Let’s say this upfront: None of what follows is official, but some stories generate so much water-cooler talk that they become impossible to ignore in this hyper-networked world.
It seems likely that the General Services Administration will soon have a new leader. By the time you read this, many of our questions may have answers. But today, there are more questions than answers.
Former GSA Administrator Lurita Doan resigned April 29, and Deputy Administrator David Bibb was named acting administrator. Bibb’s appointment was almost uniformly praised. For Bibb, this was something akin to déjà vu all over again. He has held this post before, serving as acting administrator late in the Clinton administration and during the tumultuous transition from Clinton to President-elect George W. Bush.
GSA plays an important role in presidential transitions. It controls the transition office. Space is already leased for that purpose. Even before the Electoral College gathers to officially declare a president-elect, GSA officials hand over keys to the new administration’s transition team office. In 2000, weeks after the November election, Bibb handed the keys to the transition team of the president-elect. It seems likely that Bibb will not perform those duties after the 2008 vote. What we don’t know is why — and who will.
A number of names have been making the rounds, many of whom know GSA well and are well respected. We know the Bush administration approached Renny DiPentima about the job. DiPentima is a former executive of the Social Security Administration who most recently was president and chief executive officer of SRA International.
Unfortunately, we can’t tell you who, when or why. We’ll have to wait for the answer.
Until then, you can join the water-cooler conversation.
BUZZ CONTENDERS
#2 Safavian walks — for now David Safavian, convicted two years ago of four felony counts in connection with the Jack Abramoff scandal, has won the day on appeal. An appellate court reversed his convictions, leaving some open for a possible new trial and shutting the door on others.
Safavian was chief of staff at the General Services Administration when the alleged crimes occurred and Office of Federal Procurement Policy administrator when he was arrested. He has already been ruined by the ordeal, said his attorney, Barbara Van Gelder.
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