Vince Gray is in an unprecedented position of power as both the D.C. Council Chairman and the presumptive mayor-elect. But he probably won’t have to resort to much political arm twisting to help him plug an expected $100 million budget shortfall.
His style has been one of quiet collaboration, and now fellow councilmembers likely will succumb to his wishes — even if he doesn’t demand it.
“We will not see the kind of checks and balances seen over the past years where the council consistently stood up to Mayor Fenty,” at-large Councilman Phil Mendelson told The Washington Examiner. “There’s the potential that Vince will be to the City Council what Lyndon Johnson was to Congress. … He’ll understand everyone and work through issues to get significant legislation through.”
The post-Democratic primary legislative session kicks off Tuesday. On the table is a new law changing the way juvenile records can be shared among city agencies and an election law that Mayor Adrian Fenty pocket vetoed in August. The biggest debates are expected to start later this month, however, when the city’s chief financial officer releases data that likely will show the city needs to fill a $100 million shortfall in the 2011 fiscal year budget.
Gray could use his unique position to force councilmembers to heed his will as they grapple with cutting services and raising fees. But councilmembers said he’s more likely to continue to employ the collaborative approach he’s used for nearly four years as chairman. While he does that, councilmembers likely will fall in line with Gray’s demands as they position themselves to be in the future mayor’s favor.
Said at-large Councilman David Catania: “I don’t think Vince Gray will engage in any unruly power grabs.”
Evidence of Gray’s approach — and the power he has — was on display Monday morning when he nonchalantly confirmed he had pulled from immediate council consideration a tax break for Union Station proposed by Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans. His issue with it: “Just the fact that we’re doing it,” he told reporters. But Gray, in a collaboration with Evans, also didn’t kill the tax break. It could come back later, Evans said.
“He exercised his authority as chairman and dismissed [the tax break] with virtually no comment,” longtime D.C. political observer Chuck Thies said. “Evans did him a favor by allowing Gray to show his authority in a demonstrable way.”
