Georgetown represents a tiny hamlet of Washington money and power, but what happens in Georgetown resonates across the city. Which is why it was so unusual and noteworthy that the two top mayoral contenders had dueling fundraisers Wednesday night at the homes of the rich and famous.
I went to see the candidates — and the houses.
Adrian Fenty had his get together at the manse of Jim D’Orta on N Street. It just happens to have been the home of Pamela Harriman, hostess and diplomat of a bygone era.
Linda Cropp met her monied group at the much larger mansion of developer Herb Miller on P Street. It is, unfortunately, most recently associated with the young British man whose throat was slit on his sidewalk.
I missed Cropp at Miller’s place. Turns out Herb Miller missed it, too. He was embroiled in negotiations to build out the offices and shops around the proposed baseball stadium by the Anacostia River. Having not been invited, I didn’t know it started at 5:30 and ended by 7 p.m.
My sources report that about 20 people, mostly from the business community, showed up. My guess is that Cropp raised a few thousand dollars and went off to another function. Miller’s house, with its cavernous rooms and wall-sized modern art canvasses, is one of the most grand homes in the city.
Fenty’s fundraiser was packed and sweaty and popping with energy — but Harriman’s home did not impress, beyond the high ceilings and enormous chandeliers.
What did impress me was the faces in the crowd, three in particular.
Starting with Isaac “Ike” Fulwood. As Fenty addressed the crowd about the worst days in DC’s crime history, there was Fulwood, who was police chief when the city’s homicide rate nearly hit 500.
In fact, Fulwood was police chief when Barry was busted smoking crack in 1990.
The mere fact that Fulwood was there and backing Fenty is an indication that the Ward 4 council member’s support is deep in the city’s bedrock political class. Fulwood, who sits on the Parole Board, has an abiding interest in the city’s children. He would make a good advisor.
Then I ran into Bernie Demczuk, a lobbyist for The George Washington University. Demczuk once worked as chief lobbyist for Barry. Didn’t everyone work for MB? But now he works alongside Dwight Cropp, who happens to be married to Fenty’s opponent.
Why is he here? He sipped his red wine. Twice.
“I am visibly neutral,” he said. But he added: “Adrian is a very attractive candidate.” And so is Linda, he added. But Bernie seems to have a favorite.
Peter Rosenstein was there, too. No surprise, since he has been working on Fenty’s campaign for months.
What is worth noting is that Rosenstein, whose political roots run back to Bella Abzug and Abe Beame in New York, was an early backer of Tony Williams.
The money flowed Fenty’s way, but the political heavies who showed up on a sweaty night in Georgetown gave me the sense the tide is turning, too, with 40 days left until the election.
Harry Jaffe has been covering the Washington area since 1985. E-mail him at [email protected].
