Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post
Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro
From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com
Organization: American Cybercasting
Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com
Subject: Coyne withdraws name to lead Montgomery corrections unit
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 92 15:01:10 EST
Message-ID: <metro105.1992Oct28.150110@AmeriCast.com>

\SE B;METROPOLITAN
\HD Coyne withdraws name to lead Montgomery corrections unit
\BY Arlo Wagner
\CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Just six days after he was nominated as director of the Montgomery
County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, Robert M.  Coyne
withdrew Monday and apologized to County Executive Neal Potter.

"It was a deeply personal decision.  . . . I just decided it was not
time to go back to public life," said Mr.  Coyne, 40, who worked 14 years
for the county before becoming director of a management company in
Frederick, Md., about a year ago.
Mr.  Coyne was supposed to have been interviewed yesterday morning by
the County Council, which must confirm the appointment of a corrections
director.  Despite speculation that Mr.  Coyne did not have the votes to be
confirmed, some council members thought he would have won council approval.

"Bob was bright and capable, but I wasn't satisfied that he had the
hands-on experience necessary," said council member Michael Subin.  But "I
don't know that the votes weren't there."

"I think he did" have enough votes to win confirmation, said council
member William E.  Hanna Jr.  "I had a number of questions, but in the end
I think I would have given him the benefit of the doubt and I would have
voted for him."

Mr.  Coyne said he went to Mr.  Potter's Rockville office Monday
evening to withdraw.  He said he apologized because of the lengthy process
that led to his nomination and because Mr.  Potter chose him in spite of
rumors of political pressure.

"I just feel awful," Mr.  Coyne said.  "In thinking through everything.
. . . I had to go in and talk to a very nice man about a terribly hard
choice.  He was just as kind and understanding as he could be.  He's just
the greatest man I know."

Mr.  Coyne was scheduled to take charge of the 323-employee department
and its $19.6 million budget Nov.  16. He would have been paid $85,000
annually.  He had no previous experience in corrections but had been
executive director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission for five
years.

County State's Attorney Andrew L.  Sonner was rumored to have had a
hand in the selection, just as Mr.  Sonner successfully urged the
appointment of Police Chief Clarence Edwards a year ago.  A week ago, Mr.
Sonner said he was pleased with Mr.  Coyne's appointment but denied that he
had any role in it.

Yesterday, Mr.  Coyne said Mr.  Sonner played no part in his selection
as jail director or the subsequent decision to withdraw.

"The one person I didn't discuss this with in any detail was Andy
Sonner," Mr.  Coyne said.  "I purposefully did not discuss this with him."

Mr.  Coyne said his three children, ages 7, 12 and 13, are becoming
active in numerous organizations and he feels he should devote as much of
his free time to his family as possible.  Besides his job with Corporate
Services Group, he expects to receive a master's degree in business
administration and management in May from Johns Hopkins University, he
said.


This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to
other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American 
Cybercasting Corporation.  For more information, send-email to 
usa@AmeriCast.COM