New Annapolis Mayor Moves to Add Six-Figure Deputy Role, Raising Early Questions About City Hall Growth

By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews

ANNAPOLIS — Just weeks into his first term, Jared Littmann is already facing scrutiny over whether his administration will match its campaign promise of leaner, more efficient city government.

According to reporting by the Capital Gazette, Littmann has requested the creation of a new Deputy Chief of Staff position in the Mayor’s Office, with a salary range topping out at $160,737. The request was formally presented during a recent Annapolis City Council meeting.

Littmann, who was sworn in on December 1, 2025, succeeded term-limited Democratic Mayor Gavin Buckley after winning the city’s mayoral election earlier this year.

An “Experiment” in Efficiency — or Staff Expansion?

The new Deputy Chief of Staff role would be a newly created position within the mayor’s office. Littmann described it as an “experiment” intended to improve internal coordination, responsiveness to residents, and communication with the City Council.

City officials say the role would initially be funded through reallocations from vacant positions rather than new appropriations, delaying any direct budget increase until the next fiscal year.

Still, from a center-right perspective, the move raises familiar concerns: whether expanding top-level administrative staff is consistent with promises to reduce bureaucracy and avoid government bloat.

During the campaign, Littmann frequently warned against adding layers of administration without streamlining existing operations. Critics argue that creating a six-figure position so early in the administration appears to contradict that message.

Criticism From a Former Mayor

Former Republican Mayor Mike Pantelides, who served from 2013 to 2017, publicly questioned the move, noting Littmann’s past opposition to staff growth when he served as an alderman.

Pantelides suggested the decision represents a shift from Littmann’s earlier views on staffing restraint, particularly at a time when the city’s overall headcount in the mayor’s office remains unclear.

Campaign Staff Move Into City Hall

Littmann has already staffed key roles with members of his campaign team. Neilye Garrity, his former campaign manager, now serves as Chief of Staff, while Laura Richards, a deputy campaign manager, was appointed Community Engagement Strategist.

While common in politics, such moves often draw skepticism from fiscal conservatives, who argue that rewarding campaign loyalists can blur the line between political operations and professional municipal management—especially when paired with newly created, high-paying positions.

The Deputy Chief of Staff role has not yet been filled.

Budget Context and What Comes Next

Annapolis is currently operating under a FY2026 budget of roughly $199 million, adopted earlier this year, with no property tax increase and strong bond ratings. The city will begin developing its FY2027 budget in spring 2026 under Littmann’s leadership.

Littmann has said he remains committed to evaluating redundancies and avoiding unnecessary staff growth, emphasizing that the new position could be adjusted or eliminated if it does not deliver measurable improvements.

For now, the decision marks one of the first real tests of whether Annapolis’ new mayor will govern as a fiscal reformer—or whether City Hall will continue to grow despite campaign-trail warnings about government expansion.

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