Channel Surfing Blog 

Kelly M. Teal

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is trying to sell his 158-year-old Georgetown home, I found out this week. The brick Federal actually has been for sale since August 2007 with no change in the $1.13 million asking price. The FCC’s potentially most controversial head owns a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath, two-fireplace beauty (which the real estate agent glowingly describes as having “one of the deepest gardens around and bountiful glass allowing natural light to pour into every room”). Sounds fabulous. So why does he want to leave?

The boring answer would be that Martin needs more space (no showings are allowed between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily – naptime for Martin’s two children, perhaps?) or wants to live in a different neighborhood. The more interesting speculation is that the cable-hating, RBOC-loving politician is planning his D.C. exit as Bush’s presidency comes to a close.

But that seems like a stretch considering reports this week of a deal Martin wouldn’t sign. You see, it’s tradition for an FCC chairman to step down when a new administration takes office. Sometime recently, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was reported to have pressed for Martin’s resignation. Reid said he’d extend Commissioners Tate and Adelstein’s terms if Martin would promise to resign if the new president is a Democrat.

Martin refused. Seems he’s thinking of staying at the FCC whether he’d be the chair or not. I’m not clear on what that means, exactly – could he stay on as a commissioner (wouldn’t the new president have to nominate him? And then wouldn’t Martin have to face Senate confirmation, which, with a Democratic majority, seems like a no-go), or maybe become a bureau chief? I don’t know how any of that would work in an agency filled with presidential appointees.

Regardless, Martin has to prepare some kind of exit. Yet, after viewing photos of his home, I think the answer for the home sale might be the boring one – a gorgeous house that’s just too small for a growing family. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of Kevin Martin in the Beltway.

User Comments !

Kelly, this is one fun post!

Posted by: Peter Radizeski | March 13 2008 00:00:56