DENVER — Denver International Airport (DIA) has a new CEO following the confirmation of nominee Phil Washington from Denver City Council in a meeting Monday evening.
Washington ran the Denver Metro Area's Regional Transportation District before leaving to take over the transportation agency in California. He announced in February he would be resigning in May. DIA CEO Kim Day announced her retirement in May. Earlier in June, Hancock announced he was nominating Washington to take Day's spot as CEO.
During his time running the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Washington's name appeared once in a March 1 Los Angeles County search warrant.
The warrant allowed for a records search at the transit department's headquarters. The sheriff's office in Los Angeles is seeking communication Washington was involved in, along with other people involved in the transportation authority and "Peace Over Violence," a non-profit that was contracted to provide a sexual harassment hotline.
According to court documents, a previous MTA employee claimed corruption within the department allowed this non-profit to secure the contract.
"Mr. Washington self-disclosed this matter to the Mayor as they were discussing the possibility of him joining the administration, before an offer was extended," wrote Mike Strott, spokesman for Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.
"The people of the city and county of Denver need some answers," said Denver City Councilmember Amanda Sawyer.
Sawyer and councilmember Candi CdeBaca helped get a ballot issue in front of voters in November. Ballot Issue 2E asked if City Council should have authority to consent to certain mayoral appointees. CEO of DIA is one of those appointees that the council has to sign off on first.
Voters approved the measure with 58% support.
"Prior to November, the mayor would have been able to appoint Mr. Washington without a conversation at all. Without a discussion at all. Without ever having anyone answer a single question," said Sawyer. "The reason that we advanced this legislation was specifically to add an element of transparency and accountability in our appointment processes, which haven't existed up to this point."
Sawyer said she spoke with Washington in June and asked him explicitly about the search warrant issues.
Did she get satisfactory answers?
"I guess we're going to stay tuned on that one," said Sawyer. "Quite frankly, Mr. Washington seems like an excellent candidate. He's got the work background. He's got the professional background. He's got the connections to the city and county of Denver."
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