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Week Around the Ists
We're not even done with this election cycle, and already we have to look forward to the next one. Over the weekend D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty filed the necessary paperwork to run for re-election in 2010. Here's Fenty's statement, via D.C. Wire:
"The time has come to engage the residents of the District of Columbia about the future of the city and the leadership that will represent them moving forward," Fenty began. "We are proud of the progress we've made over the past 22 months, whether its beginning the critical reform of DCPS or bringing more development into our great neighborhoods. We cannot rest on the improvement we've fostered thus far and will continue to work with all residents to make the District a world class city."Not a huge surprise that Fenty will run again, but now that we know his plans are a certainty, we can start to speculate about who might challenge him! Fenty remains a popular mayor across the city, but there are certainly a couple members of the D.C. Council who have developed anti-Fenty postures. Do you think Fenty will have any serious opponents in 2010?
Photo by Kirk W
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What's the over/under on Marion Barry running and winning?
in other news, water is wet.
seriously, as it stands today, i can't see a decent challenger coming from any corner.
unless carol runs as a write-in.
Who would be even be a viable Democratic (because that's all that matters in DC) challenger in the primary? I can't think of anyone with a viable base or sufficient stature besides maybe Vincent Gray who could topple Fenty.
I would agree that it appears that there is no one who would be inclined and able to topple Fenty. The angry left (the Brizill's and Schwartzman's of the city) probably don't have enough support right now to make much headway. Their pet issues just don't resonate with most voters right now. They can talk until their face is blue about an overpowerful mayor, but given the other options, most people are fine with Emporer Fenty.
The only possible approach to Fenty would be from the financial side of things. By the time the elections roll around, we could be facing stark budget problems. If our balance sheet looks grim, there is a chance someone could use that opening. Frankly, I love Fenty and think he's doing a good job, but he's not the most articulate person in the world, and if the walls start falling down around him, he could come off as being over his head if his opponent had a Bloomberg-ish all-business approach.
Fortunately for Fenty, I can't think of anyone who could successfully pull that off. Like Boomhauer said, maybe Vinnie Gray could do it. But I doubt it. Fenty has made Gray look pretty small since day one. I'm not sure how Gray could turn the tables on Fenty without some huge scandal.
No, it would probably have to be a bit of an outsider, like Bloomberg, but we don't have many of those down here.
Two things we can guarantee for 2010 - Fenty will run for mayor and United won't have a stadium deal in the District. Ugh
besides the fact that i don't think there is really anyone out there to challenge fenty in '10, i think he needs another term. fenty may not have had the most spectacular first half of his term thus far, but it has been relatively productive and without the kind of scandal that can bring an elected official down. now, with a few years under his belt, and his high-octane stlye, i think another term is where we would really see him shine...
unless he gets caught smoking crack in a hotel room with some prostitutes, i think a second term is all but a given for him (and even that isn't a sure-shot way out of office!). and i'm looking forward to it.
Any news on him running... the marathon yesterday?
Whats Tony Williams up to these days?
Maybe Fenty will get low-bid petition circulators to run his ballot qualification signature drive? The only way I see Fenty not being re-elected is if the school takeover turns out to be a major fiasco, the Council miraculously finds its missing spine, or he is beset by some sort of major scandal.
Fenty has ruffled the feathers of the powers that be, including those with deep pockets (read: the business community). I think we can count on a competitive bid from Vince Gray.