Maybe it’s an addiction. It’s hard to understand why Mayor Vincent C. Gray persists in bringing into the government his political cronies. He recently brought on Suzanne Peck, a chief fundraiser from his 2010 campaign. He said Peck would serve as a “pro bono senior advisor” to the city administrator, helping implement “One City Performance Review.” Undoubtedly, Gray’s betting Peck’s being unpaid will inoculate him against criticism.
I learned years ago the freebees can kill you.
Gray reportedly had considered hiring Peck as his city administrator. Very few people were excited about that prospect. Bringing her on as a free adviser has been perceived as a backdoor maneuver, giving her time to build internal allies.
It’s all about Peck — not District residents.
Even without cash, Peck could cash in. She would have enormous access and influence. And, if past is prologue, she wouldn’t hesitate to leverage that to advantage her friends, helping them secure contracts under the guise they are uniquely qualified.
She was the District’s chief technology officer during Mayor Anthony A. Williams’ administration. In 2007, then-Mayor Adrian M. Fenty declined to retain her. She went to Metro, serving as its tech chief; she abruptly resigned earlier this year.
Peck has proved to be a high-maintenance spendthrift and a serial violator of personnel and procurement rules and regulations. Tapping her to lead any effort to save money is incongruous.
In a 2010 audit, Metro’s inspector general found, among other things, Peck facilitated the hiring of a contractor she had known for 20 years; that individual “received thousands of dollars before a formal contract was ever approved.” She called those findings “unwarranted and unfounded.”
Peck has boasted she took the District from “worst to first,” moving it into the computerized 21st century and receiving awards along the way. That may be true.
But, a 2005 IG audit of the Administrative Systems Modernization found Peck routinely issued sole-source contracts and exceeded by $15 million her budget for the project. There was the “appearance” that she pre-selected two contractors. She also violated the city law that requires that contracts over $1 million receive prior council approval.
She blamed those problems on the Office of Contracting and Procurement. But the IG noted that “e-mails suggest that [Peck] — and not the [contracting officer] — directed procurement efforts.”
Despite those reports, Gray has defended his money collector, asserting allegations of contracting abuses “are unfounded and unwarranted.”
Peck is bad news and unnecessary.
Gray already has a large budget office that should track spending and propose savings. Further, City Administrator Allen Lew has been conducting comprehensive and strategic agency reviews for the past few months. There are early signs he’s having positive effect.
Gray hired Lew because he has a stellar reputation for accomplishing major feats with slim bureaucracies. But, the mayor has seemed intent on sabotaging the CA, littering his path with deleterious deputy managers and, now, Peck.
Why? Could it be Gray really doesn’t want a new improved District government?
I’m just asking.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
