The memorable moment this week wasn’t Mayor Vincent Gray’s recitation, yet again, of his bootstrap personal narrative or his grab bag of policy initiatives previewed during his State of the District address. Rather, it was a public hearing of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, where unforgettable and stunning information was revealed about Gray’s hiring of key managers, former campaign operatives and their children. Gray has been embroiled in scandals emanating from apparent violations of personnel laws and from allegations by Sulaimon Brown, a 2010 mayoral candidate. Brown claimed he was paid cash and promised a job by the Gray campaign, if Brown remained in the race, ostensibly to trash incumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Those allegations have been denied. Nevertheless, five separate investigations have started, including the one by the council committee, which is headed by Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, a Gray ally.
