A former appointee under D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams will return to serve the Adrian Fenty administration as the deputy mayor for planning and economic development, Fenty announced Monday, though the nominee acknowledged having limited experience working with developers.
Neil Albert, 46, Williams’ former deputy mayor for children, youth, families and elders, will lead the Fenty administration’s efforts to spread the development boom from bustling downtown to long-ignored communities from Georgia Avenue Northwest to Good Hope Road Southeast.
Albert is leaving his position as chief executive officer of EdBuild, an District-based educational consulting firm, to join Fenty’s team.
“We share the vision of community involvement, ensuring that the renaissance that has pervaded this city for the last eight years continues into some of those neighborhoods that have not benefited from them,” Albert said during a news conference at the Reeves Center.
Though they do not agree on every issue, Fenty said he and Albert have a very strong relationship that dates back to before Fenty’s election in 1999 as the Ward 4 D.C. Council member.
“He’s thoughtful,” Fenty said. “He’s deliberative. He takes into account all sides on an issue, and he’s strong at making a decision at the end of the day.”
The deputy mayor for economic development is a statutory office with oversight over the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Department of Housing and Community Development. It supports the mayor’s economic development policies and represents the mayor to businesses and developers. Albert, who also directed the Department of Parks and Recreation under Williams, acknowledged he has little experience working directly with developers, but he said he was part of many “big issue” conversations as a former deputy mayor, and he’s done his homework on recent hot button subjects.
Fenty indicated Albert’s management experience trumps his lack of experience in the development field, calling his nominee the right person to “run the point and make sure that the decisions of government are helping to get things done.”
“In every ward there’s neighborhood economic development which needs to be pushed along a little bit faster,” Fenty said. “I think that’s where Neil’s skills will really come into play.”
More on Neil Albert
» Resigned as Anthony Williams’ deputy mayor September 2005
» Has held public sector executive positions for 15 years
» Holds MBA in finance from New York Institute of Technology
» Served as director of contract agency finance for NYC Department of Youth Services
