David Catania at DCBOE. Photo by Sarah Anne Hughes.

In his continuing quest to become the first Independent mayor of D.C., David Catania turned in 7,000 signatures to the D.C. Board of Elections this morning to get his name on the November ballot.

Surrounded by several members of the media, the At-Large Councilmember said an internal July poll shows him within “high single digits” of the Democratic nominee for mayor, Muriel Bowser. He called a decision by the Ward 4 Councilmember’s campaign not to debate until after the candidate list is set a strategy “to avoid any public discussion until the last possible moment.”

“If one were to survey her record, one would understand why she wants to avoid a debate on substance,” he said. Catania later said Bowser “represents more of the same. She’s a fresh face on business as usual.” He also criticized her time as chair of the Committee on Economic Development, saying she hadn’t passed “a single measure of substance to address our affordable housing crisis or our homelessness crisis.”

While Catania talked about his own record, including his time as education committee chair, he also addressed questions about his personality. Washington Post columnist Colby King recently wrote that Catania, while “always assumes he’s the smartest person in the room. Thus he often comes across as a bad listener who respects only his point of view — a toxic attitude when building relationships is required.”

Catania said that characterization of his personality is “an urban myth at this point.” He admitted to being “at times very irritated by what this government has or has not done on behalf of its citizens,” but he said he wouldn’t apologize for the “passion he brings to the work.”

“You don’t accomplish things like medical marijuana, Smokefree D.C., marriage equality and others without having tenacity,” Catania said. “I’ve said all along I believe I have the experience, the vision and the values to secure our future. That’s why I believe I make the best candidate to lead our city.”