John Fanning, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner chairman in Logan Circle, thinks it’s time for Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans to go. And, despite two challengers already throwing their hats in the ring to unseat the longest-serving, scandal-plagued D.C. councilmember, Fanning says he’s the best guy for the job.

Fanning officially launched his campaign for Ward 2 councilmember this week, on a platform of addressing “quality-of-life issues” in a ward that includes most of downtown D.C., Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and Georgetown.

“Jack Evans is a more suit and tie boardroom guy,” says Fanning. “I’m more out in the community getting my hands dirty. Having been an ANC commissioner six terms and as chairman has prepared me for this job.” He says that, as councilmember, he would meet with Ward 2’s ANC commissioners monthly “because I believe they have the pulse of their neighborhoods.”

He lists among his priorities a task force to tackle homeless encampments in Foggy Bottom and Chinatown and tax breaks and incentives to retain small businesses.

Fanning began his involvement at the ANC level in 1990, when he was concerned about trash, rats, and crime in Logan Circle. “They said, ‘Reach out to your ANC commissioner,’ but the seat was vacant,” he says, and so began his time as commissioner. He cites his major achievements as helping prevent the closure of Garrison Elementary School, supporting projects in his ANC like turning the long-vacant Franklin School into the forthcoming Planet Word museum, and the impending renovations in Franklin Park.

He has also worked under mayors Marion Barry and Anthony Williams in their community relations offices, and recently resigned from his city job to run for councilmember.

This isn’t Fanning’s first time facing off against Evans; he challenged him nearly two decades ago in the 2000 primary. Evans won handily with more than 66 percent of the vote to Fanning’s nearly 18 percent. Fanning says he’s learned from the experience “how to organize a campaign organization and how to have the capability to raise funds.”

Like Evans’ other two challengers, Fanning has signed up for D.C.’s new publicly funded elections program (this is the first year that it’s available to candidates.)

The incumbent, who hasn’t formally announced his candidacy yet, ran unopposed in the last two races for his seat. Now he’s facing a federal investigation into his relationship with businesses he has consulted for, a recall effort, and a reprimand from his colleagues (who stripped the Finance Committee that Evans chairs of some of its responsibilities.) And Evans’ decades-long grip on Ward 2 politics appears to be substantially weakened.

But for people who want to see the incumbent hit the road, having so many other people on the primary ballot is less than ideal, which Fanning acknowledges. Already, he says he’s had a conversation with Patrick Kennedy, a Foggy Bottom ANC commissioner and the first challenger to announce.

“We agreed to see where this also goes right now and then meet again and then possibly evaluate where each of our campaigns are at and continue the conversation about joining forces,” says Fanning. “In other words, possibly one of us exiting the race and possibly becoming a united front and working together.” Fanning says he doesn’t know if the other challenger, first-time candidate Jordan Grossman, would be willing to do that.

But Fanning thinks that he should be the candidate to take on Evans. “Patrick is a bright young man and he’s served on the ANC, but you have to remember he was very active in Jack Evans’ previous campaign,” says Fanning. “Jordan Grossman has just shown up. I have an accomplished record of achievement and getting results in my neighborhood.”

Previously:
Jack Evans Gets A Second Challenger For His Ward 2 Council Seat
Jack Evans’ Former Campaign Chair Is Running For His Council Seat
Notes On A Scandal: WTF Is Going On With Ward 2’s Jack Evans?