D.C. Council Chairman Vince Gray launched into an energetic speech on education reform within moments of taking the microphone during a town hall meeting in Ward 3 Thursday night, seemingly silencing questions about the future of schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee that likely pushed many voters in upper Northwest to vote for his opponent in the Democratic primary. Gray ventured into what can easily be called enemy territory in the second of eight town hall meetings he’s holding across the city; 79 percent of Ward 3 voters cast their ballot for Fenty. Gray picked up 20 percent. The ward is also solid country for Rhee, which likely played a big role in the support voters there gave the mayor in the Democratic primary. Fenty’s campaign, and Rhee’s all-but-promise that she’d leave if Gray won, helped spin a message that the school reform effort would collapse with a Gray victory. “A lot of people who voted for me, voted on economics; people who felt they couldn’t advance themselves,” Gray said. “Other people felt my campaign was not responsive to their concerns. I understand that and I know the burden falls on me to address that.” Gray then quickly raised the No. 1 concern, saying “I heartily support school reform,” a message that won applause in Ward 5 Tuesday night, but fell on a silent room in Ward 3. But he continued, gathering steam and volume, and the crowd with him. The soon-to-be mayor hit key points on his platform. “Education reform began long before 2007,” he said, referencing the year Rhee was hired by Fenty, without mentioning her. Gray listed the freeing of the school system from burdensome regulations, and talked about holding teachers accountable for their performance. The room was fully behind Gray with loud applause by the time he hit upon his goal of universal early childhood education. The crowd of several hundred also cheered his desire to make D.C. a state. He brought them to their feet when hit upon his message of residents working with him on all issues — from education reform, to the city’s troubled financial situation and the need fulfilling his “dream” of the District becoming the 51st state. “I am asking you to help me make [statehood] happen,” he shouted to the cheering room.
