimla T. Milburn, , Director of Human Resources  (J.D., SPHR, IPMA-CP), has held this position since her appointment in 1998.  Ms. Milburn is a licensed attorney in Maryland where she practiced civil law prior to her appointment in Annapolis.  Ms. Milburn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland.  Currently, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR) and was recently honored as a 2009 recipient of the TWIN Award for the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.  Ms. Milburn has also written articles published in the IPMA-HR monthly Magazine on Human Resources issues and published an essay titled “A Look in the Mirror” in the book Secrets of Local Government Human Resources Professionals by Oracle Corporation. Ms. Milburn lives in Maryland with her husband, Michael, and their three children Michael Jr., Benjamin and Kristina.

Tim Elliott, Finance Director, was hired as Chief Accountant for the City of Annapolis in February, 1983; promoted to Assistant Director in July, 1994; took over as Acting Director in January, 2002 and appointed Finance Director in July, 2002.

Prior to coming to the City was employed in November, 1979 as a Fiscal Associate with the General Accounting Division, Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Maryland. Mr. Elliot serves on the Maryland Government Finance Officers Associations Executive Board, the Accounting and Audit Committee of the Local Government Insurance Trust Board of Directors, and the Mid-Atlantic Pension Plans Executive Board. He is married and has two children.

Gail Smith, Director of Services, has a long and distinguished career that includes working for a U.S. Senator, Congressman and the Director of the Poverty Program in the President’s Executive Office.   She joined the Department of Family Services in Prince George’s County as Program Manager for the Community Integration Program and the Infants and Toddlers Program.  Her work in the disability field resulted in numerous awards for her development and involvement in community programs as well as acknowledgement for displaying the highest standards of quality service.  She received the Governor’s Citation for outstanding contributions to young children and families of Prince George’s County.  Ms. Smith was a Community and Constituent Services Specialist with  County Executive Janet Owens administration and later served as the Legislative Assistant to Anne Arundel County Council Member Joshua Cohen and Annapolis Mayor-Elect. Her extensive experience in community service and knowledge of the Greater Annapolis area has served her well continuing to act as a liaison with citizens, council members, county departments, state, and federal representatives.  Her in-depth knowledge of the needs of the community coupled with her empathetic approach has proven to add value to the development of Mayor-Elect Cohen’s mission and objectives.  Ms. Smith received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland with a specialty in community organizing.

Phill McGowan, Public Information Officer, comes to Annapolis with more than 10 years of editing and writing experience for The Baltimore Sun. For more than three years, he worked as a reporter in Annapolis, covering city government, Anne Arundel County government, development/growth and military expansion. He worked previously at The Virginian-Pilot and the Associated Press. Mr. McGowan also has extensive new media experience. He obtained a master’s degree in interactive journalism from American University, where he acquired Web, video and social media skills from one of the elite new-media programs in the country. He leveraged that experience to become a social media specialist at The Sun, where he created and drove Web content strategies to build branding and engage audiences. In October, Mr. McGowan became editor at Virilion, an interactive Washington-based PR firm. He oversaw a team that produced blog content, social media messaging and other multimedia for a multi-million-dollar client. Mr. McGowan, a native of Portland, Ore., also holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Marquette University. He and his wife, Elza, have lived for the past eight years in Anne Arundel County. They have two small children.

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Now for some initial thoughts on the Mayor-Elect’s choices …

Doug Smith, Chief Administrative Officer – I have gotten to know and work with Doug over the past two years on a variety of issues, most notably on the City Manager petition drive initiative.  There is no doubt that Doug’s Resume is impressive and he is an accomplished business leader who will bring needed leadership to City Hall.

A few questions naturally present themselves:

1. Will this position as CAO replace the City Administrator or potential City Manager position?  If so, this would be a major change in policy for both the Mayor-Elect as well as Doug who both spoke of the need for an ICMA Certified individual.
2. Will Doug’s position halt the Council-Manager initiative by ABC (Annapolitans for a Better Community)?
3. Is this a tactical move by Mayor-Elect Cohen to once and for all end any movement towards a Council Manager form of government.

Karen Hardwick, City Attorney – I do not know Ms. Hardwick, so it would be unfair for me to pass any judgment on her.  She has an impressive Resume and will hopefully her knowledge from the private sector will be utilized as an asset to our City.  I will say that it is a refreshing thought to know that in just a few days we will be rid of Steve Kling, his ineptness,  and all the incompetence he brought to the City Attorney’s Office.

Tim Elliott, Director of Finance – This will be Tim’s sixth (6th) Administration at City Hall.  He is intelligent, articulate, and knows the City’s budget and finances better than anyone.  In actuality, he may be the only one at City Hall who can truly make sense of our Budget and financial status.  My only critique or recommendation to Tim is that he communicate more with the City Council and truly let them know the severity of our financial situation and make sure they are always aware of major issues and concerns.

Kimla Milburn, Director of Human Resources - I do not know Ms. Milburn, so it would be very unfair of me to pass any judgment on whether she should have been retained or not.  I think time will tell.  The good news is that she is no where near the top of my list of Direcotrs that need to be replaced (Mike Miron, Steve Kling, OK, I will STOP).

Gail Smith, Director of Services – Gail is Josh’s best asset.  Her work as his Legislative Aide is really what allowed him to get elected Mayor.  She provided outstanding constituent service while in County Executive Owens Administration and while working for Josh over the past 3 years.  Yes, I am biased, but I have 110% confidence that Gail will do an outstanding job in her new role and we the Citizens of Annapolis will benefit greatly from her being a part of this Administration.

Phill McGowan, Public Information Officer - Phill has always been a fair and open minded reporter, and I am confident that he will bring those same attributes to his new position.  Transparency will be key in this Administrations success, and I hope that Phill’s background will help ensure this.

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One additional quick observation. This initial core team is representative of  the diversity that is Annapolis; 3 women and 2 African Americans.

I am hopeful that on Tuesday morning, the Mayor will begin to assemble with his new CAO the remainder of his Department Heads and share them with us.  I am also hopeful that with these announcements will also come the consolidation of several existing Departments, thus reducing the number of Department Heads within City Hall.  These choices and individuals will be a pivotal part of his Administartions success or failure.

We will all stay tuned and await more information.

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