Sources: Vincent Gray to Announce Mayoral Run Tomorrow
D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray will enter the mayoral race tomorrow, close sources tell LL, ending months of deliberations.
Gray will file papers with the city campaign finance office shortly before 2 p.m.; he will address a small group of supporters outside the Frank D. Reeves Center afterward, the sources say. A larger campaign kickoff will follow at a later date.
Gray's entry represents the first serious threat to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's re-election; several head-to-head polls done in recent months show Gray leading Fenty or in a statistical dead hear. It also means that Gray, 68 67, is forfeiting a sure re-election to another four-year term as chairman, opening up a scramble among his council colleagues for the seat.
More to come.
Photo by Darrow Montgomery
12:37 pm
You can't shine shit!
12:40 pm
Yeh! This is great news for the District.......
12:58 pm
Now we'll actually have a competitive race!
1:06 pm
Kathy Patterson for Chair!
Not one of Gray's Council "colleagues" is worthy of the Chair except Mendelson and that job wouldn't play to his strengths.
1:09 pm
This is actually good news for Fenty. It will scare away or soften any other contenders and no way will Gray beat Fenty.
Remember, they call them "races" and Gray looks like death warmed over from the get go. Also, Gray has been, to be charitable, less then stellar as Chair. This is driven purely by ego.
I am no big fan of Fenty but would have to support him over Gray.
1:26 pm
If Gray can make even a middling showing in Wards 2 and 3, he will crush Fenty like a bald-headed centipede.
1:31 pm
Council Chair race predictions: Both Evans and Mendelson run; Clark Ray all of a sudden looks very bright for getting into to the at-large race for Mendelson's seat early, although he will now have 10 or so opponents. Wild card in that race -- rather than Chair race -- is Kathy Patterson, who could reduce Ray to one of the other 10 dwarfs in contention if she gets in.
1:35 pm
It's so unfortunate that I have to vote for Fenty again. There is absolutely no way I can vote for the crypt keeper.
1:47 pm
No way some white dude is going to beat Fenty. Who the hell does this old Italian dude think will vote for him?
2:02 pm
Look at how many people jog outside and on treadmills and ride their bikes in DC! And have you considered how many people have odd fashion ideas in DC!! Amazing numbers all around.
Here's the math (this is wonkville afterall!!)
Fenty+bikes+joggers+fashionistas-oldguy=Fenty
2:14 pm
Mr. Gray you have my vote!
2:27 pm
Kathy Patterson would be a great Council Chair. Jack Evans still hasn't learned why he has poor ratings in an at-large, city-wide race. Nothing has changed with him except the fact that he has given more reasons for the populace to dislike and distrust him.
2:28 pm
We need the strong leadership of Marion Barry.
2:38 pm
While Chairman Gray would present a credible challenge to Fenty. I would rather see Kwame Brown take a run at Fenty, or at the very least run for Council Chair. Why didn't the City Paper do a 2010 Best Challenger to Fenty, or Best Local Elected Official? Then again that would be stating the obvious, Kwame Brown in 2010 for Mayor or Council Chair, your pick.
2:45 pm
@proballdc: you are totally wrong on that one. Evans is the only one that can get DC thru the financial sh*t storm we're in the midst of. he is the only one on the council capable of being a good chair. kwame? nope. mendo? nada. who else do you have in mind?
2:53 pm
Let me tell you a great story of a lesser known challenge against a very well financed, very well connected incumbent---it was tight vitriolic and required a high grassroot approach.
We could be talking about Adrian Fenty or Vince Gray.
Vince Gray is not Linda Cropp. He can actually campaign. All of his races have been hard fought and well earned.
I know Linda would not win. Unless your office is on K Street she didn't know who you were.
Vince Gray---I will talk to service men, youth groups and several people who live in areas AF is not aware is in DC and had an event for them or appeared at their ice cream social.
I am not saying he is perfect. Nor am I saying you should automatically vote against someone. That is how I ended up with Fenty in the first place, voting against Williams.
But what I am saying is you would have to be a fool to think Vince Gray is another Linda Cropp.
3:07 pm
Donna Watts-Brightaupt for Mayor!
3:08 pm
I'll vote for him if it means getting rid of Fenty.
3:21 pm
"Evans is the only one that can get DC thru the financial sh*t storm we're in the midst of."
Are you nuts???? Evans is the major reason we're in a financial sh#tstorm. Who do you think has run the Finance and Revenue Committee for over a decade and missed the biggest tax scandal in DC history?
And check out how conflicted Mr. Evans is with his outside employer, Patton Boggs, and his Council job. Think Northrup Grumman, baseball stadium, convention center, CC Hotel, etc.
3:44 pm
@onthecontrary: Jack Evans has run for an at-large seat before and lost horribly and the poll's show that even today his popularity in concentrated in the ward that he lives in and represents.
You mentioned Kwame Brown, not I. I specifically said Kathy Patterson. In fact, I think Marie John's would have been a great chair, however, she has since been picked up by the Obama Administration.
