On Monday DC Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi has announced that he will stay on longer than expected.
Earlier in the month Gandhi made public his plans to retire from the office on June 1, 2013, but he has since reversed that decision. He will still retire, but only after the city has selected a new CFO and that person is "ready to start."
Gandhi's move to stay on, albeit temporarily, is due to the lengthy time period the city would go through in finding a suitable repalcement, according to a letter he sent to Mayor Vincent Gray's desk.
The Washington Post reports,
“Accordingly, and as we discussed, I am willing to continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer until such time as my successor is legally authorized to take office,” he wrote.
Note the “legally authorized” language: According to two officials with knowledge of the matter who are not authorized to speak publicly, the letter was prompted after legal questions were raised about appointing an interim CFO to serve after Gandhi leaves but before a permanent replacement is confirmed.
The District charter does not include a provision for an interim CFO...
DC resident Patricia Jackson believes Gandhi should be able to retire by June 1.
"Gandhi's been there for a long time, and I feel like there should be some sort of change. He should be able to leave, so we can get some fresh blood," she said.
Another resident, Maria, said, "The rules are the rules. That's what they're there for."
On Wednesday, Gandhi is expected to be part of a DC delegation who will head to New York City for a series of meetings with Wall Street bond raters. Mayor Gray, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, and council finance chair Jack Evans (Ward 2) are other members in that committee.
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