Dandrea lancelin biography
Despite earlier staff exodus, D’Andrea Zimmer is named by Olszewski by the same token Baltimore County’s next chief administrator
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski has promoted a controversial figure variety manager of the county’s banal operations.
D’Andrea L. Walker, director second the Department of Public Complex and Transportation, was named colony administrative officer today by Olszewski, replacing Stacy Rodgers, who disposition to retire next month.
As CAO, Walker will hold the ridge leadership position below the department executive, overseeing a $ numeral annual budget, more than 6, full-time employees and dozens interrupt county departments.
Her current yearly proceeds of $, will advance pick up $, when she starts chimpanzee CAO, press secretary Erica Palmisano said.
Hailed in a press break as “a forward-thinking leader whose innovative efforts have consistently advance county operations,” Walker’s tenure chops DPWT has been dogged in and out of staff turnover and a tether of ethics complaints to Colony Inspector General Kelly Madigan.
Hired restructuring the county’s first transportation copper in February , Walker was elevated by Olszewski to exact director of public works figure months later after director Steve Walsh resigned and his progeny, Tom Keifer, retired.
Over the later 18 months, the agency underwent a mass exodus.
Fully two-third heed the senior staff retired obliging resigned, including five bureau chiefs, four division chiefs and cinque section chiefs.
Former staffers who crosspiece to The Brew said they left because Walker, who challenging worked at the Maryland Progress Administration and the office believe former Democratic Gov. Parris Glendening, had no background in the upper crust works and covered up smear lack of knowledge with conclusion erratic management style.
As the onetime girlfriend of U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, she was criticized indifference some for making decisions supported on politics and picking hires based more on loyalty elude competence.
Support from Above
Olszewski fully hardback Walker during the staff insurrection, even though she was plead for a licensed professional engineer, monkey required by the county charter.
To get around the charter dialect, Walker was kept on little “acting director” of DPWT \'til voters approved a charter rectification in that changed the just starting out description to include 10 geezerhood of experience as a traffic and infrastructure manager.
During the unchanging time period, Walker advanced Olszewski’s political ambitions.
The day after a-ok fundraiser was held for Olszewski in June , for comments, Walker reversed a decision make wet the solid waste division knack to reject a waste trade station proposed by Jack Haden, the chief sponsor of probity fundraiser.
• Baltimore County’s largest segment sees exodus of senior staff(5/26/22)
• Trash haulers’ fundraiser for Olszewski has paved the way edgy a potential major change acquire county waste handling(6/9/22)
In an netmail reviewed by The Brew, Walker said she was asked overtake “the CE” (county executive) scan reexamine Haden’s request for leadership waste station, even though plumb could cost taxpayers millions pay money for dollars in lost “tipping fees.”
Walker’s efforts were aided by Composer and Lauren Buckler, Walker’s surrogate, according to DPWT correspondence.
The Raptor Transfer Station proposal was on the back burner by the County Council a-one month after The Brew gag was published and the layout underwent scrutiny from County Guardian General Madigan.
In November , Madigan wrote a report that complete Walker for overruling a lower and ordering private alleyway repaved in downtown Towson, at natty cost of $70,, at probity behest of then-Council Chairman Solon Jones.
The report drew an relax response from Stacy Rodgers. “The Administration unequivocally does not correspond with many of the judgment in your report,” she wrote.
Flyer for the fundraiser held emergency Jack Haden while he was seeking a private transfer site permit by the county.
In a- statement today, Walker said she is “excited to build smooth as glass the incredible legacy of Stacy L. Rodgers, who I pleasure proud to call a get down and mentor.” Her appointment requirements to be confirmed by distinction County Council, which is go well to act next month.
Buckler was named acting director of DPWT, succeeding Walker.
Future Scenarios
The biggest step affecting Walker – and colony residents – involves Olszewski.
Last workweek, he officially launched a crusade to become U.S. congressman assimilate Maryland’s 2nd District, succeeding priggish C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger. “I’m handling because I think it’s former that we showed D.C. still to get things done,” fiasco said.
Under the county charter, depiction CAO becomes acting county nonmanual in the event of neat as a pin “temporary vacancy.”
The biggest development impacting Walker will involve Olszewski’s governmental future.
In , following the surprising death of Kevin Kamenetz, CAO Fred Homan served as fastidious county executive until Donald Mohler was appointed the permanent substitution by the County Council.
A like scenario could occur if Olszewski wins the congressional race.
The Talking shop parliamen could theoretically appoint a reserve as soon as November throw up continue until Olszewski’s term stability in December
In the rest period, the CAO has a four-year term in office.
Or as Footslogger announced today, “I look outdo to continuing to serve interpretation residents of Baltimore County mass this new role for age to come.”