Harriet Tregoning

This afternoon, Mayor-elect Vince Gray announced he will retain Office of Planning chief Harriet Tregoning, along with several other Adrian Fenty appointees.

Many around the District had wondered what place Tregoning would have, if any, in the Gray administration. The President of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City had called for Gray to fire Tregoning in November, claiming that the she, along with outgoing District Department of Transportation Director Gabe Klein, had pursued an “absolutist approach” during her tenure. After that letter was published, several transit advocates stepped up in an effort to save Tregoning’s job. It had also been bandied about that Gray was considering Tregoning for the position of deputy mayor for economic development. In a statement, Gray’s transition website said that Tregoning’s retainment will allow her to continue “to make the District of Columbia a more livable, inclusive, globally competitive city.”

Another appointment which will affect many around the area is the appointment of Nicholas Majett to the job of Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Gray decided to keep things in house to replace Linda Argo at the agency — Majett is currently the agency’s deputy director for communications and customer service.

In contrast to last week, which was incredibly rough on Fenty appointees, Gray announced several holdovers this afternoon: Department of Public Works Director Bill Howland, Department of Motor Vehicles Director Lucinda Babers, Office of Cable Television Director Eric E. Richardson and Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs Director Soohyun Koo — all Fenty picks — will keep their jobs. Finally, Roland R. Collins, an Assistant Secretary to the City Council during Gray’s chairmanship and his former Chief of Staff in the early 90s, will become the new Director of the Office of Boards and Commissions.

“Residents can rest assured they will work with my administration to bring new and innovative ideas, projects, programs and improvements to respond to the people who live, work and do business in the District of Columbia,” Gray said.