Photo by Burnt Pixel.

At one point during last night’s Ward 5 candidate forum at Lace Lounge on Rhode Island Avenue NE, contender Frank Wilds loudly proclaimed that “Everybody should run!” That seems to have been the ongoing joke during the first of many forums that will take place leading up to the May 15 Special Election to replace Harry Thomas, Jr. — with 18 people already in the running, why not add a few more?

The forum was organized by Ward 5 ANC Commissioner Tim Clark and promoted as a means for Ward 5 residents to better assess the many candidates that seek to represent them. The inaugural forum featured nine of the 18 candidates giving 50 residents at the lounge their two-minute campaign pitches and then fielding questions from Clark and the audience.

In both personalities and policies, there was a diversity that spanned the ward’s many neighborhoods.

There was everyone from Wilds, a longtime resident and former associate of Mayor Anthony Williams, to newcomer Amanda Broadnax. Former candidates like Kenyan McDuffie were on hand, as were ANC commissioners (Bloomingdale’s John Salatti), leaders of civic organizations (Brookland’s Caroline Petti) and longtime political gadflys (Kathy Henderson).

The hopeful councilmembers spoke of the lack of good middle schools in the ward, the need for continuing ethics reform in the D.C. Council and how to best develop vital corridors like Rhode Island Avenue, Bladensburg Road and North Capitol Street. (Despite last week’s council vote, there was little talk of medical marijuana cultivation centers.) There was plenty of talk of proven leadership, experience and integrity. There were even a few laughs in a ward that could use a little light humor these days — “I’ve been a good citizen. I haven’t been bad. I haven’t broken any laws,” proudly said Ron Magnus, an attorney and former council candidate.

And yes, there was discussion over how to balance the needs of new residents that have flocked into parts of the ward and the desires of the old-timers; a few candidates spoke of finding common ground, others admitted that there are few ways to get everyone to agree on one issue, but open discussion is vital to make everyone feel like they’re being heard.

In that, the forum seemed like the start of a cleansing process that is trying to rid the ward of the memory of a councilmember that stole $350,000 (and an ANC commissioner that helped himself to $30,000) — and the political establishment that may have denied that it could have happened until Thomas pleaded guilty for it.

Clark called the forums “something different, something unorthodox,” and planned on hosting them every Tuesday for the foreseeable future. There certainly are enough candidates for it.