Mayor Adrian Fenty’s choice to lead the D.C. Department of Human Services, the District’s welfare agency, is a rare Republican appointment who believes society must do “everything in our power to build the capacity of every individual in this city to succeed.”

Clarence Carter, Fenty’s DHS director nominee, joins the administration after working six years under President George W. Bush, most recently as deputy administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $41 billion foodstamp program. He has also served in various social service-related capacities under former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore, former U.S. Sen. George Allen and former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean — all Republicans.

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