More than a month after resigning her state job and marrying Gov. Parris N.
                                             Glendening, Maryland's new first lady still has been receiving a state paycheck.

                                             Michael Golden, a spokesman for the Comptroller's Office, said Jennifer Crawford,
                                             the governor's former deputy chief of staff for Smart Growth, has received at least
                                             two full paychecks since her last official work day on Jan. 25.

                                             But a spokesman for Mr. Glendening said Ms. Crawford, 35, is only being paid for
                                             the unused annual leave she had accrued before she resigned.

                                             "This is the standard personnel practice," said Michael E. Morrill, a spokesman
                                             for the governor. "She is not earning any salary or accumulating any more leave.

                                             "As far as we're concerned, she's off (the payroll) as of that Friday. When you're
                                             on the payroll, you accumulate benefits and vacation. She's not doing that."

                                             But Andrea Fulton, executive director of the state Office of Personnel Services
                                             and Benefits, said state employees who are paid for unused leave over several
                                             weeks continue to accrue vacation time.

                                             Typically, when an employee resigns he and his supervisor work out payment for
                                             unused leave, Ms. Fulton said. Some choose a lump sum, while others choose to
                                             be paid over several weeks.

                                             Employees continue to be covered by state health insurance while being paid for
                                             unused leave -- one reason why some people choose to spread out the payments.
 

                                             In Ms. Crawford's case, neither Mr. Morrill nor Mr. Golden could say how much
                                             accrued annual leave she had built up during her more than six years with the
                                             state. It was not clear yesterday how much she is still owed.

                                             Neither Mr. Morrill nor Mr. Golden could say how much accrued annual leave Ms.
                                             Crawford had built up during her more than six years with the state. It wasn't clear
                                             yesterday how much leave she is still owed payment for.

                                             Since 1998, Ms. Crawford has received promotions and cost-of-living adjustments
                                             increasing her salary from $71,812 to $103,588.

                                             Before resigning, Ms. Crawford was one of three deputy chiefs of staff for Mr.
                                             Glendening. She was his top adviser on his hallmark anti-sprawl initiative and his
                                             chief aide on redrawing congressional districts.

                                             Ms. Crawford joined the governor's staff in 1995 as a special assistant. She
                                             worked on his 1998 re-election campaign and became his appointment secretary
                                             after he began his second term. She was promoted to deputy chief of staff in June
                                             2000.

                                             She also has been part of the governor's domestic and international traveling
                                             party on several occasions since 1999.

                                             The governor's relationship with Ms. Crawford was made public in August.
                                             Maryland has no written policies that prohibit a romantic relationship between an
                                             employee and a supervisor.

                                             Ms. Crawford and Mr. Glendening, 59, were married in a civil ceremony Jan. 25 at
                                             the Governor's Mansion. They repeated their vows the next day before a Prince
                                             George's County judge and a small group of relatives and friends.

                                             The marriage was the first for Ms. Crawford and the third for Mr. Glendening, who
                                             has an adult son from his second marriage to Frances Hughes Glendening. She
                                             and the governor were divorced Nov. 19 after being separated for more than a
                                             year.

                                             The governor and Ms. Crawford announced Friday that Ms. Crawford is pregnant
                                             with the couple's first child, due in September.
 
 
 

                                                               smarsh@capitalgazette.com

 
                                            Published March 07, 2002, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
                                             Copyright © 2002 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.