County Executive Marc Elrich said the county will initiate a search for “plan B” after former Councilmember Craig Rice withdrew from consideration for a newly-created position.
“This was important work, it wasn’t a job for Craig,” Elrich said during a media briefing Wednesday. “It was a job we wanted done, so we will commence a search for plan B.”
He announced Tuesday that Rice had withdrawn his name.
“It was not an easy process, let’s just say that,” Elrich said Wednesday.
Elrich proposed the legislation that would create a Special Projects Manager position in the County Executive’s Office. The manager would coordinate efforts to extend infrastructure for access to high speed broadband and ensure residents have tools to “leap the digital divide,” per a memo from Elrich.
Rice co-chaired the National Association of Counties’ Broadband Task Force.
County Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Dawn Luedtke voted against creating the new job.
On March 28, Rice was the only candidate interviewed by the council for the position. It comes with a $175,000 salary. He was term-limited in 2022 and could not run for reelection to the council.
