The political classes are inclined to discount mayoral candidate Michael Brown.
They say he’s not his father, Ron Brown, who was a force in national Democratic circles.
They say he’s a lobbyist with zero experience running a government or a business.
They say he comes off glib and a bit too smooth, as if he was getting off on doing the “Oprah thing” during mayoral forums.
And while there may be a hint of truth to each of these judgments, it is way too soon to discount his candidacy. A flawed candidate? Yes. But which of the other four contestants is pure?
Like him or not, Brown is talking day in, day out about the unpleasant fact that too many young males of African American descent are unmoored from our city’s current cycle of plenty.
“We have taken care of the haves in this city,” he tells me just before the Memorial Day weekend, “but we have forgotten about the have-nots.”
If Council Chairman Linda Cropp’s message is that we can trust her not to screw up the progress made by Tony Williams’ administration; and Marie Johns’ is all about making the city run more efficiently, like a business; Michael Brown wants us to feel his connection to the young black males who refuse to or cannot seem to jump aboard the train to success in America.
I have seen Brown deliver these remarks in Ward 8, where he has concentrated much of his energy, and in Ward 3, where the white liberals welcome his concern for the needy. How’s he doing?
“Right now, I couldn’t ask for more,” he tells me. “We have the fewest resources, the most endorsements and the most volunteers. We’re very pleased with where we are.”
Allow me to translate:
Brown can’t seem to raise money; he ranks last among the five hopefuls. Much of the funds that have come his way arrived from out-of-town donors who have connections to the Democrats and remember his father.
His endorsements also have come from far away. He’s put out press releases announcing support from former New York Mayor David Dinkens and former UN Ambassador Andrew Young. These are great men in the annals of American public policy – but neither votes in D.C.
By the same token, I remind Brown that he’s spending time with young black men, who also don’t vote.
“I’ve been doing stuff with kids my whole life,” he says. “It’s what I do.”
“We have to start engaging them in the process,” he says, “whether they vote or not.”
This is the crux of Michael’s message, and it is why I believe he’s worth our respect – if not our vote. A newcomer to the political arena, who has not run anything larger that part of a lobbying shop, is a long shot to gain the trust of voters. Plus, he faces a pair of lawsuits over nonpayment of funds, one over luxury seats at MCI Center.
Keeping the other four candidates focused on young folks who have dropped out is a public service in and of itself.
Harry Jaffe has been covering the Washington area since 1985. E-mail him at [email protected]
