The Howard County resident picked by President Obama this week to help the U.S. auto industry out of its crushing financial woes was described by a co-worker as ideal for the job, and local officials hailed the appointment as showcasing the county's talent pool.

Obama on March 30 named Edward Montgomery, a former deputy labor secretary and a Fulton resident, to the newly created position of director of recovery for auto communities and workers.

The president said Montgomery will be charged with "cutting through red tape"and making sure government resources are used to assist parts of the country that rely on the auto industry.

"Ed will help provide support to auto workers and their families, and open up opportunity to manufacturing communities in Michigan and Ohio and Indiana and every other state that relies on the auto industry," Obama said March 30.

Montgomery is dean of the University of Maryland's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the largest college at the school, and was named earlier this year as an "official designee" to the president's auto task force. He could not be reached for comment.

Robert Schwab, who will take over as interim dean after Montgomery leaves April 13, said he has known Montgomery ever since he joined the Maryland faculty as an economics professor in 1992.

"He's been working on labor issues just about his entire professional career," Schwab said. "I think it's just the perfect job for him."

Montgomery is good at working with diverse groups of people and helping them reach consensus, Schwab said, a skill that will serve him well as he navigates between auto companies, unions and the federal government.

While he traditionally has worked behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight, Schwab said he had no doubts Montgomery would do well in his new role.

"He'll be fine under pressure," he said. "He's just unfazed by anything."

'Lot of talented people'

County Council member Calvin Ball, a Columbia Democrat, said that while he does not know Montgomery personally, his appointment by Obama showcases some of the county's expertise.

"Not only is this an exciting opportunity for the country, but the county gets to demonstrate that there's a wonderful diversity of people here who have the intellect and understanding to contribute to the work of our country," Ball said.

Del. Guy Guzzone, a Columbia Democrat who helped spearhead Obama's campaign in the county, said Montgomery's appointment was "terrific," but not surprising.

"There are so many people in Howard County and the surrounding areas who work in government and work to make government better," he said. "There are a lot of talented people in this area."

Montgomery is a former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor and served as acting deputy secretary and deputy secretary at the department under President Clinton from 1999 to 2001.

He was an early Obama supporter, serving as co-chairman of the Obama campaign's Labor Employment and Workforce Policy Committee during Obama's presidential run. Montgomery later served on the Obama-Biden transition team and has stayed involved at the Labor Department as the administration continues to fill job openings, Schwab said.

Montgomery earned a bachelor's degree from Penn State University, and master's and doctorate degrees in economics from Harvard. He is married and has three children.

Staff writer Jennifer Broadwater contributed to this story.

This story has been updated.

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user comments (1)

user bdwon says...

I like that Obama has appointed someone specifically for this situation. Since he is not going to lend too much money to the auto industry, im glad he has someone overlooking the situation so it does not spiral downward. We need to help ourselves in this situation though. Check out 99problems.org to see what we can do

Posted 8:42 PM, 03.31.09 | Permalink