Good morning, D.C. If you live in Wards 1 or 2, don’t forget to turn out to vote today in the special election for District I member of the State Board of Education. There’s only one name on the ballot, that of veteran education reporter Mary Lord, but as we mentioned before, there’s also a write-in candidate, first-year teacher in DCPS Jason Crawford. Check out each candidate’s web site and decide for yourself. If you’re registered to vote in Wards 1 or 2 but are unsure of your polling place, go here.

Drunk Driving Deaths Way Down in D.C.: The Examiner brings the good news that the number of drunk driving related fatalities in D.C. dropped 37 percent between 2005 and 2006, the biggest percentage decrease in the country, according to statistics released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The MPD is crediting their public outreach efforts for the drop, but considering neighboring Prince William and Montgomery counties both saw increases, we would have to argue once again that it has more to do with the availability of reliable public transportation late at night in D.C. — Metro service until 3 a.m. only began a couple years before this sample.

Rhee Rushes to Get Books in Place: D.C. Schools start Monday, but the Post reports that while Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee said yesterday that her goal is to have 95 percent of the school system’s textbooks in the schools by opening day, almost 40 percent of those books were not in place as of yesterday. As Rhee and her staff hustle to get all those books in place this week, she also announced that all 20 principal vacancies have now been filled.

Briefly Noted: Union criticizes firings of guards from D.C. Jail involved in gender mix-up … University of Maryland ranks 14th “party school” in nation … Va. Gov. Kaine orders spending cuts in face of budget shortfall.

This Day in DCist: In 2006 we got ready for the big mayoral debate and offered our best advice for where to go to celebrate former President Bill Clinton’s 60th birthday.

Photo by Mr. T in D.C.

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