Hunter Takes Aim at Michael Brown

If there's anyone in town who dislikes at-large council candidate Michael A. Brown more than Adrian Fenty, it's fellow candidate Dee Hunter.

Today Hunter hit local airwaves with radio ads taking aim at Brown, the perceived front-runner. The ad [MP3] was heard this morning on at least one local radio station, Praise 104.1, countering ads Brown has done in recent days.

Last night, at a candidates' forum sponsored by various local activist groups, Hunter also took on Brown, quickly answering one of moderator Gloria Minott's questions so he could use the rest of his time to slam Brown for refusing to pledge to be a full-time councilmember. "Michael Brown wants to maintain his full-time job at a Washington lobbying firm and work on these problems part-time. I find that very arrogant."

Brown was allowed to respond; he said he disputed Hunter's facts, before giving his stock answer about how he would ask sitting councilmembers with outside jobs---David Catania, Mary Cheh, Jack Evans---about how they "balance" their responsibilities before making a decision.

Brown cut in: "That doesn't dispute my facts!"

At an earlier forum, in Ward 6, Hunter had also laid into Brown, catching him giving one position on charter schools to a local union, then giving a contradictory position to the crowd that night.

There will be two more chances for forum fireworks: Tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Ballou Senior High, and tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Rock Creek Baptist Church, 4201 8th St. NW.