A 27-year veteran Montgomery County employee was named Thursday to the position of chief administrative officer by incoming County Executive Ike Leggett.
Tim Firestine, director of the county’s Finance Department for the past 15 years, will supervise the county’s executive branch departments and offices. He will also act as an adviser to Leggett on decisions involving the county’s finances, legislation and other policies. Firestine has worked as deputy director of the office of management and budget.
Bruce Romer held the same position under outgoing County Executive Doug Duncan.
In the wake of a week where Leggett dismissed 17 of Duncan’s 40 appointees, Leggett also announced that he would keep the leaders of nine other county departments.
Those staying include Art Wallenstein, director of the department of correction and rehabilitation; fire/rescue Chief Tom Carr; and police Chief Thomas Manger. Gordon Aoyagi, the director of homeland security, will stay, as will Liquor Control Director George Griffin and Arthur Holmes, who heads up the county’s public works and transportation department.
Leggett assembled a transition team of 120 people several weeks ago to help him identify issues important to the county before he takes office on Monday. Of the members of his executive committee, he named Jennifer Hughes to be a special assistant to the county executive.
Leggett has set some of his priorities for the county as accountable government, breaking the county’s gridlock, building sustainable communities and expanding affordable housing.
