D.C. Council Member Vincent Gray rounded up his long slate of endorsers Monday for a press conference and strategy session only days after his opponent for council chair linked his fundraising successes to special-interest support.
Representatives of 16 major organizations backing Gray, the council’s Ward 7 representative, described the candidate as a coalition-builder — someone who would be effective mediating legislators as well as the diverse District population.
“He is the person who can bring people together from across the city,” said Dr. Victor Freeman, representing the Medical Society of D.C.’s political action committee.
The groups gathered at the Hotel Washington ranged from the Fraternal Order of Police and Greater Washington Board of Trade to the Restaurant Association, Hotel Association, multiple union locals and the Sierra Club.
Gray has been far more successful fundraising during the course of the campaign than his opponent, Ward 3 Council Member Kathy Patterson. Last week, when the two filed their financial reports with the Office of Campaign Finance, Patterson suggested that Gray’s support is dominated by corporate and special interests, notably from the parking, development and hospitality industries. Patterson, meanwhile, described her supporters as “conscientious, everyday people.”
“The vast majority of my financial support comes from small donations, comes from individual donors,” Patterson said. “That speaks to the special interests I’m working for — the residents of the District of Columbia.”
Fundraising facts
» Kathy Patterson has collected 49 $1,500 contributions since Oct. 26.
» Vincent Gray has taken 118 $1,500 contributions since March 11.
Gray has raised a total of $432,805 to Patterson’s $276,925.
