Human rights director retires

Shannon was one of first African Americans elected to county office; headed department for 13 years

Shannon began her county career in the late 1970s as a special assistant to County Executive Charles W. Gilchrist (D), followed by a tenure as deputy director of family resources before assuming the Human Rights position in 1994.

‘‘They say you know when you should retire, and I felt it was time for something new,” said Shannon, who gives her age as ‘‘old enough.”

She has already been asked to serve on the board of directors of the county’s Mental Health Association and of Interages Maryland. Shannon also has been asked to work with the county chapter of the NAACP.

‘‘I didn’t want to retire without having things lined up. The rest of the time I want to travel and play bridge. I see [retirement] as another phase of life,” she said.

Along with her county work, Shannon has been a political pioneer. She became one of the first African Americans to be elected to a county position when she won a school board seat in 1982. She has worked behind the scenes on a number of political campaigns, including those of U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Dist. 4) of Mitchellville.

In 2001, Shannon created the Office of Human Rights’ Hall of Fame, which honors residents for their human and civil rights contributions. Since 2002, award recipients have been inducted into the hall every two years.

Last year Shannon was honored by the Montgomery County Business and Professional Women, and the county’s Commission for Women for her civic contributions.

‘‘I came from the federal government and the difference in the local government is tremendous because of the personal touches,” she said. ‘‘In Montgomery County, the activism of the citizens, the cohesiveness of the administration makes it a wonderful place to work ... I can’t think of any other place that would be better.”

OHR Compliance Director Michael Dennis will serve as the department’s interim director until a new chief is hired.

Next steps for savings

County Council members are expected to discuss County Executive Isiah Leggett’s budget cuts at its first meeting of the new year on Jan. 15.

Council staff director Stephen B. Farber is collecting the council’s questions about the plan — which is expected to produce $23.6 million in savings for the fiscal year that ends June 30 — and will forward them to the county’s budget directors and department chiefs.

So far, the questions have run the gamut. ‘‘Some of the descriptions in the document [released by the administration on Dec. 21] were brief and council members want a more detailed explanation,” Farber said. Answers from the directors are due next week, he said. [To read Leggett’s proposal, go to www.gazette.net⁄links.]

Included in the plan are freezing the program that lets people under 18 ride free on county Ride On buses in the afternoon, placing a three-month freeze on county-funded taxi services for low-income seniors and disabled residents, cutting the number of clients served by the Home Care program and delaying some maintenance and hiring. For example, Shannon’s retirement is expected to save the department $49,600 until a new director is hired.

The goal is to save $64 million to help fill an expected $401 million budget gap next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

A hiring freeze implemented in the public schools system is expected to produce about $10 million in savings. Savings plans for Montgomery College and Park and Planning are expected in January.