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Two possible candidates eye Graham's D.C. Council seat

By: Michael Neibauer
Examiner Staff Writer
November 6, 2009

Two well-known Ward 1 residents with public service experience have emerged to possibly challenge three-term D.C. Councilman Jim Graham in his 2010 re-election campaign. The door might have opened to serious challengers with the arrest of Ted Loza, Graham's chief of staff, on bribery charges tied to a recent taxicab scandal. The Ward 1 councilman is not linked to the scandal, investigators say, but the tight bond between Graham and Loza, and Graham's coziness with taxicab industry leadership, is nevertheless disconcerting to some voters. "I do not look at this with glee, blood in the water," said Bryan Weaver, a long-time Adams Morgan advisory neighborhood commissioner who is exploring a run against Graham. "I think he's 100 percent innocent." But the Loza incident, the 39-year-old Weaver said, has given residents the perception that there is a "pay-to-play" attitude at city hall. "What bothers me is there is, possibly, an environment of obligation that certain lobbies, certain contributors are able to do things or get support from the Wilson Building that regular citizens wouldn't get," Weaver said. Weaver, executive director of the Hoops Sagrado nonprofit, this week formed an exploratory committee to raise some money and "see if it's just me or if others have the same vision." Jeff Smith, a former D.C. Board of Education member for Wards 1 and 2, also is considering a campaign, The Examiner has learned.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't something I was going to be thinking about over the holidays," said Smith, executive director of DC Voice, an education advocacy organization.

Smith resigned from the Board of Education in April 2007 to protest Mayor Adrian Fenty's takeover of the D.C. Public Schools. "I remain interested in the leadership of the city I grew up in, the city I work in," he said.

Graham's lone challenger in the 2006 Democratic primary had no shot. Chad Williams pleaded guilty during the campaign to assaulting his former girlfriend. Graham won the primary election with 86 percent of the vote.

"Jim is a very popular three-term incumbent," said Chuck Thies, adviser and spokesman for Graham's campaign. "He has a history of reforming government, unearthing corruption and seeing to it that the individuals responsible for that corruption were put on trial. I think anyone that has spent time in Ward 1 can run for the seat, but at the end of the day [Graham's] record of service and accomplishment cannot be matched."

mneibauer@washingtonexaminer.com



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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

Nov 6, 2009

Jeff Smith would be a good choice, Ward 1 deserves better than they have and we need council members that have no problem going against the mayor. A person that is an independent thinker and realizes its' the constituency that counts, not the mayor. Graham voted against stopping the mayor and his cronies from wasting tax payer dollars. The others that voted against it were Bowser and Evans. They definitely need to go.

 

CoHiRes

Nov 6, 2009

With all the current DCPS issues, maybe it's time we had someone with an established background in eduction issues. Looks like graham's noninvolvemeny in the taxi case is gaining a little interest.

 

Nov 7, 2009

Ward 1: Go with Jeff Smith and become Graham-free!!!! You deserve it!!!!

 

Ward1issues

Nov 9, 2009

I will vote for Jeff Smith or anybody that will work with small businesses in Ward 1. Jim will not work small local contractors in Ward1. Jim only looks out for the big developers and contractors only. VOTE for a WARD 1 Councilmember that will help the small contracting businesses in the Ward.

 

ChildrenFirst in Ward 1

Nov 10, 2009

I remember sending Jeff Smith an email when he was on the Board of Education regarding the closing of schools in the District. It was a passionate plea to help us save our school. Jeff Smith did not bother to hit reply to respond and I will NEVER forget that. Remember, never forget "the little things that are left unrecognized, because the larger things will definitely not be done."

 

mike

Nov 11, 2009

Graham only cares about rich people -and homosexuals. get rid of him!!

 


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