Legislature's oversight panel to review process for director appointment

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the legislature's leading oversight panel for state government, has appointed Glen Tittermary as its new staff director.

The news will be familiar to those who follow state government closely. The delegates and senators who sit on JLARC actually chose Tittermary to replace Philip Leone, who'd held the job for 24 years, last month. But a bit of controversy surrounded the appointment because the commissioners chose Tittermary behind closed doors.

Today, Sen. Chuck Colgan (D-Prince William), who chairs the panel, asked for a roll call vote in public to confirm the selection. And, indeed, three delegates voted against the appointment -- Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) Del. David Albo (R-Fairfax) , Del. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) and Del. Johnny Joannou (D-Portsmouth). Joannou explained that they were displeased with the process.

Six delegates and senators backed Tittermary, so he'll be taking over Sept. 1. JLARC is the government's nonpartisan investigative arm, one of the more important arms of the legislative staff.

Meanwhile, Colgan appointed a new subcommittee of the group to work up criteria for the selection of directors to avoid any future issues.