In the contest for the Ward 6 D.C. Council seat, Tommy Wells is in a strong position to win the Democratic nomination.
The District 3 school board member and director of the Consortium for Child Welfare wouldn’t express such confidence. But his fundraising is machine-like, a straw poll among Ward 6 Democrats put him far ahead and his slate of endorsements runs two dozen deep, and includes the support of Ward 6 Council Member Sharon Ambrose.
“I don’t think anything’s over till it’s over, but I think Tommy Wells has a very strong lead and will be hard to beat,” said Jan Eichhorn, chairman of the Ward 6 Dems. “I also think he’s the best candidate.”
And from Wells: “I think it would be inappropriate for me to say I have this wrapped up.”
Curtis Etherly and Leo Pinson, Wells’ two competitors on the ballot, are determined to bring the upset.
“Tommy should know about the school system, but what does he know about anything else?” Pinson said recently. “I know every inch of Ward 6.”
It is the only ward that encompasses segments of all four District quadrants, including H Street Northeast, NoMA (North of Massachusetts Avenue), Capitol Hill, Sursum Corda in Northwest and the Southwest waterfront. Neighborhoods there are changing by the day, shifting crime patterns, drying up affordable housing and opening up major economic development opportunities.
Safe streets, affordable housing and thoughtful development — as Wells calls it, “livable, walkable communities” — have emerged as top issues, in addition to the omnipresent matter of quality schools. Etherly is a vice president of public affairs with Coca-Cola Enterprise Bottling Co. and sits on the board of a half dozen social service organizations. A D.C. native, he previously worked as a staff director for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, an endorsement he recently secured.
“We found Curtis’ strengths to be in areas that we thought were important, in terms of his commitment to management and budget discipline, fiscal responsibility and trying to get the most out of city services,” said Scott Sterling, BOT’s vice president of government relations.
Pinson served as the Ward 6 Neighborhood Services Coordinator between 2000 and 2003, during which he claims to have been responsible for the demolition of 12 nuisance properties and the closure of multiple drug houses. After leaving the administration, he launched a consulting firm and became licensed substitute teacher.
Learn more
» www.wellsforward6.com
» www.pinson2006.com
» www.curtis2006.com
Fundraising numbers
» Tommy Wells: Raised $130,434 over the course of the campaign, has $86,720 on hand as of Aug. 10
» Leo Pinson: Raised $32,758, has $24,316 cash on hand
» Curtis Etherly: Raised $30,676, has $3,630 on hand
