The deadline for D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown to relinquish his control of the powerful economic development committee is fast approaching, but which council member will take over has been complicated by a series of corruption scandals. Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. stepped down last month as the committee’s chairman after being accused by the D.C. attorney general of pocketing city cash meant for kids. Brown then pushed through a resolution that put him in charge of the committee that plays a key role in directing billions of dollars in development projects across the District. The resolution also set a deadline of July 15 for Brown to find a new committee chief.
Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, who serves as the council’s second in command, said “the chairman is trying to sort out the committee assignments. There’s a domino effect when you change committee leadership.”
Brown did not respond to a request for comment.
Who gets the assignment could be determined, in part, by the tone Thomas set in his resignation letter.
“I make this request so as to allow the economic functions of the council to go forward free of any scrutiny that may be caused by the allegations raised against me by the Attorney General,” Thomas wrote.
In that light, the following members would likely have a tough political argument to make for the committee:
» Ward 7 Councilwoman Yvette Alexander, who is being investigated by the campaign finance office for allegations that she misspent cash meant for constituents.
» Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham, whose former chief of staff was recently sentenced to prison for taking bribes in a scheme that could have ensnared Graham, but he turned down a cash-stuffed envelope.
» Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry, who just got a committee back after having it stripped from him passing city contracts to his girlfriend.
» At-large Councilman Michael Brown, who is facing concerns that he pushed through an Internet gambling scheme without public input because of ties to the industry.
That leaves seven possibilities, excluding Brown and Thomas. But five — Jack Evans, David Catania, Phil Mendelson, Tommy Wells and Cheh — aren’t likely to give up the committees they have, council staffers said. So that leaves two: Ward 4 Councilwoman Muriel Bowser and at-large Councilman Vincent Orange.
Bowser heads the parks and recreation committee. Orange doesn’t have a committee.
Hours after Thomas resigned, Orange said in a statement, “There is no better person to lead this committee than me, Vincent Orange.”
