NEWS HEADLINES

Wanted: New Housing Leader

By Andre Shashaty

Housing industry reaction to Alphonso Jackson’s resignation as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development focused on the need to find a replacement who could start the long process of getting the agency back into working order. As of April 4, there was no word on who would replace him, if anyone.

Insiders said that Brian Montgomery, the assistant secretary for housing, probably had a leg up because of his Texas roots and his long association with George W. Bush. On the other hand, he has no senior management experience outside of HUD, he has very little housing experience, and he has presided for several years over an office at HUD that is riddled by allegations of favoritism and cronyism in the award of contracts and approval of expenses and employment terms.

That leaves two candidates: Roy Bernardi, the deputy secretary, and Keith Nelson, assistant secretary for administration. Bernardi is described as competent and honest, but he has no political heft with Bush. Nelson is politically connected but is hated by the HUD union.