Waiting for Zuckerberg

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz promised in his inauguration speech that his administration would seek to return to era of innovative, efficient government that he said has marked the county's history.

"I know that Baltimore County can reclaim its role as leader in innovation and creativity," Kamenetz said Monday.

"Progress is built by creative people with new ideas," Kamenetz said.

But he didn't say it was built by new people with creative ideas.

Kamenetz's list of appointments doesn't contain a lot of surprises or 20-something wunderkinds. 

"Maybe Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook) will apply to the Department of Development," Don Mohler, Kamenetz's spokesman and chief of staff joked, adding that innovation and creativity "will come from a variety of places."

Including lots of familiar faces.

Kamenetz's list of 16 appointments sent to the County Council on Monday include 12 returning department heads. The balance are long-time county employees, former elected officials and a lawyer who previously served on the Board of Appeals.

The list includes Arnold Jablon, who will return to run the department he left in 2003. Jablon, who served in the county under five different county executives worked as a land use attorney for the last seven years, will be in charge of the re-tooled Department of Permits and Development Management.

Also returning is Fred Homan, the long-time budget and finance director who became county administrative officer—the top appointed official in the county—in 2007.

As county administrative officer, some county employees have said Homan has not led when it comes to improving the county's technology—something important to Kamenetz who is frequently seen using his BlackBerry. Homan is possibly the only senior staff member in the county that does not use a smart phone.

"I think that's an unfair characterization of Fred," Mohler said when asked about the criticisms of Homan related to technology. "For Fred, the only question is whether or not it truly will improve county government, making it more efficient ... in the delivery of services."

Other appointments include five-term former Councilman Vince Gardina to be director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (soon to be called the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability) and Barry Williams to be the new director of Recreation and Parks. Williams is the brother of Del. Adrienne Jones and was the former director of the county's Office of Workforce Development.

Mohler said Gardina "might not be Mark Zuckerberg but he has a passion for protecting the environment."

The appointment of Williams "sends a significant message," Mohler said, clarifying that the appointment shows Kamenetz is serious about diversity in county government.

Mohler said Williams brings a "unique perspective because he's worked with rec and parks from the school side." Williams is a former county high school principal.

"It's far too early, one day into an administration, to say, 'I don't think there's going to be a lot of new ideas here,'" said Mohler.