Corzine will replace chief operating officer
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
By: Elizabeth Fiedler
efiedler@whyy.org
Leading one of the nation's poorest and most dangerous cities toward revitalization may not be easy, but New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine will soon have to find someone for the job.
Camden's Chief Operating Officer Judge Theodore Davis will step down August 31st. He has veto power over the Mayor and City Council, and has hiring and firing power for city employees.
Davis was appointed by Corzine in 2007, when lawmakers signed on for a second 5 year period of state-control of the struggling city.
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Camden Councilman Whip Wilson says Davis had the mentality that regardless of what residents and local politicians thought, he had the final say.
Wilson: I don't think he had a very good idea of how government works. As to how the give and takes, as far as working with people to get things done. He came here with the mentality of a judge and a judge is used to handing down decisions.
In a written statement, Davis says "the financial system of the city has been brought to a significantly higher level of accountability such that the receipt of every dollar which comes into the city can be accounted for."
Davis has said after paying salaries and wages, not enough remained in the city's annual budget to push the city toward recovery.
State control of Camden is set to expire in 2012.