D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced Friday that he had trimmed the salaries of the D.C. attorney general and seven other executive staffers to bring the annual pay for their positions under caps previously set by the D.C. Council.
The cuts, which ranged from $904 to $5,904 of salaries approaching $200,000, were largely symbolic, and Mr. Gray downplayed their significance.
“I hired managers with outstanding qualifications, and their initial salaries reflected their extensive experience and background,” Mr. Gray said. “I have now adjusted those salaries commensurate with the compensation schedules.”
Nevertheless, it marked the second time this week he had to address concerns in his young administration about questionable hirings and high salaries.
On Wednesday, Mr. Gray fired his chief of staff, Gerri Mason Hall, saying she had become a “distraction” and that questions about high salaries to staffers and appointments to political supporters or members of their families were “overshadowing the work of the government.”
He said the eight staffers were notified Monday about the pay cuts.
— Mohammad N. Akhter, director of Department of Health, from $180,000 to $179,096.
— Judy D. Banks, interim director Department of Human Resources, from $180,000 to $179,096.
— Victor Hoskins, deputy mayor for Planning & Economic Development, from $185,000 to $179,096.
— Irvin B. Nathan, attorney general, $180,000 to $179,096.
— Hosanna Mahaley, state superintendent of Education, $185,000 to $179,096.
— Wayne Turnage, director of Department of Health Care Finance, $180,000 to $179,096
— De’Shawn Wright, deputy mayor for Education, $180,000 to $179,096.
— Warren Graves, chief of staff for the Office of the City Administrator, $195,000 to $193,125.
• Joseph Weber can be reached at jweber@washingtontimes.com.old.
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