Jack Evans hasn't done much to pull the District out of economic decay. We are 22 million in the whole this year and it is projected to be 500 million next year. He is the chairman of the finance committee. Maybe that is a stellar job to you, but I think differently.
4:01 pm
'Quantaviana', put down the stem and that bottle of
MD 20/20!
4:06 pm
Let's get it on! I will support Gray against Fenty everyday of the week and urge every dc resident to do likewise. It is pass time for Fenty to be kicked out of office. Fenty's arrogance and self-centeredness make him unfit to lead DC. He is not transparent in his actions, ultimately costing the city millions of $. Everyone who sees the Rheeformer for who she really is should jump at this opportunity to move her to Sacramento. Lets move against those who are dividing us. Attorney general nichols could go back to ambulance chasing. Citizens in Wards 7 & 8 should absolutely support Gray. Fenty and company have no use for you. WE CAN VOTE HIM OUT! YOU HAVE TO COME OUT AND VOTE THIS SHAM OF A MAYOR OUT!
4:16 pm
I am not sure why Grey would want to do this. If he loses (and I think he could), his political career would be over. He has been a good Chair, and could run that post for another 4-8 years without any issues.
4:17 pm
As I knew it...2010 would be the year for light-skinned brothers. We now gonna have bald-head and slick-head running against each other.
As for the Chairman position...I say Linda Cropp...bring her back and would love to see her and Rhee go at it. Why not have Peggy Cooper Cafritz run for the Chair?
You mean my summer will be tied up with senior citizens for Gray...and the youth for Fenty battling each other at the metro-stops to pass out flyers.
Months of the Gray Panthers and the Peace-a-holics going after each other with canes and glocks!!! Only in DC.
4:24 pm
dcblackdaddy loves to stick to the important issues.
4:26 pm
Evans would make Fenty's corruption look like pre-sclool recess. K Street and Patton Boggs already own a certain block on the DC Council . Now they will take off their robes ans hoods .
4:36 pm
Rick,
Only if you promise to write in Donna Watts-Brightaupt for Mayor and fellow ex-crackhead Sharon Wise for City Council.
DONNA "You put me out in Denver because I Wouldn't Suck Your Dick" Watts-Brightaupt!
Bring back the Crack!!! Elect Donna Watts Brightaupt Mayor and Sharon Wise Council Chair!
4:37 pm
Not to changing the subject but I have to know, 'dcblackdaddy', do you have an ax to grind with the 'Tabernacle of Prayer'?
4:51 pm
@long time rez:
check out a community meeting in shaw and tell those peeps you are against the convention center hotel. believe me, the hood needs it and evans will get it done.
you think evans is the only member to have outside employment? wrong again, my friend. more so, it isnt illegal.
look around - the district is in much better shape than VA & MD. are we in trouble? yes. could kwame or mendo lead the charge out of this mess? NO.
5:10 pm
I have grown rather fond of dcblackdaddy's rantings. I could use an extra 1000.00 for more MD 20/20.
I accept your challenge DC BLACK DADDY!
5:43 pm
HMMMM!
IN ALL HONESTY WITH ALL HIS POSTURING I DIDNT EXPECT MR GRAY TO RUN.
IF HE DOES RUN I WILL GIVE HIM #1 SLOT OVER FAGGIE FENTY.
SO WHERE IS PEEBLES? IS HE RUNNING FOR DC CHAIR?
5:47 pm
Bring back the Crack!!! Elect Donna Watts-Brightaupt Mayor and Sharon Wise Council Chair!
8:12 pm
DCBlackDaddy, what is your problem with saying the same thing about this church and women? Are you on "CRACK"? Please give it a rest with this issue, because no one cares. Too bad Fenty closed and privatized the D.C. Department of Mental Health on Spring Road, NW. You could use some counseling DCBlackDaddy.
8:15 pm
DCblackdaddy what in the heck are you talking about? Are you off your medications again? Please seek some help!!!!! You are a fucking nut case.
8:17 pm
Back on the topic. With D.C. Council Chair running against King Fenty, this isn't much of a choice. It's like jumping out the pan into the fire. D.C. voters don't have much of a choice.
P.S. I am performing tonight at the Verizon Center everyone. Come check my music out. LOL
8:23 pm
Bring back former Mayor Walter Washington from the dead to run against these clowns. I would vote for a Republican first before I vote for these two individuals.
Out of 500,000 D.C. residents, there have to be someone out there worth voting for that will serve and listen to the D.C. voters and not serve themselves, lobbyist, illegal alien supports, and big business.
8:25 pm
Correction:
Bring back former Mayor Walter Washington from the dead to run against these clowns. I would vote for a Republican first before I vote for these two individuals.
Out of 500,000 D.C. residents, there have to be someone out there worth voting for that will serve and listen to the D.C. voters and not serve themselves, lobbyists, illegal immigration, and corporations.
8:56 pm
Adrian Fenty represents good, progressive government. Grey is a Barry crony who (under Barry) oversaw the human services department during its worst decline ever. How could this choice be any clearer? Fenty is the guy for the job.
