County Executive Marc Elrich Nominates Andrew Kleine as Chief Administrative Officer, Richard Madaleno as Budget Director, and Robin Riley to Head Recreation Department

For Immediate Release: Monday, December 3, 2018

In the first of his appointments upon taking office today, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has nominated former Baltimore City budget director Andrew Kleine as chief administrative officer (CAO) for the Montgomery County government. The CAO supervises county departments and directs the day-to-day operations of county government. Kleine’s appointment must be confirmed by the Montgomery County Council. The Montgomery County Council is scheduled to consider it on Tuesday, December 11.

Elrich also nominated former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Richard Madaleno to head the County’s Office of Management and Budget and Montgomery County Recreation Division Chief Robin Riley as director of Montgomery County Recreation.

“I met and became friends with Andrew over our shared commitment to affordable housing,” said County Executive Elrich. “I know Andrew shares my belief that policy should be both data-driven and compassionate. His innovative mind and fiscal expertise are exactly what we need to achieve big things at a time of constrained revenues.”

Kleine is a nationally recognized leader in budgeting for outcomes, long-term financial planning, lean government, and pension and health benefits reform. He received the 2016 National Public Service Award from the American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration. He is the author of the new book, City on the Line: How Baltimore Transformed its Budget to Beat the Great Recession and Deliver Outcomes.

Kleine served as Baltimore’s budget director from 2008 to 2018, after nearly 15 years of federal government service that included budget and policy positions in the U.S. Department of Transportation, White House Office of Management and Budget, and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Kleine led the development of Baltimore’s first, 10-year financial plan, which has already cut a large structural budget deficit in half, reduced taxes, shrunk unfunded liabilities by 25 percent, pumped more than $250 million into infrastructure projects, and boosted the City’s bond rating.

He has a long record of civic involvement in Montgomery County. He has served as treasurer of Casa de Maryland and moderator of the President’s Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations, and currently sits on the board of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority. He co-founded the nonprofit CHEER (Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research), which supports low-income families in Long Branch and Takoma Park. He has also coached youth soccer, baseball, and basketball.

Kleine holds a B.A. in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan. He lives with his wife Kelly and children, Sara Gail and Schroeder, in Silver Spring.

“I am honored to be Marc’s nominee for Chief Administrative Officer,” said Kleine. “I have been a resident of Montgomery County for half of my life, and I’m excited to get to work helping lead county government at a time of great change and opportunity.”

Madaleno, who was a candidate for Maryland governor this year, served for 12 years in the Maryland State Senate and four years as a Maryland state delegate and was recognized as a leader on budget and fiscal policy. He also worked as a legislative analyst and lobbyist with the County’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations for nine years, and as a senior staff analyst for the Maryland General Assembly. He holds a B.A. in History and Russian Studies and a Master of Public Administration, both from Syracuse University. Madaleno is a Silver Spring native who has lived in Kensington for the past 24 years. He and his husband Mark have two kids, Katie and Jackson. 

“I am thrilled that Rich Madaleno has agreed to be my budget director,” said Elrich. “He can crunch numbers with the best of them – but also appreciates how those numbers impact our ability to deliver a better future and more effective government.”

“County Executive Elrich has a comprehensive agenda to improve Montgomery County, and I am honored to join his team to implement this agenda for the benefit of all County residents,” said Madaleno. “The County OMB has an excellent reputation, and I look forward to working with this team of hardworking, professional public servants.”  

Elrich also announced that he is appointing Robin Riley to head Montgomery County Recreation. Riley has served as recreation division chief of the County’s recreation department since 2004, and has been responsible for budgeting, contracts, and oversight of activities and programs. Riley has been with the department for more than 30 years and brings, not only depth of knowledge, but a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence. A graduate from the University of Maryland, Riley has won numerous awards as a leader in County government and has a strong passion for the field of Recreation. She lives in Cloverly, enjoys golf, reading and time spent with her two dogs Bella and Cooper.

“Robin knows the County’s recreation department inside and out and shares my vision of how critically important our programs and facilities are for all County residents,” said Elrich.

“This is an exciting new role to take on,” said Riley. “I am appreciative of the opportunity to work with the new administration in Montgomery County and ensure that the recreation department maintains and grows its integral role in the quality of life for our residents.”

All three appointments require confirmation by the Montgomery County Council.

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Release ID: 18-756
Media Contact: Ohene Gyapong 240.777.6507