D.C. Council Chairman candidate Kwame Brown has won the endorsement of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. With 8,000 members, AFSCME is biggest District government employees’ union and includes 3,300 non-teachers in the public school system.
Brown also has the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union and nine other councilmembers.
Brown is running against former Councilman Vincent Orange, who is accusing his opponent of promising Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry a powerful Economic Development Committee chairmanship in exchange for support, according to the Post.
A Barry confidant told [the Post] that the former mayor had personally shared word of the alleged deal and that it was common knowledge around the Wilson building.
But Barry had a different account of his encounter with Orange. He said the topic never came up.
“I’m pissed at Vincent Orange for mischaracterizing the conversation,” Barry said.
Brown denied Orange’s charge, calling it a “scare tactic.”
