[Scan-DC] Area pols meet at D.C. Unified Communications Center

[Alan Henney]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2007

Contact: Mafara Hobson (DC)           Kevin Hall (VA)
Rick Abbruzzese (MD)
Internet:                www.dc.gov
www.governor.virginia.gov                www.marylandtransition.com

DC MAYOR FENTY, VA GOVERNOR KAINE AND MD GOVERNOR-ELECT O’MALLEY
 DISCUSS REGIONAL SECURITY ISSUES

~ Executives commit to continue regular meetings ~

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Virginia
Governor Timothy M. Kaine, and Maryland Governor-elect Martin J. O’
Malley met today in the District of Columbia to discuss the National
Capital Region’s progress and cooperation on homeland security issues.
Today’s briefing and discussion was held at the Unified Communications
Center.

“Mayor Fenty, Governor-elect O’Malley and I look forward to continuing
these regular regional meetings so that we can build on our shared
progress in the National Capital Region,” Governor Kaine said.
“Virginia, Maryland and the District have made significant investments
in this region’s homeland security preparedness, and each of us is
committed to work every day with our local and federal partners to
keep our citizens safe in an emergency.”

“The District of Columbia is the nerve center of America’s homeland
security apparatus,” said Mayor Fenty. “Along with Acting Police Chief
Cathy Lanier - - a proven homeland security leader - - I am committed
to ensuring the safety of my constituents and the integrity of the
nation’s security systems,” he said, concluding, “I am fortunate to
have the able partnership of Governor Kaine and Governor-elect O’
Malley in this ongoing effort, and look forward to working with them
long into the future.”

“I look forward to working in partnership with Governor Kaine and
Mayor Fenty to improve regional homeland security in the National
Capital Region,” said Governor-elect Martin O’Malley.

The National Capital Region, created and defined by Congress, includes
the District of Columbia, Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties in
Maryland, and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and
Alexandria in Virginia.

Today’s meeting was the seventh meeting between the executive
leadership of the three jurisdictions since April 2003. The regional
meetings have allowed the executives and their staff members to form
strong cooperative relationships in areas of mutual interest and
cooperation, including homeland security, air quality, transportation,
the Chesapeake Bay, and tourism. The 2003 meeting was the first
between Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. executives in 12
years.

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