Anne Arundel County Executive-elect John Leopold announced Wednesday that Deputy Fire Chief David Stokes will become the county?s new fire chief.
He succeeds the embattled Ronald Blackwell who held the position for two years.
“[Mr. Stokes] is a bridge-builder who recognizes the importance of a good working relationship between the career firefighters and the volunteer firefighters,” Leopold said in awritten statement. “He also has extensive budgetary experience and shares my goal of addressing the overtime issue and other efficiency issues.”
Outgoing County Executive Janet Owens hired Blackwell as fire chief in 2004.
He served as fire chief in Prince George?s County prior to coming to Anne Arundel. Blackwell was criticized recently for not reining in ballooning overtime costs at the department. At the same time, Blackwell oversaw the recruitment and training of additional firefighters to fill out a fourth shift beginning next year.
Blackwell was not available for comment Wednesday. County and fire department spokesmen said Blackwell had submitted his resignation as required by all county department heads at the start of new executive terms.
Stokes, a 27-year veteran of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, will take over as fire chief Dec. 4. Before coming to the county department, Stokes, 49, was a volunteer firefighter with the Eastport and West Annapolis Volunteer Fire Departments. He is married with two grown children.
“I look forward to forming a partnership with the union, volunteers and fire officer association,” Stokes said in a written statement. “I would like to thank Chief Blackwell for his service to the citizens of Anne Arundel County.”
Leopold also named Alan Friedman as government relations officer and Andrea Fulton as personnel officer. Friedman serves as director of legislative relations for Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich. Andrea Fulton, Ehrlich?s executive director of the office of personnel service and benefits, was named as the county?s new personnel director. Leopold said he will conduct a national search to fill vacancies in inspections and permits, and planning and zoning.
