Fenty Aide Jumps Ship

WASHINGTON * - The top spokesperson for the District's troubled Department of Transportation is stepping down just as the agency is preparing for its most difficult time of the year.

Erik Linden is leaving government service after five years and two administrations.

Just as DDOT is gearing up for a big snow season, the first real test of the young Fenty administration, Linden informed the mayor of his plans to retreat to the private sector.

Linden was one of the few Tony Williams loyalists to keep his job after Fenty was swept into office in a landslide election. But as Fenty has adjusted to the art of governing, he has been steadily losing support among the citizens, the City Council and most importantly to Fenty, the press.

Linden was one of the few bright spots for the administration. Able to not only deflect bad press, (D.C. ranked most walkable city in the nation, despite a sharp increase in pedestrian deaths) Linden was a master of ginning up fluff stories that made DDOT look good despite widespread incompetence (Nation's Capital shuts down after one inch of snow, city looks to beet juice for help.).

Linden, becomes the latest, but certainly not the last, member of Team Fenty to succumb to Fenty Fatigue. The bespectacled tree hugger will focus his efforts on building smokestacks to mask the blue skies of the northeast.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associate Pressed. All Rights Reserved.)

*That was the bogus wire copy I sent out to media types who know Linden.

On a serious note, Linden will be missed.

He's one of the few government spokespersons who returns calls right away, provides accurate information and has a working understanding of the agency he represents. He also keeps his phone on 24/7, an example other agency spokespeople could learn from.

NBC 4's Tom Sherwood, the Dean of Metro reporters, puts it like this:

"Erik has been the exact kind of public spokesperson you can want -- someone accessible and knowledgeable and someone who gives reporters enough information to do their jobs, but not so much that he screws his boss. That's a hard balance to reach, but Erik did."

Linden leaves D.C. with his wife and son for a better life in Princeton, New Jersey to work for NRG Energy. The environmentally-friendly Linden complained bitterly about the soot on his car from the power plant near his Capitol Hill home, now he'll be representing a company that builds smokestacks.

Linden is the walking definition of a "company man." This quote from him says it all:

"It's been a fantastic ride, working for two administrations in the city where I was raised. I'm thankful to both Mayor Williams and Mayor Fenty for their support. For me, the bottom line is that after five years in the District government, it was time for a change."

The fact that Linden is leaving just as the snow is coming isn't lost on Sherwood.

"Erik used to love winter -- until he became the go-to guy for DDOT's snow removal. The only way to escape those 4:30 a.m. TV live shots and WTOP every 10 minutes on the 8s was to leave town. So he's going to Princeton, New Jersey? The average snowfall there is about 25.5 inches. But at least he won't be out there saying "the main roads are clear, we're just getting to the side roads, be patient."

That's the mantra of every public works/transportation spokesman since Barry in the 1980s.

Over the years, Linden became and friend and a neighbor. He never leaked me a story, although maybe this kiss ass farewell will change that. He never lied to me either and that's something that will never change.

So thanks for the memories, and safe travels.

Oh yeah, Linden would kill me if I didn't add that DDOT is NOT a troubled nor incompetent agency, but they are losing a star player.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)