11:27 pm
Progressive is another term for left wing liberal. I am not liberal or conservative and I would prefer a mayor and Council in the middle. What we have at present in the Wilson Building are left wing nuts. This city and country is moving too far to the left and if they move any further, they would be in the ocean. Many voters in America are tired of these bullshit self serving politicians like Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray.
11:27 pm
Damn not you again! DCblackdaddy I'm sick and tired of you bitching about these two women. Tell me where the Hell I can pick up my money. So you can stop being a bitch. You bitch more then the landlord. Are you his bitch you acted like you're fucking this landlord. DC Blackdaddy WHO's paying CASH NO CHECKS. Let me help you move on pass this shit.
So we can stay with the topic. Where are the future Walter Washington sure isn't Fenty or Gray. DC deserved better. This will be a heck of a race. Vincent looks badly sick on this picture.
11:33 pm
@OnTheContrary
Shaw needs a convention center hotel just like it needed a convention center. NOT. It's a white elephant that is costing the city $30 million+ per year in debt service and every time the place opens for a convention, the city loses money.
And it isn't Evans' quarter-million-dollar-per-year outside employment that's the problem. It's the multiple times he has improperly used his Council office to steer millions of dollars of business to this outside employer (Patton Boggs) and to knowingly participate in conflict-of-interest situations. That IS illegal, a violation of his oath of office and in some quarters is known as racketeering.
Evans, who is one of the major factors in DC's looming insolvency, is like the guy who murders his parents, and then throws himself on the court's mercy because he's an orphan.
11:41 pm
Since Kathy Patterson is now a Ward 6 resident, why not Kathy for the vacant Ward 6 council seat. She would be a lot better than the empty seat we now have.
12:34 am
I don't see anyone worth voting for in D.C. or in Congress. All these politicians are liars, full of themselves, and pimp themselves out to lobbyists.
DCBlackDaddy, what is your problem? Most of us have no clue to what you are talking about and we don't care. Are you insane?
12:42 am
Councilmember Brown does not have the experience nor leadership qualities needed to build the necessary coalition on the Council to move legislation. Voters need a prominent choice from the private sector since Councilmember Evans is to tied to getting city business for his law firm at the expense of taxpayers.
6:53 am
"Adrian Fenty represents good, progressive government."
That's right. Because good government is all about directing millions of dollars to completely unqualified frat buddies.
Face it - Fenty is a crony politician as much as those who came before him. The only difference is the new faces of the cronies.
4:42 pm
Fenty represents good progressive government because that is what the record shows.
Better schools, lower crime, honest attempts to achieve results for citzens.
What do you get from Barry-lite Vincent Gray. Obstruction, finger pointing, grandstanding hypocracy, and arguements over baseball tickets. A Barry Crony all grow up (at age 70).
It amazes me that that ticket issue is used to demean Fenty. What 70 year old man complains about baseball tickets. Oh, Marion Barry and Vincent Gray.
And now race-baiting. Did you hear him today. "Let's take our City Back.". He sounded like a tea-bagger.
Elect him and we will take the city back. Back to the 1980's. When crack was king and DC was the Crack/Murder capital. And Gray hair really was that color.
11:20 pm
hymesb,
Race baiting is all he's got. Nikita will tag in soon. Love the tea-bagger analogy. Nailed it.
11:43 pm
Blah, Blah, Blah, let's have co-mayors... they both have strengths... and they both have weaknesses... stop picking on them... it cannot be easy running this city
5:51 pm
@Quantaviana, I dont think you know Sharon Wise at all, she is my Sponsor and has 21 years clean and sober. If it was not for her, Barry and the rest of his thieves would still be stealing. I have a 10% coupon to get a life on sale at target, you can have it if you like.
Sharon Wise started a NA Meeting in the very Ward that fired her and it continues to assist people like you for over one year now. Maybe you will attend one of the meetings, raise your hand and let us know about your problems and how we can help.
Keep coming back it works if you work it.
10:19 am
Grey vs. Fenty
I searched for an article on this subject so quickly. Then I read the comments; then I saw it was in...The City Paper!!!
This reminds me of a movie years ago called "Wild In the Streets". Premise: Every adult in the US over 30 was sent to a concentration camp permanently. The way this crowd sounds, it won't be fiction.
I didn't have kids, but I'm sorry your parents didn't make you even speak proper English, much less respect for people who are older and have more knowlege than you. But, I'm sure most of "you guys" here would deny that, since most of you are fluent in Windows 7 !!!
Reminds me of the time a young female resident at Johns Hopkins revealed her field of study. I can her now, as a doctor, going to a dying patient's room. "Like totally, you do have cancer dude. But the good news is that you can't get a job at your age of 37 anyway. You'll be so totally good to go from this room in a few days unless there is like a total miracle. This hospital will be so over you. Have a nice day!"
The reason our country and DC Gov is in such a mess now is because most people hired are still in diapers and still sucking on pacifiers.
Fenty has NO redeeming value at all. He could be put in the catgegory as a sociopath. Probably already is. But at least he knows how to openerate 10 Blackberrys at one time.
Rock on Mr. Grey !!!