Grosso

A D.C. Council hopeful yesterday accused incumbent Councilmember Michael A. Brown (I-At Large) of mismanaging funds at a non-profit named after his father, provoking a sharp rebuke from Brown in what has turned into one of the most hotly contested local races of the year.

In a letter to the IRS, challenger David Grosso accused Brown of not filing the proper tax forms for the Ron H. Brown Foundation, which was created in 1996 after the elder Brown, then the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, was killed in a plane crash. According to Gross, the foundation—run by the younger Brown—did not file any tax forms but hosted a number of fundraising events before having its non-profit status revoked in 2010. Additionally, the foundation’s D.C. corporate registration was not renewed in 2006 for failing to file records with the city, meaning it could no longer conduct operations in D.C.

According to Grosso, the incident only further proves that Brown—who has dealt with claims of not paying taxes and traffic citations and recently had $113,000 stolen from his campaign account—of being unfit for office.

“Michael A. Brown has shown that he is unfit to be a member of the Council and should now be voted out of office. His lack of transparency, accountability and responsible reporting with respect to his non-profit fits his troubling pattern of financial mismanagement,” said Grosso. “Michael A. Brown has campaign money missing, failed to pay his rent, mortgage and taxes, and now has refused to file required 990 IRS reports. The people of the District of Columbia deserve councilmembers who can manage their finances in a manner that gives confidence that these members can also responsibly manage the District’s budget.”

After initially refusing to comment on the allegations, Brown fired back last night, saying that the foundation had not taken in more than $25,000 a year after 2001, thus explaining why no tax forms were filed. (In 2001, it raised $544,000.) He also said that a 2008 golf tournament held during the Democratic National Convention in Denver was the foundation’s last event before it closed. (The event, which included a post-tournament barbecue, offered packages ranging in price from $1,000 to $10,000.)

In his statement, Brown also took Grosso to task for raising the issue. “To attempt to denigrate the name of my late father and the important work the Ronald H. Brown Foundation and its progeny have accomplished is the lowest form of politics, and shows the true character of my opponent,” he said.

The fight between Brown and his challengers has become aggressive in recent weeks. Grosso initially tried to get Brown kicked off of the ballot, a move that Brown decried as being in bad faith a waste of taxpayer funds. After an investigation, the D.C. Board of Elections tossed 1,500 of the signatures Brown submitted to get on the ballot, leaving him with just 200 over the 3,000 he needed to stay on.

GOP challenger Mary Brooks Beatty has similarly gone after Brown for his financial management problems, launching a website asking Brown to bow out of the race. She recently criticized Grosso for switching party affiliations from Democrat to Independent for the race, a move Brown also made during his first run in 2008.

Brown has tried to change the subject numerous times, saying that his legislative record should be the focus of the campaign, not his financial issues. Brown recently added a section to his campaign website touting his legislative accomplishments.

While Brown has been endorsed by nine unions, yesterday Grosso picked up the endorsement of Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), who said, “If you want good government, you have to vote for it.” Grosso has also gained the backing of former councilmembers Bill Lightfoot and Kathy Patterson. According to the Post, many of Brown’s colleagues are sitting this one out, with only Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and Council Chair Phil Mendelson saying they would side with Brown and fellow incumbent Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5).

The contenders square off tomorrow during a debate in Georgetown, at the Chevy Chase Community Center on October 16, at the Takoma Park Baptist Church on October 17, again go head-to-head on October 20 at Catholic University.

Orange will also attend those debates; on November 6, voters will choose two At-Large councilmembers. A.J. Cooper, Ann Wilcox and Leon Swain are also running.