Most of the District’s political news in 2005 revolved around D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and his plans for the future. Credited with righting the city’s financial state, Williams spent the better part of the year dodging the question as to whether or not he would run again — a move that kept mayoral competitors in maddening suspense and incessantly fueled local rumor mills. In late September — actually, on the very day a year after Williams had successfully brought baseball back to Washington — Williams finally admitted that he was ready to move on. Since that day, Williams has become something of a lame duck mayor, succeeded by speculation and discussion concerning those who seek to replace him.

Council-members Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 4) and Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5) were first to jump into the race during the first months of summer, followed by council chair Linda Cropp, Michael Brown, and Marie Johns as the season turned to fall. And while there may still be room for other contenders, many District political observers guess that Fenty and Cropp will ultimately face each other in next September’s Democratic primary — youthful energy lining up against stately tradition.

So far, the mayoral race has been relatively tame. Spare some spite between Cropp, Fenty, and Orange, the candidates have spent the majority of their time articulating roughly the same message — Williams did us well, but I will do us better. Next year will no doubt see more details on education, affordable housing, and development, not to mention attacks on Williams’ shortfalls and attempts to take credit for his successes.

Of course, there is also the race for council chair, the second most powerful position in city government. Currently, council-member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) stands unopposed after fellow council-member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) withdrew amidst accusations of financial improprieties, but few expect that she will remain alone for long. She represents the least representative of the city’s wards (Ward 3 encompasses parts of upper Northwest, and is overwhelmingly white and affluent), a fact that alone may encourage Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) or Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) to mount a campaign of their own.

Beyond the electioneering to come, Williams may spend the better part of 2006 trying to defend his administration from accusations that it often played fast and loose with bureaucratic rules. Williams has a legacy to craft, and it will become increasingly hard to do so as his potential successors exploit his flaws and as his ability to influence the city’s agenda fast diminishes.

In that, 2006 will be significantly different than 2005. Unlike the year that is just ending, the news in the year to come will not surround Williams. If anything, it may just pass him by.

>>DCist on mayoral politics, Adrian Fenty, Linda Cropp, Vincent Orange, Michael Brown, and Marie Johns.