Maryland Moment is reporting that Comptroller Peter Franchot’s Chief of Staff David Weaver has been hired for the same position by Congressman Chris Van Hollen. This is big news but its full meaning is unclear.
David Weaver is one of Montgomery County’s smartest and most-respected political operatives. He served as Doug Duncan’s spokesman for 12 years and ran a media-friendly political operation for Franchot. My sources singled out Weaver for special praise in my Long Knives for Franchot series, which I have now had to edit. “He’s the last person I would want to go up against,” said one spy who has known Weaver for a long time.
Weaver was one of Franchot’s biggest weapons but now he is gone. A staff job for Chris Van Hollen is definitely attractive. But is there more to this? Does David Weaver know something that the rest of us don’t?
Update: Delegate Bill Bronrott (D-16) released this statement:
David Weaver is one of the most talented and decent people I have ever met in my three decades in politics and public policy. I spent nearly eight years on Capitol Hill as an aide to the previous Democrat who represented Maryland’s 8th Congressional District — Michael D. Barnes. I know from that experience and from a decade representing part of the 8th District in the General Assembly that Congressman Van Hollen and the people he represents will be extremely well served with David Weaver as Chief of Staff.
Here’s what some of our undercover informants had to say:
David is going back to his legislative roots. He’s a smart guy and will thrive on the Hill. Leaving “Peter the Isolated” for “Chris the Hero” is clearly a big step up for him.
Weaver was much too smart to be working for the Comptroller. Guess he had to because there wasn’t anything else at the time, but it is a huge win for Van Hollen to get someone of his caliber.
David has outstanding political instincts and has likely concluded that the long-term upside potential of hitching his wagon to the Franchot show horse is exceedingly limited while the downside exposure of being tied to, and tainted by, this guy is huge.
David Weaver is very talented in managing both political and communications strategies. Despite what many think, they are separate disciplines. David is unusual in that he can do both at a very, very high level. This is a real loss for Peter Franchot. Peter’s formula for success relies on generating ink and stirring the political pot with a populist message. It’s a house of cards, a bubble that so far he’s been able to stay on top of. I wonder if David’s departure is the first step in the bursting of the Franchot bubble. Never count Peter out, but this is a big loss. If you’re Weaver and Van Hollen calls, why wouldn’t you take the job? As head of DCCC and liaison to the White House, Van Hollen will be right in the middle of the political intrigue at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.