Battled With Politicos Over Huge Improvements Project

The woman once hailed as Miami's answer to questionable hirings and embarrassing corruption investigations is out. Angela Gittens has resigned under fire.

As ANN reported at the end of June, Gittens, hailed as one of the most effective women in government, apparently stepped afoul of powerful Miami-Dade County Commissioners when she called for an independent oversight committee to keep tabs on one of the country's biggest, most ambitious capital improvements projects.

Gittens arrived in Miami after a much-hailed stint as Atlanta's director of aviation. But she was put on a sort of double-secret probation back in June when an assistant county manager was named to make sure she dotted her "i's" and crossed her "t's."

Miami-Dade's new mayor, Carlos Alvarez, said he supported Gitten's removal after County Manager George Burgess -- who initiated many of the complaints against her -- said he just couldn't work with her anymore.

Ironically, the very politics that forced Gittens to hand in her resignation could make finding a replacement more than difficult. The perception among candidates that county officials micromanage airport affairs and inject their own politics into what would otherwise be bureaucratic decisions could scare off the field of applicants.

As for Gittens, the Miami Herald reports she plans to hang out with family for awhile before deciding her next step.

FMI: http://miamidade.gov/wps/portal