Gov. Parris N. Glendening withdrew from consideration the nomination of Westley B. Johnson to the Maryland Port Commission last night because of Mr. Johnson's questionable involvement in a Baltimore public housing repair program.
Mr. Johnson is a Baltimore contractor whose firm was cited in September by auditors for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development who say he inflated costs and submitted bills for work never performed as part of a no-bid repair program run by Baltimore's Housing Authority.
The federal government demanded a refund of nearly $50,000 for the work and is continuing its inquiry.
"His appointment is being held pending the results of the investigation," said Glendening press secretary Dianna Rosborough. "We're not going to go ahead and send him to the [Senate] nominations committee."
Ms. Rosborough said the administration was unaware of Mr. Johnson's troubles involving the housing repair program until the matter was brought to its attention by a report in The Sun.
On Friday, Mr. Johnson was among 208 people whose names were submitted to the state Senate for confirmation for dozens of state boards and commissions.
As a port commissioner, Mr. Johnson would help oversee the operations of the port of Baltimore, including personnel and procurement matters.
"Basically, we want to find out the results of the investigation concerning his involvement in the Housing Authority," Ms. Rosborough said.