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D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is running for re-election, and so far no viable candidate has formally declared an intent to run against the incumbent (though there are plenty of rumors about At-large D.C. Council member Michael A. Brown). A story from the Examiner today may help persuade someone to step to the plate sooner rather than later, however. A recent poll conducted by D.C.-based Successful Capital Strategies shows that six in ten District Democrats would be "open" to voting for someone other than Fenty in the next election.
We're sure that the Fenty camp isn't thrilled by the news, but the poll also reveals the mayor has an impressive 68 percent favorability rating, which is hardly a slap in the face. Add that figure to the mayor's reported $2.5 million warchest, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where Brown could make much of a splash. His favorability rating was only 30 percent in the same poll.
You can download a .pdf of the full results of the poll here.
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i think that while Fenty is a nice guy, knows how to use his muscles to run, bike, and swim, and doesn't smoke crack with hookers, is overall a waste of space. he's more suited to being a high school gym teacher or the manager at a Foot Locker.
why doesn't Martin Austermuhle run for mayor? oh i forgot, he's not a US citizen and he's white - two missing qualifications for being DC's mayor.
ZOMG McGillicuddy, you clearly are under-valuing the rare treat of having a DC public official who doesn't smoke crack with hookers.
Hell, I'd accept the smoking crack with hookers part, if he or she had half a brain and wasn't so annoyingly vindictive and petty.
I think these poll results are interesting - but so is the sample. Only democrats in Wards 1, 3 and 6 were asked to participate. Not included - the Fenty stronghold of Ward 4. But... also not included are his potential trouble spots - Wards 6, 7 and 8.
But... also not included are his potential trouble spots - Wards 5, 7 and 8.
{duh}
I agree. They should have polled residents from all 8 wards. As a participant in the poll, the questions came across as very convoluted especially when trying to answer over the phone. It is an okay survey to give to highly educated people in a readable format but even then I have to wonder. I made the kid reading the questions repeat herself several times and she was pretty patient about it. I am taking the results of this one with a grain of salt.
The Examiner piece indicates at the end they plan to expand the poll to other wards, which I agree should be done. Despite being commissioned by Nation's Capital Committee, a group tied to particular interests (developers and downtown business interests), none of the released questions appear slanted. I haven't seen any similar poll data from the Post in over a year so this group should at least be commended for funding and releasing data from one.
Fenty is in a bit of a PR quandary. What he needs is a battle to fight so he can show some leadership. Right now he just seems like mid-level manager. Take the gloves off with the Council. The problem of course is that he's got to be careful of the "arrogance" charge.
I am voting down the line against the incumbents in the primary--purely because of the DC voting rights issue.
As the bill was dying, the Council took an "oh well, those damn republicans again" attitude. I have not heard one thing of them on the issue other than "it's not fair". Well, that doesn't do much.
On the gun issue, the Council could have even just given the appearance of being serious about complying with SCOTUS. That may have been enough to get enough people on our side.
I am not talking wholesale gutting of the laws, just not pushing through/retracting some of the sillier provisions like requiring range time with a handgun in order to register a shotgun., or making a rifle with a stock that can be adjusted from 30-34" illegal, when a rifle with a 28" stock is legal. Couldn't SOMEONE on the Council had said "Gee, making it illegal for someone to register the same model gun that was at the center of the Heller case is probably unconstitutional and will hurt our standing in Congress."?
Alas, although warned about this, the Council took the attitude of "not our problem."
There were apparently disagreements (which is why it collapsed), but no one had the courage to speak publicly about where they stood, and what they were pushing for.
A real moment in history was wasted that we will be unlikely to get back anytime soon. All the leadership is accountable.
What sealed the deal for me on Mendo was when I read he was "surprised" by the gun amendment even though many had warned him it was likely.
Fenty has lost my vote (like he cares) unless he reverses course and actually takes seriously the idea of reducing the bloat in the DC government. Williams made some progress, but we all assumed Fenty would continue that. Instead, we get the idiotic summer jobs program fiasco, and very little in the way of actually reducing the ridiculous number of people on the DC payroll, demanding that there be actual accountability in departments like Parks and Rec, DDOT, etc.
Anybody that thinks he's made progress needs to just step on down to the Reeves Center or 941 North Cap and spend some time. Then couple that with actual interactions with many DC employees.
There are some really hardworking, decent DC employees. It must drive them crazy to see others making the same $$ or more and doing little or nothing.
Fenty's let thousands of DC employees go. Almost a thousand in DCPS alone, combined with personel cuts, hiring new employees at reduced salary, and contracting work at fixed costs.
