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Resignation of Chief of Staff Abdusalam Omer
March 30, 2001

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Letter of Resignation Statement by Mayor

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.

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