Make the Democrats own up to their corrupt practices

A Tough Day for D.C. Mayor

Even without a possible government shutdown this weekend, Washington, D.C.’s mayor, Vincent Gray, would be having a rough day.

The new mayor is in the midst of a broad probe into allegations that his administration gave high-paying jobs to supporters and their children, including some with few qualifications — at a time when the city faces a budget gap approaching $400 million.

One of those children testified before the D.C. City Council Thursday on how he landed a $65,000-a-year job as a community liaison officer with the fire department though he lived in Arizona at the time it was offered, didn’t interview for the position and had no particular qualifications.

Brandon Webb said that he’d sent at least three letters applying for D.C. government jobs last year. After his mother, Rochelle Webb, became acting Department of Employment Services director this January, he sent her his resume, which she forwarded to the interim Department of Human Resources Director Judy Banks, writing “as we discussed.” Within three minutes, Ms. Banks replied via email: “on it.”

A day later, Ms. Webb told her son a job had been found with Fire Chief Ken Ellerbe.

Ms. Banks told the council last week that Mr. Ellerbe had approached her about hiring Mr. Webb and that she did not speak with his mother about it. Mr. Ellerbe, who testified Thursday after Mr. Webb, said that he’d never heard of him before Ms. Banks asked if he could find him a position.

D.C. City Council members grilled Mr. Webb over whether he was surprised by this turn of events, and whether a D.C. resident might have been better suited for a community liaison job. David Catania, an independent member of the council, pointed out that as a newcomer, Mr. Webb might not know that this kind of fast turnaround wasn’t exactly normal.

Mr. Webb, 29 years old, said he was “very qualified” for the job and cited his bachelor’s degree in communications from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, communications internships, and jobs in retail management and as an admissions counselor for Grand Canyon University.

Mr. Webb has resigned and his mother also no longer works for the District after Mayor Gray withdrew her nomination for a permanent position after reports that she had billed taxpayers for a driver and a room in the swanky W Hotel for her first two months on the job. Ms. Banks also stepped down from her interim job after testifying last week. Messages for her were not immediately returned.

The Webbs are two of several political appointees who have resigned or been dismissed in recent weeks.