Expect to see more of that, but the unions make it very tricky. Just think back to the 90's when, for example, DPW didn't collect trash for a few weeks and you'll understand why.
Key Graph:
"The Nation's Capital Committee organized last year to support Patrick Mara, the young Republican who crushed long-time Councilwoman Carol Schwartz in the September primary. It is backed by downtown business interests -- developers, office building managers, parking firms and the restaurant industry among them."
Mara, who's entrance to the race split the white vote (as well as the republican vote, for whatever that's worth), and ensured Brown would be elected, pretty much based on name recognition alone.
Hillman, you hit the nail on the head. I worked for DC government for two years and recently got out. I actually took a paycut to get out of that place. I was working for an underqualified Exec Director who was appointed by Fenty. We still don't know what they had on him to get appointed to that position. It's frustrating to be running all over this city, working my ass off and more often then not, run into people sitting around watching Maury Povich.
At this point, I don't care if DC's Green party throws up some whackadoo in a Dr. Seuss hat- they have my vote.
Anyone but Fenty.
Molly for Mayor!
But he's got a total lock on the oil-soaked Middle Eastern pervert vote. Both of them!
Fenty could go along way with me if he would eliminate the "Summer Jobs" program. There is no union involved, so this one can actually be done.
Last year, we had hundreds of teenagers being paid to sit in school auditoriums all summer. This year we have hundreds of teenagers being paid to walk around the city in blue Conservation Corps t-shirts.
In neither case do the students learn any real world job skills, such as: how to find out about job openings, how to approach a manager about getting hired, how to dress and conduct yourself for an interview, how to show up at work on-time and do what you are told, how to dress for work, and how to set up a real checking account to deposit your paycheck into.
These are all things I learned at 16 while working at a local convenience store. I wasn't perfect, I was nearly fired about a dozen times, but I learned the basic job skills needed to survive as an adult in the US.
These kids are learning nothing, and being paid for it. A complete and total failure of a program that could be scrapped by Fenty.
A nice thought, but that Summer job program is the third rail of DC politics. I never cease to be amazed at the number of Marion Barry dick riders that remain firmly planted on his tip because he gave them their first job 20 years ago.
Right.
If he eliminates the summer jobs program, just watch every councilmember (possible exception Cheh) and poverty pimp call for his head on a platter.
Even Ward 2 has census tracts with 30% AMI.
It's a non-starter.
Even Ward 2 has census tracts with 30% AMI.
What's AMI? Thx
Average Median Income. Now set as apx $100K for a family of 4 in the DC metro area.
* maybe area median income. regardless, the concept holds.
Yeah it's a shame this job program is basically just baby-sitting for the parents and an allowence fund for the kids... they're not learning a damn thing and from what I hear they cost the employing party more in time-lost than they might get in actual deliverables and work done from the kids. It's worthless and needs to be re-worked from the ground up or just gotten rid of entirely.
Much ado about nothing.
Unless a well-heeled, charismatic, carpet bagger swoops into town (like tomorrow) Mayor Cue Ball doesn't have much to worry about. Assuming any credible primary threat would have to be launching from the Council; none of the usual suspects have the finance, organization, energy, or measurable political accomplishments to challenge Fenty.
I agree, there simply isn't the opposition. Although I would like to see Vincent Orange throw his hat in the ring again...
Maybe Patrick Mara could switch parties and run as a post-African American conservative Democrat in the model of Ed Rendell?
Fenty accepted his position as a glamor job. He just wanted to put his foot in the door. The old DC folks never saw him coming. He just appeared. DC needed someone who was already here. Some one who was no-nonsense and hardcore. What we got was a flash in the pan bald GQ model.
Now it's the same old/same old stuff.
Agreed. Fenty is a GQ-politician who needs to be replaced by someone who actually accomplishes something and gets the city politics under control.
I hate to say it but I'd vote for Palin over Fenty any day! At least she'd make it look like she's doing work and getting things accomplished. All fenty does is abuse his mayoral perks to get his kids into soccer practice and better schools, let his buddies drive the city vehicles around, and get into fender benders because he's too stubborn to let someone else drive. Additionally, the guy is arrogant is all get out, anyone remember that quote where he basically said 'it's not a tax unless I say it's a tax' regarding his so-called "street light surcharge" idea?! The guy should be teaching 5th graders how to play dodge ball or something... and what does he actually do anyway?! You never hear about him accomplishing much at all... I think the guy's a prick and I'd happily vote for just about any competition that's not Marrion Barry, John Catoe, or Jim Grahm!