Photo by ep_jhu.D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) released a report this morning announcing that the Council’s Committee on Public Works and Transportation will hold a special oversight hearing to review “the decision-making process for official vehicle procurement and stewardship of public funds.” And while Vince Gray and Kwame Brown certainly have gotten caught up in the scandal, Freeman Klopott reports they’re hardly alone in opting for a pricey, gas guzzling ride.
Klopott runs down the other rides of local leaders around the metro area — and finds that they’re all also driving really expensive SUVs. Klopott notes that though Gray’s Lincoln Navigator is by far the most expensive vehicle used by a local leader, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett — who uses two SUVs to get around! — all utilize vehicles which cost their jurisdictions more than $38,000. O’Malley and McDonnell’s usage appears far less damning than Gray’s, though: McDonnell’s lease only costs the Commonwealth $496 a month (as opposed to Gray’s, which nearly runs $2,000), while Maryland has a deal in place to resell O’Malley’s vehicle after his term is up for about 75 percent of the cost.
Inside the District, Wells is looking to move quickly on addressing the issue. “The preliminary findings highlight many troubling signs,” claims Wells’ report, including Brown’s role in the “inappropriate” lease of his Navigator and the Department of Public Works “routinely violating” miles per gallon laws when procuring vehicles. The report also notes that Wells is still awaiting a list of vehicles assigned to agency directors inside the city government. “It appears that the laws and regulations of the District have not been followed as it releates to SUVs, fuel efficiency, authorized use, authorized drivers, and overall fleet management,” concludes the report, which you can read in full below.
Wells will convene a hearing on the matter on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 10:00 am in the John A. Wilson Building.
