The rumors that At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange would run for mayor were proven correct today when a woman named Gerri Adams-Simmons picked up nominating petitions on behalf of Orange at the Board of Elections.

Adams-Simmons Says her group, calling itself the Draft Committee to Save Our City, met with Orange and asked him to run because of his advocacy for jobs, affordable housing, and a living wage.

“We felt that he had the integrity and the intelligence and the compassion to bring the city back to the people,” Adams-Simmons says.

Why couldn’t Orange get the petitions himself? James Brown, Orange’s chief of staff, says Orange is out of town and will be back Tuesday.

The race got still more crowded after Orange’s petition was picked up. Busboys & Poets owner and potential candidate Andy Shallal says he’s getting still closer to a mayoral run. In an appearance on WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show this afternoon, Shallal said he’s planning to pick him petitions soon, with an announcement at Ben’s Chili Bowl to follow on Tuesday.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery