Washington-area schoolchildren aren’t the only ones enjoying summer vacation.
They’ll be joined by dozens of elected officials throughout the D.C. region, including some on city and county councils banking six-figure annual incomes while presiding over jurisdictions that rival small states.
Critics have long argued it makes little sense for these legislative bodies to go on extended breaks, pointing to wide-ranging problems that don’t disappear while politicians are away from their lucrative jobs — an argument they say is all the more pressing as area governments grapple with massive funding shortfalls.
Prince George’s County: July 20- Aug. 31
| Out for summer |
| Recesses for D.C.-area councils |
| Alexandria: July 1- Aug. 31 |
| Arlington: Aug. 1- 31 |
| District: July 15- Sept. 15 |
| Fairfax County: July 26– Sept 13 |
| Montgomery County: Aug. 1- Sept. 10 |
“If one of my employees came up to me and said, ‘I want to take 40 days off,’ I would say, ‘I have to very seriously think about getting a replacement for you,'” explained activist and former Montgomery County Council candidate Robin Ficker. “I don’t think they should even take 40 minutes off. Apparently they need time to go to the beach.”
In Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, council members will enjoy a 40-day recess this summer; meeting rooms will remain dark in the District and Alexandria for two straight months; and Fairfax and Arlington counties are taking a month and a half and 30 days off respectively.
However, elected officials say it is unfair to label their recess period a vacation.
“The recess means I can take the time to work on items that are problematic and require research,” said Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh. “If people think I’m not working then they’re way off base.”
And Montgomery County Councilman Phil Andrews, D-Gaithersburg/Rockville said he works between 30 and 40 hours a week when the group is not in session.
But when asked if that was the status quo within the council, he added, “I probably do more work during those times than anybody else.”
While summer recesses are hardly unique among local governments, area leaders often tout a heavier workload than those in similar positions as justification for higher salaries.
D.C. Council members rake in the second-highest salaries among lawmakers in the nation’s largest cities, according to a recent report by the Pew Charitable Trust. When including the chairman’s salary — about $193,000 — the average District council member makes $130,538 a year, trailing only Los Angeles legislators, who earn $178,789.
“Given the fact that they’re some of the highest paid legislators in the country, it’s inexcusable that they take a two-month break while also being part-time employees,” said D.C. police union chief Kris Baumann. “No where else would the public permit it and the private sector would not allow these types of salaries with these types of perks.”
Across the Potomac, the Prince George’s County Council members make up to $101,000 and the Montgomery County Council president earns more than $94,000 annually. Fairfax County supervisors make $75,000.
Others are concerned that important issues are lacking scrutiny during lengthy recesses.
Dorothy Brizill, executive director of D.C. Watch, said the council should further study a blueprint for Internet gambling within the city before heading out for its two-month break.
“We still know very little about Internet gambling and the plan is to roll it out while the council is in recess,” she said.
When told about the summer breaks, some residents simply wanted a career change.
“Where can I sign up for that job?” said Kent Franklin, a computer technician from Arlington, who makes “nowhere near six figures.” “If you can afford to take that much time off, your gig can’t be that important.”
