The Virginian-Pilot
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Chesapeake City Manager William Harrell is among three finalists for the Hampton Roads Transit president and CEO position.
He joins Dionysios "Dan" Anninos, former commander of the Norfolk branch of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Harry E. Black, executive vice president and COO of Global Commerce Solutions, based in Washington, D.C.
The three are vying to replace Philip Shucet, who leaves at the end of January. Shucet, former Virginia Department of Transportation commissioner, was hired nearly two years ago to finish Norfolk's light-rail system and restore credibility to the transit agency battered by cost overruns and allegations of mismanagement.
Harrell has been Chesapeake's manager since 2007. His performance was questioned by some elected officials earlier this year, yet following his evaluation by City Council, he kept his job and received a raise. He also has served as chief administrative officer and deputy city manager in Richmond and has worked in the cities of Suffolk and Greensboro, N.C.
Anninos left the Norfolk district of the corps in 2010 to become chief of staff at the Washington, D.C., headquarters. A colonel in the U.S. Army, he's been with the corps since 2006 and previously held leadership roles in the Persian Gulf and with NATO.
Before working at Global Commerce Solutions, Black was chief financial officer and deputy chief administrative officer for Richmond. He's also worked for the District of Columbia government and other private companies.
The finalists came from a field of 71 applicants. They will be interviewed by the executive committee of the HRT board next month, which will make a recommendation to the full board.
The executive committee stepped into the process late after Norfolk officials complained that the search committee had no representatives from Norfolk, which hosts light rail and provides nearly 40 percent of the local money to operate HRT. Hampton also was not represented. The executive committee has representatives from all the member cities.
"It really was an oversight, and I don't know how it happened," HRT board Chairwoman Patricia Woodbury said. She said the CEO search committee evolved out of another committee that was planning a board retreat that never happened.
Norfolk Councilman Barclay Winn said he was pleased that the process "was slowed down" so Norfolk and Hampton could have a seat at the table.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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Any of these guys ever ride the bus?
We need a transit advocate to run HRT. I fear that the momentum gained during Shucet's tenure will be lost by another leader who doesn't know how a fare box works. Public transit is vital to the success of our region. Do any of these guys get that?
Makes Suffolk's....
….decision to fire HRT look smarter with each episode. Stay tuned. More to come.
three finalists
yippee
Let FD put out fires, Cops make arrests & CM manage the city...
Mr. Harrell manages this city very well. We have less layoff than other cities, no school closing, he keeps employees informed & in a poor economy employees got a raise instead of losing jobs. VOTE OFF the council member who micro-manages. Let a City Manager "manage" the city and do HIS job. Council should not use their status to force decisions that they have no business making. Mr. Harell is an asset & while we are better off with him here, he'll do well anywhere. Even if he has no experience, he CAN lead. To be effective, you have to use all your resources, the talents, expertise and yes, delegate! Those who say he let others do his dirty work, do not really do their job, want to get paid for it but blame others for their laziness.
you have go to be kidding !!`
You must either work on the 6th floor of City hall or are hallucinating if you think Billie knows how to run a city. You are right he "manages" the city which implies command and control which is he a master at. Don't believe it? Ask the local media. Billie controls EVERY word coming out of CH. Why? he is afraid and is a control freak. That is not leadership, that is management. Today's economy demands leaders and no one on the 6th floor can spell "leadership" let alone demonstrate a lick of it. He lies to his employees, protects the butt kissers and punishes anyone who dares to speak out about his competencies. You obviously have never worked for a truly gifted leader. I have and I promise you Billie Harrell is no Jack Kennedy !
Wrong about where I work and
Wrong about where I work and my employer, wrong about leadership & the comment about laziness must've struck a nerve. Are you one of those wanna be a leader that loves to hear yourself talk? You state no facts & could not, therefore did not dispute the facts: no school closing & raises instead of lay offs in this economy under Harrell's watch. Hmmm...
OK here are the facts.....
Drive around and look at the city, it is a mess. Most if not all of the city buildings are falling apart. There is no plan to fix them up. The city is looking at a 30 million dollar hole for next yr. The school teachers did not get a raise, the money for new schools will jot come. raises? Big deal. They never should have been given. There is no way you will close a 30 million dollar gap w/o laying people off. Do you know of any city in VA that is closing schools? that is a stupid comment as CC is not going to close schools in an election yr plus this is not Detroit. Tell me why ole Billie controls every word coming out of city hall ? There are plenty of facts, just look around. your "facts" shows how little u know about politics.
Use Common Sense...please!
I suppose you can fix all city buildings, in this state of economy in 4 years, if you are the City Manager? So, if you are the CM, you will not have a deficit without raising taxes and all state funding is cut off? Please, you can't even begin to explain how you plan to do that. You don't even know the difference between politics and city management.You wouldn't you want to take care of your employees while the cost of living continues to rise? So, you wouldn't protect your employer, its employees or council and make sure information that is released are factual? I know nothing about politics? I know enough to know that the "manager of acity" should not be a politician. I know enough to know that politicians should not use their status to influence
Who is Riddick's first choice?
Who is Riddick's first choice?
Safe to say he's narrowed it
Safe to say he's narrowed it down to two.