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Samuel Moki’s confirmation hearing before the Prince George’s County Council on Tuesday was contentious. Forty-five people signed up to speak both for and against his controversial appointment by County Executive Aisha Braveboy to head the county Department of the Environment (DOE). One activist dressed as Batman called the county as corrupt as “Gotham.” “And so here I am, the dark knight of accountability," Sherman Hardy told the council. Back in 2014, Moki was fired from his job managing stormwater permits at the very agency he’s now been chosen to lead. He appealed his termination and lost in court. Judges backed his supervisor's claims that Moki was dishonest and not trustworthy and that “Dr. Moki’s conduct was grossly negligent.” PREVIOUS | Detractors at the confirmation hearing called his record disqualifying. “The fact that a man who is guilty of gross negligence and dishonesty by the personnel board and the appellate court of Maryland, twice, is sitting here before this council is an utter travesty," Michael Bloom of Berwyn Heights testified. Moki previously declined to answer 7News' questions following his appointment over the summer, replying only with "no comment." He told council members at the hearing he is fully qualified to lead the DOE and said he’ll prove his detractors wrong. “I commit to be the director of the Department of Environment for all Prince Georgians,” said Moki, “Even those who are here today to oppose my nomination. I understand this is democracy in action.” County Executive Aisha Braveboy has never wavered in her support. She said in three months on the job, he’s already improved morale and performance at the agency. Braveboy, in presenting his nomination during the hearing, said, “Dr Moki brings to his role an extraordinary depth of experience and educationI can tell you from those who work with him daily the morale has improved. He’s ambitious, he’s effective. He’s absolutely passionate for the Department of Environment." In the end, the council voted 8-2 in support of Moki. Several on the council felt Moki was subject to a smear campaign. They also disregard the court rulings against him. “A supermajority of members analyzed the record before you even walked in the room," Council Chair Ed Burroughs told Moki. "A super majority reviewed the personnel board documents, and we found a lot of that stuff was baseless.”
