Iannucci

Bookham Technology PLC, a British maker of telecommunications components, may sign a deal within the next few days to put its North American headquarters in Howard County. The deal would give yet another publicly traded high-tech firm a strong presence in an area that already is home to fiber-optics equipment maker Ciena Corp. (Linthicum) and its competitor, Corvis Corp. (Columbia). Both are potential customers for Bookham, which makes the optical components that control the light signals used in fiber-optic networks.

Following in the footsteps of one whom many regarded as the state's biggest business salesman, David S. Iannucci will take over as Maryland's secretary of business and economic development, the governor's office announced yesterday. Iannucci had been acting secretary since Richard C. Mike Lewin left the position Nov. 17. Iannucci was named deputy secretary in November 1998 at the same time Lewin was appointed secretary. Iannucci, 48, inherits the leadership of a department that has more than 340 employees and a budget of $130 million.

Gov. Parris N. Glendening has established a panel of high-level administration officials to coordinate the state's effort to retain the General Motors Corp. van assembly plant in Baltimore."It's a very powerful brain trust," David Iannucci, the governor's deputy chief of staff and the man tapped to head the group, said yesterday."It's an orchestrated effort. We are trying to put ourselves in position to understand how GM makes decisions on the future of plants. We want to understand that so that we can create a strong case for the Baltimore plant's continued operation."

A representative of the Orioles and Gov. Parris N. Glendening's office met yesterday to look for ways to ease the tensions between the baseball team and its landlord, the Maryland Stadium Authority."

The Schaefer administration is blaming the elimination of a committee for some of the difficulties in getting its legislative package approved in the House of Delegates.David S. Iannucci, the governor's chief lobbyist, pointed in particular yesterday to an administration bill that would have had presumed fathers sign a document acknowledging paternity at the birth of their children.The idea was to avoid court battles in any eventual child-support proceedings, but the bill was killed this month by the House Judiciary Committee.

Gov. William Donald Schaefer's legislative package has run into the House Judiciary Committee.Under the new leadership of Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr., the committee has killed three of the governor's bills involving underage drinking, child support and the court system. And it weakened a fourth bill targeted at carjacking.Mr. Schaefer said yesterday he was "very, very surprised" by the committee's decision to kill the three bills Friday "without even suggesting that maybe they could amend the bills and without talking to the governor."

ANNAPOLIS -- Gov. William Donald Schaefer has agreed to sponsor a bill that would allow individuals and state and local governments to try to recoup potentially hundreds of millions of dollars from asbestos manufacturers and distributors.Last year the governor vetoed a slightly different bill.One change in the legislation that is important to the governor is that it would specifically protect smaller distributors and retailers, such as Hechinger Co. and smaller hardware stores, from asbestos-related lawsuits, said David Iannucci, the governor's chief legislative officer.