The speech making, music and hand dancing are over. Mayor Vincent C. Gray, fresh from inaugural festivities Sunday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, now has to prove he can actually govern. Many people are optimistic. Ward 3 D.C. Councilwoman Mary Cheh said, "The District will be very well served while he is in office." She and five other incumbent legislators began new terms. At-large Councilman Kwame Brown ascended to the chairmanship. But there have been serious questions about Gray's commitment to an open, inclusive government and his molasseslike approach to building his administration. The new mayor clearly is not a farther-faster kind of executive, as was his predecessor. Even as he took the oath of office, Gray's Cabinet remained incomplete.

Then-mayor Adrian M. Fenty, as is tradition, requested in November the resignation of his entire Cabinet, including agency directors and his personal staff. Technically, if new, acting or interim directors have not already been named, agencies are now without leadership.

Gray has chosen several managers, but it appears he hasn't formally named directors for key city agencies. For example, he made clear he didn't want the very popular Department of Transportation Director Gabe Klein in his administration. But Gray has not named a permanent replacement.

Who will lead the Department of Human Services? Will Leila Edmonds remain at the Department of Housing and Community Development? Gray revived the superfluous job of deputy mayor for public safety and justice, selecting Paul Quander Jr. for the position. But we still don't know who will be the new deputy mayor for economic development -- a post mandated in the District's constitution.

Choosing the right people is only one part of the equation for a successful administration. Policies and programs are equally important. Thus far, however, Gray has provided only broad outlines of the road map he intends to follow as the city's sixth mayor since it received quasi-independence.

During his first speech as mayor, Gray suggested education reform, which he called the "future of the city's economic revival," jobs and public safety would be the foci for his administration.

"The challenges [we face] cannot be tackled by a handful of talented people in the halls of the [John A.] Wilson Building," Gray.

But Gray has yet to specifically tell citizens where he wants to lead them. Unlike his predecessors, who released plans for their first 100 days, he has not published or distributed such a report. In the past, the new mayor's transition committee would develop that strategic document. For example, before Fenty took the oath of office in 2007, his team had already released a plan advocating sweeping education reform, including mayoral control of the D.C. Public Schools.

That 100-day plan is a critical tool residents will need to effectively evaluate the District's new mayor. Surely Gray understands that. Perhaps he intends to complete his appointments and roll out a detailed road map Monday, or Tuesday ... or someday soon -- I hope.

Jonetta Rose Barras's column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at jonetta@jonettarosebarras.com.