In my last look at the city for a few months, I’ve decided to address the future. Apparently, many local politicos had the same thought. Aspiring D.C. executives are already gunning for the Mayor’s job with the all-important primary race 16 months away, and they’re already making themselves look bad.
There are a number of hats in the ring right now-maybe. Despite plenty of public speculation and an occasional outright declaration, nothing’s official until the filing date, which is still a year away. Witness Councilmember Jim Graham’s (D-Ward 1) flirtation with the at-large councilmember’s race last year and his subsequent last-minute abandonment of the effort.
The many possible contenders for the mayoral race include incumbent Anthony Williams (D); Councilmembers Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5), Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 2), Linda Cropp (D-At Large) and our own Jack Evans (D-Ward 2); and former D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commissioner Michael Brown. All are maneuvering for any advantage they can get before the race begins.
Orange, who chairs the Council’s committee on election laws, has proposed a slew of changes that would help him and his campaign contributors while putting the squeeze on potential rivals.
These include a loosening of petition requirements for ballot initiatives (which would ease the way for gambling proponents to put a pro-slot machines proposal to a vote-coincidentally, these groups donated almost $20,000 to Orange’s campaign) and a requirement for sitting councilmembers to resign from their seats to run for mayor (which wouldn’t effect Orange, whose term expires next year, but would force Evans and Fenty to make tough decisions). He has also suggested new regulations forcing mayoral exploratory committees to report their donors.
While Orange characterizes these proposals as reforms to protect D.C.’s citizens, it seems suspicious that so many favor him. Financial reporting will bring needed transparency to the race, but loosening petition requirements is irresponsible and forcing incumbents to resign and run for a different office is practically unheard of.
More egregious, though, is Mayor Anthony Williams’ decision to fire Brown from his commissioner’s position earlier this month. Though Brown’s term expired in January, he was expected to remain in his job until a new appointment in June or perhaps even to be reappointed for a fourth term. Instead, the day after Brown announced a heavyweight-boxing match in the city and appeared on TV to promote its benefits to the city, the Mayor’s office sent him a Dear John letter.
Firing a rival as soon as he gets good publicity smacks of political opportunism. Early political infighting isn’t just irritating to voters; it distracts D.C.’s public officials from their priorities and cost Brown his job. More than anything, though, it shows the poor political skills of D.C.’s elected class. If you’re going to stomp all over your rivals, keep it behind closed doors instead of embarrassing yourself and the city.
