Photo by d. scruggs.

A few days after turning in his nominating petition for April’s special election, interim D.C. Councilmember Sekou Biddle has made quite a political error, one which could prove costly as he campaigns to legislate a city in budgetary crisis.

On Tuesday, Biddle told Washington Post reporter Tim Craig that, to solve a near-$600 million estimated budget gap, he’d not only want to raise income taxes on the wealthiest Washington residents, but wouldn’t feel comfortable supporting any tax increase that didn’t also affect Councilmembers while lowering taxes elsewhere:

“We have to figure out is there is anything we can cut that is not a need, and then we will fill the hole with fees and taxes somehow,” said Biddle, adding he would also like to explore ways to lower taxes on low and middle income residents. … “I’m trying to avoid I am going to tax someone other than myself,” Biddle said. “If I am going to increase the rate, it doesn’t seem logical for me to increase the rate for someone other than myself. … It’s not sacrifice if I say you sacrifice but I am not giving up anything.”

On Wednesday, Biddle reaffirmed that stance to Examiner reporter Freeman Klopott. But today, Biddle issued the following statement in order to “clarify” his remarks:

“I do not support a tax hike on businesses, individuals or households making above $125,000,” Biddle (D-At Large) said. “The District is facing a major fiscal shortfall, but solving the problem doesn’t mean we need to be short-sighted. We can’t start addressing our budget challenges by putting taxes on the table up front.”

That’s quite a walk back, there.

Here’s the rub — while there are a few members of the Council who will have to make the tough political decision of whether to support raising taxes on wealthier constituents or (again) gutting more city services during this spring’s budget negotiations, Biddle is the only one who will need to win a tightly-contested election weeks after Mayor Vince Gray’s proposed budget hits his desk. It’s Biddle’s tightrope — and whether he’ll be able to walk it is obviously still in question.