What does " relative " mean in this sentences?

Roosevelt went about these problems with his distinctive decision-making style. Never given to formal bureaucratic ways, he dealt with officials in terms of competence and function rather than hierarchical position, as well as the relative importance of a particular policy domain and his interest in it.

Alan2020-02-29T16:44:27Z

"relative" means in  ranked in comparison with other similar issues    
"relative importance" means importance compared to similar  policy issues.  

It means he dealt with the more important policy issues first not based on 
the position or rank of the person bringing the issue to him.