Photo by Mr. T in DC

Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) today established an exploratory committee for a mayoral run, making him the first of three D.C. legislators who have expressed interest in running for the city’s highest office to actually start doing so.

Formally establishing the committee allows him to raise money and hire campaign staff; while it does not mean that he is officially a mayoral candidate, he has said in a number of recent interviews that it is likely that he will jump into the race to replace Mayor Vince Gray, the first step of which—the Democratic primary—is less than 15 months off. Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) has said that he will run, while there are strong indications that Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) will too.

Wells has said that his campaign would focus on cleaning up the city’s government. “We need to sustain our progress in building livable, walkable communities with safe streets, great schools, accessible transit, and neighborhood small businesses for every District resident. Our continued momentum depends on restoring integrity to our elected government, with ethical leadership focused on one thing: Creating a great city,” he was quoted as saying in a press release from his nascent campaign today.

Does Wells, who is white, have a chance? He certainly thinks so. On The Kojo Nnamdi Show last week, he pointed to the fact that he represents a ward that is racially diverse. He also said that if the U.S. was ready for a black president, D.C. should be ready for a white mayor. Over the weekend, Post columnist Colbert King said the jury is still out on Wells’ chances: “Does Wells have the strength, toughness and vision to lead a city as diverse and sometimes contentious as the District? That remains to be demonstrated, and may hold down the cheering…at least for now.”

As part of his soft launch, Wells will kick off a citywide listening tour tonight at Big Chair Coffee (2122 Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue SE) in Ward 8. The event starts at 7 p.m.