CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Pittman hires third former councilman; Smith, who lost reelection bid, has been working as a military veterans liaison

Maryland Gazette - 4/6/2019

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman has hired a third former county councilman for his administration, announcing Wednesday that Pete Smith has been working as a part-time military veterans liaison since February.

Smith, who lost a bid for re-election in November to Councilwoman Sarah Lacey, has been working as a contract employee on Feb. 18.

He is earning $30,000 a year for 10 to 20 hours per week working with the military, promoting the Fort Meade area to businesses and working with area residents as well as advising the executive on legislation that would impact the community.

"Pete Smith is a dynamic leader who brings people together around good causes," Pittman said in a prepared statement.

More hires made

The Pittman administration also announced Wednesday that it has hired Sherri Dickerson as director of personnel and Roz Hamlett as director of multimedia communications and chief spokesman.

Smith was appointed to the County Council in 2012 to replace District 1 Councilman Daryl Jones in 2012 after the council removed him following a conviction for failing to pay federal taxes. When the courts ruled that the council had exceeded it powers, Smith resigned to let Jones resume the seat in 2013.

He was re-elected in 2014 but lost to a grassroots challenge from Lacy in the 2018 Democratic primary.

Smith is a captain in the Marine Corps Reserves and has previously worked as a contract resource manager for the U.S. Department of Defense. He is the coordinator for the annual Toys for Tots drive in Anne Arundel County.

He joins two former colleagues on the council tapped by Pittman for jobs in his administration. Chris Trumbauer in the senior advisor for policy and communications while Jerry Walker heads the Anne Arundel Economic Development Agency.

Dickerson replaces longtime Personnel Director Andrea Rhodes, who retired on Friday. Dickerson is currently the senior human resources executive for the City of Atlanta but has family ties in Anne Arundel County. She starts on April 22, earning $172,000 a year.

Hamlett was the senior writer and executive speechwriter for the CEO at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. During her career, she has served as a top aide to several former Maryland leaders, including former Gov. Parris N. Glendening.

She replaces Brandi Francis, who served as acting public information officer since Pittman's inauguration on Dec. 3. Hamlett will start on April 29 earning $112,000 a year.

Francis will return to her position at the Department of Aging and Disabilities.

Credit: - Staff Reports

Caption: Smith