GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
ABDUSALAM OMER
Chief of Staff
March 31,2001
Anthony A. Williams
Mayor
One Judiciary Square
Washington, DC 20001
Dear Mayor Williams:
For the past 5 1/2 years I have had the pleasure of working for you and with you. It
has been both challenging and rewarding and I thank you for the opportunity from the
bottom of my heart. As all good things must come to an end, it is with great regret that I
inform yon of my separation from my current position, and from the District government,
effective April 13, 2001. It is now the time in my life when I will explore my nomadic
tendencies and embark on other challenges and opportunities.
Under your leadership we have put in place the fundamentals of good government. We have
balanced budgets, managed taxes effectively, provided new opportunities for our residents,
reinvigorated neighborhood development, abated the fear of crime, advocated for our
children and the poor; and assembled a dedicated and professional team capable of moving
the city in the right direction at the right pace. Mr. Mayor the nation's capital is in
good hands under your stewardship and I am proud to have been part of the team.
In my capacity as a CEO at DCPS, I advocated for our children, assessed the finances of
the schools, exposed bureaucratic inertia and did my best to support the teachers and the
students. As budget director for the District I balanced budgets, practiced truth in
budgeting, connected resources to results, and encouraged fiscal transparency and
accountability. As Chief of Staff, I have built the necessary infrastructure to define,
achieve, and report on the goals that citizens care about the most. Through this work, we
have changed our city for the better, and whatever my contribution has been, it can never
match the reward I feel when I see the improvements in the lives of citizens across the
city.
I do have some regrets. We have not made enough progress in fixing our schools. Too
many of our children are exposed to violence and lack some of the basic[s] that society
should give them. However, I have confidence things are getting better under your
leadership.
Lastly, I want to thank you and Diane for your friendship. You have been true friends
and a brother and a sister to me both in good times and bad. I appreciate that you have
opened your hearts and opened your home to make me part of your family. This has been the
best part of the past 5 1/2 years and I will cherish it.
I wish only the best for you, your family, and the District of Columbia. And I will
support you in any way I can.
Sincerely, Abdusalam Omer
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GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS |
ONE JUDICIARY SQUARE
441 FOURTH STREET. N.W.
SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001
(202) 727-6224 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2001 |
CONTACT:
Peggy Armstrong 202.236.4836 |
STATEMENT BY MAYOR ANTHONY A. WILLIAMS REGARDING SERVICE OF CHIEF OF
STAFF ABDUSALAM OMER
Perhaps the greatest compliment one can give to someone who chooses to serve n
government is to say that society is better for him having served. This is true of my good
friend Abdusalam Orner.
His eight years of service to the District Government can be characterized in two
words: passion and integrity.
Dr. Omer and I first began working together more than 5 years ago at the height of the
District's financial crisis. As the first CFO for DC Public Schools, Dr. Omer became a
passionate advocate for children -- especially our most vulnerable young people. His work
at Schools was critical to bringing lasting change and reform to the school system.
As Budget Director, Dr. Omer brought financial integrity to the District. Under his
leadership, we began to connect our resources to tangible, measurable results. His work to
balance our budgets helped to bring self-government back to the District of Columbia.
Dr. Omer brought his passion and integrity to the management of the Executive Office of
the Mayor as my Chief of Staff for the past two years. I'm proud of the work he has done,
particularly his leadership in bringing thousands of citizens together to shape the future
of our city.
While I respect Abdusalam's wish to leave my Administration, I will miss him. |