The contentious D.C. mayor’s race is receiving most of the attention, but the council and congressional contests aren’t slouching toward irrelevancy. The campaigns to replace incumbents or retiring members have been pure political feasts.
The pickings are finest in the competition for council chairman. Two remarkable people — Ward 7’s Vincent Gray and Ward 3’s Kathy Patterson — are vying to lead the legislature. I wish they weren’t opposing each other; both have been consequential players in constructing a new D.C.
Gray is known best for his advocacy on behalf of poor and disadvantaged residents. He was the director of Covenant House Washington; he didn’t just create and manage that organization, he also built a multimillion-dollar facility in Southeast where troubled teens can receive crucial support. He served as director of the Department of Human Services duringSharon Pratt Kelly’s administration. He joined the legislature in 2005, elected by voters tired of a previous representative who thought constituent services an alien concept.
Patterson has served three terms. Stellar results mark her entire tenure. She persuaded her colleagues to fight against the threat of toxic chemicals riding through the city in railcars. She forced the Metropolitan Police Department to create a homicide victims unit, and later, to reform its first amendment-breaking ways. She repeatedly pushed for improvements in public schools. Tough and tenacious, she has been quite effective gathering seven votes to advance her legislative agenda — some of which, like that ghastly nanny anti-smoking bill, I have blasted.
There really isn’t a significant gap on the issues between Gray and Patterson. But the chairman doesn’t just push legislation. The position is managerial.
Patterson understood this years ago. Soon after joining the legislature, she advocated creating a joint council staff that would serve all members, ensuring a greater level of professionalism. A consolidated budget office was the result. Patterson says, if elected, she also wants shared research and policy staff to help lawmakers keep up with best practices implemented by other municipalities.
Hallelujah! How many times have we sat through dumb statements by council members who simply were ignorant about an issue or couldn’t grasp the finer points of a complicated discussion?
Gray has made important contributions in the short time that he has been on the council. Luckily, if his bid fails, he won’t have to leave the legislature. He doesn’t have to run again for his ward seat until 2008. Patterson, unfortunately, is another story.
Patterson’s superior record, command of the legislative process, extensive knowledge about the District government and sharp political skills evaluated within the context of the city’sfuture make her invaluable and the right choice for chairman. One added benefit: A vote for her places residents in the proverbial and enviable position of eating their cake and having it, too.
Sweet.
Jonetta Rose Barras is the political analyst for WAMU radio’s “D.C. Politics Hour with Kojo and Jonetta.” She can be reached at [email protected].
