It is the rare politician who is not afflicted by an addiction to public adulation. I have yet to encounter one. It can be a fatal flaw. Drenched in the warm glow of mellifluous flattery from the multitudes, normally reasonable and rational people become pawns.
I fear this affliction explains City Council Chairman Vincent Gray’s sudden loss of rationality. He seems to be on the verge of challenging Mayor Adrian Fenty in September.
Despite our differences, I have immense respect for Vince. He is a District native who has proved himself to be a dedicated public servant for the past five decades. He cares deeply about the city’s children. For proof, I would point to his crusade for early public school education for all D.C. students.
Out of my deep respect, I think it’s time to present five reasons Gray should not run for mayor.
1. Gray’s support is extremely loud but paper thin.
The elderly elite that supported former Chairwoman Linda Cropp against Fenty has lined up behind Gray. They are the lobbyists and interest groups that lost power and are desperate to grab it back. Fenty beat them four years ago; they would lose again.
Gray is listening to the loudmouths who oppose schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and her reform efforts. Beware! Teachers fired by Rhee might have a megaphone, which they used all day and past midnight at Tuesday’s public hearing, but they are in the minority — and most don’t vote in D.C. The Washington Teachers’ Union is toxic, rudderless, politically impotent.
2. Don’t be fooled by false polls. In recent polls, Gray has come off as the city’s most popular elected official; he gets higher numbers than Fenty. As soon as he announces and starts to campaign, his numbers will plummet.
3. Fenty has all the dough, as in $4 million. With a million bucks for media training, perhaps the mayor can come off as less of a jerk. Sure, Gray can get buckets of union money from outside of town, but that would look unseemly. Fenty can saturate the city’s media and mailboxes. He’s already started walking the wards. Money can buy votes.
4. In the mudslinging that’s part of every campaign, Gray would get smeared. Fenty’s friends may have gotten city contracts, but a city contractor built a fence and other amenities for the chairman’s house in what appears to be a sweetheart deal. Looks worse.
5. The most important reason that Vince Gray should shut his ears to the siren song calling him to run for mayor is this: The city needs him as city council chairman. If he takes on Fenty, he gives up his chair. In the past three years, he has learned to run the fractious dozen members well, and he will get better. And, hopefully, stronger.
Better to have him oppose the mayor from the city council than in the ballot box, where many politicians addicted to praise go to die.
E-mail Harry Jaffe at [email protected].
