A nominee for a commission that was supposed to be in place last fall has withdrawn his name from consideration, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s office confirmed Thursday. The nominee, Patrick Blake, was to vice-chair the yet-to-be-formed Real Property Tax Appeals Commission created by council last year.
“The nominee withdrew his name due to other professional commitments that would conflict with the full time nature of the Vice-Chair position,” mayoral spokesman Pedro Ribeiro said via email. “We are currently in the process of reviewing and vetting possible replacements, and expect to submit a replacement nominee shortly.”
Gray notified Council Chairman Kwame Brown in a letter dated Tuesday. The commission was created by law last year as a means of professionalizing the Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals by creating paid positions and having certain degree and licensing requirements for members. However the deadline — Oct. 1, 2011 — came and went for the nominees to be named and confirmed by council.
The board is still in operation and will continue until the commission is established. Blake currently serves on that board.
