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By Robert E. Pierre
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 1, 2001; Page C01

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams is replacing chief of staff Abdusalam Omer, one of the last of a small circle of close advisers who some say struggled to make the transition from managing the city's finances to managing the politics of the mayor's office.

A formal announcement of the resignation, which takes effect in two weeks, is scheduled for tomorrow.

Omer, 47, has been at Williams's side for more than five years, going back to the mayor's days as the District's chief financial officer. He served as deputy chief financial officer and as budget director before becoming chief of staff in April 1999.

Williams credits Omer with shepherding through balanced budgets, pushing to passage a referendum for a partially appointed D.C. school board and setting up a program to make spot checks on employee etiquette and service delivery at city agencies.

However, Williams said yesterday, no matter how many good things a person does, it's the bad things that seem to stick, especially in high-profile political jobs.

"It's hard for a chief of staff to maintain a Teflon coating," Williams said. "They seem to be made of Velcro. . . . The job takes a toll."

No replacement has been named. However, Williams (D) has approached Donna Brazile, a former chief of staff for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) who also ran Al Gore's presidential campaign.

Omer, a fiercely loyal aide to the mayor, has been described by some Williams supporters as a former budget analyst who never became comfortable with the continuous political maneuvering that comes with policymaking. They blamed Omer for a number of missteps that have dogged the administration, including the trouble Williams is having selling a plan to privatize D.C. General Hospital.

Omer spent two years as chief of staff, replacing Reba Pittman Evans, who never quite fit into the mayor's inner circle.

But the inner circle itself found it difficult to fit into the city's political culture.

In September, Williams consolidated day-to-day government operations under John A. Koskinen, who oversaw the federal government's preparations for the year 2000 computer conversion under President Bill Clinton.

Koskinen inherited the title and duties of deputy mayor and city administrator from Norman S. Dong, who also worked with the mayor when Williams was chief financial officer. Koskinen was given more authority than Dong, who some said was too inexperienced for the job. Every department and three other deputy mayors reported directly to Koskinen, whose arrival also meant that Omer no longer was involved in day-to-day operations.

Max Brown, another former aide to the chief financial officer, spent a tumultuous year as Williams's deputy chief of staff, a job in which he clashed with longtime political activists who thought him disrespectful.

Now, Williams needs someone to shore up his political operation, particularly as he heads toward a reelection campaign next year. The mayor said he and his chief of staff agreed that Omer did not fill that need. The two men are friends and say the separation is amicable.

Omer, who was paid $124,000, will receive a severance package. The amount has not been determined, though the typical maximum has been 12 weeks of salary.

The position was tough on Omer, who was criticized by some mayoral supporters for the recent debacle at Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast Washington, where Williams was showered with boos and sharp words as he tried to sell his plan to contract with private firms to provide care to uninsured city residents. Afterward, Williams said he had been "ambushed" by the pastor of the church, the Rev. Willie F. Wilson, who had been considered a supporter. Omer also was the immediate supervisor of Mark A. Jones, deputy chief of staff for external affairs, who is on leave pending an investigation of allegations of fundraising misconduct.

Omer was gatekeeper of the mayor's time and oversaw the administration's relations with local and national lawmakers and the news media. It also was his job, at times, to fight those who challenged Williams's authority. His relations with D.C. Council members were sometimes rocky, but Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) said talking to Omer was "virtually like talking to the mayor."

"I think he's been a pretty strong advocate for the mayor," she said.

Yesterday, Omer reflected with pride on what he considers his primary accomplishments since coming to city government. He was the first chief financial officer for D.C. public schools and believes that in the mayor's office, he has helped set the tone for good government. He's particularly proud of helping to get Williams elected.

"Wasn't that a great summer of '98?" he asked yesterday, reflecting on the campaign.

"I had probably the best job I could ask for and am among the luckiest immigrants," said Omer, who said he arrived in the United States from Somalia in 1972 with $150 in his pocket.

He also has regrets. Biggest among them is that so many black children in the District are not prepared to reach their full potential.

"I always wonder, how does this happen in such a rich country? Something went terribly wrong when so many people are left behind," he said. "They're not asking for much, classrooms where windows open, safe streets. . . . Somebody's got to keep that fight going in this administration."

Omer said he plans to take a month off and travel to his native country before deciding what to do next.