Adding to the already crowded roster of mayoral candidates, Michael A. Brown, a lobbyist and the son of the late Clinton-era Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, today told the Washington Times that he would formally announce his candidacy for the city’s top job next month.

His announcement will swell the ranks of mayoral hopefuls to five, including Council-members Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 4) and Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5), Council Chair Linda Cropp, and former Verizon executive Marie Johns.

Brown, pictured above, is a relative unknown in city-wide politics, having only received attention in late April when D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams — responding to rumors that Brown was using his perch on the city’s Boxing and Wrestling Commission to lay the groundwork for his mayoral run — chose not to renew Brown’s tenure on the commission and revoked his low-numbered license plate. While Brown may struggle to overcome Fenty’s populist appeal and Cropp’s long history in city politics, the year-long campaign before the Democratic primary in September 2006 may allow him to shake enough hands and attend enough community meetings to generate a following.

In somewhat more frightening news, four-term mayor-for-life and current Council-member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) has not completely ruled out another shot at the mayor’s office. Can anyone say “term limit legislation”?