WASHINGTON - Former District of Columbia Treasurer Lasana Mack was reported missing earlier this month, and a body found in a Maryland park is believed to be his, police said.
The body was found along a trail in Chillum Hills Park in Prince George's County, Md. on Saturday, a week after Mack, 51, had last been seen in Northeast D.C. Prince George's County police said Tuesday evening that they are investigating the death and believe it was a suicide.
Mack became acting D.C. treasurer in 2005 and was appointed as deputy chief financial officer and treasurer in February 2006. He retired in 2012 and founded a non-profit organization called APPEAL, Inc., whose mission is to utilize the resources of people of African descent to facilitate economic empowerment and educational enrichment.
Prior to becoming acting treasurer, Mack was associate treasurer for debt management and grants in D.C.'s office of finance and treasury. He started working in the CFO's office in the late 1980s, and managed the District's debt as its general obligation ratings rose from junk in the 1990s to investment grade, according to a news release from the CFO's office when Mack was appointed treasurer.
When Mack retired from being treasurer, the District's GO bonds were rated Aa2 by Moody's Investors Service, A+ by Standard and Poor's and AA- by Fitch Ratings. The S&P rating has since been raised to AA-. Additionally, since 2009, D.C. has issued income tax revenue bonds with ratings of AAA by S&P, Aa1 by Moody's and AA+ by Fitch.
While Mack was in office, the District saved more than $100 million in borrowing costs, said David Umansky, a spokesman for the CFO's office.
Pauline Schneider, special counsel at Ballard Spahr LLP in Washington, said that Mack was a conscientious steward of the District's finances but was willing to consider nontraditional financing options if they would produce savings or broaden the city's investor base.
"I thought he did an exceptional job as treasurer of the district and deputy CFO," said Schneider, who worked in D.C. government from 1981 to 1985.
John McNally, a partner at Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP in Washington and disclosure counsel for the District, also praised Mack's performance as treasurer.
"Lasana Mack was a brilliant and inspiring Treasurer. He understood the importance of good disclosure and would read every page of every Official Statement," McNally said. "But most importantly, and uniquely in my experience, he provided opportunities to investment bankers, financial advisors, and attorneys who otherwise may have faced barriers to entry in the market, did so with no loss of quality, and many of those he assisted are now leading persons in their respective fields."
Mack earned a bachelor's degree from Howard University and a master of business administration degree from the University of Rochester.
