Jonetta Rose Barras: Fenty wins straw poll

Folks who thought Mayor Adrian M. Fenty would cede predominantly African-American territory simply because independent surveys had indicated many blacks weren’t enamored of the first-term executive had better think again. That’s the message from the straw poll conducted Saturday by the Ward 8 Democratic organization.

Fenty won 69-61 over his prime contender, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray. Leo Alexander received 10 votes. The remainder of the 147 secret ballots was divided among four other candidates also participating in the event at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church in Southeast.