It’s an easy thing for columnists to waste some paper around Thanksgiving listing the season’s “turkeys” — that is, public figures who have done something truly dumb, cowardly or hypocritical. Instead, I want to give thanks to someone who has served bravely and well.
This year’s public official, who made a hard choice for the pubic good that was counter to his immediate personal and political interests, is D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray.
Readers of my column, Gray in particular, might view this as an odd pick, seeing as I have occasionally used my column to jab the chairman.
Gray deserves the city’s thanks for his vote on the confirmation of Attorney General Peter Nickles. On Nov. 18, Gray broke a tie and cast the decisive vote in a 7 to 5 win for the tough guy Mayor Adrian Fenty appointed to be the city’s top lawyer.
Gray’s vote was brave and courageous at a number of levels.
First — He bucked his own Judiciary Committee. Chaired by Phil Mendelson, the group voted to disapprove Nickles.
Their reasoning, on the surface, was that Nickles is too close to Fenty and should be more independent. Dumb and dumber is my reaction. It’s Fenty’s prerogative to choose an AG who’s close to him, and the law creating the AG explicitly states he or she advises the mayor and serves at his pleasure. They — and many others — complained that Nickles is too arrogant or rude or aggressive
What, you want a lamby-poo for a lawyer? No. The city needs an arrogant litigator who makes slumlords quake and makes people think twice about filing frivolous suits against the city.
Gray saw past those arguments and said: “He is eminently qualified.”
Second — if Gray had voted against Nickles, it would have been Fenty’s worst defeat. It would have played to Fenty’s critics who want Gray to flex his muscle. It would have given Fenty’s naysayers hope that Vince Gray might run against Fenty in two years.
In short, Gray voting against Nickles would have been a political win. The rabble of critics would have cheered. It was a risk to vote for Nickles. The Tenants Advisory Coalition said Gray’s vote was “a huge disappointment, and a sure sign of business as usual for the council.”
Business on the council is changing. With Michael Brown’s victory in the general election, Gray might be able to muster a working majority to counter Fenty. The first test of wills will be coming soon over the 2009 budget.
So Vince Gray has shown he’s brave enough to take the politically perilous course for the city’s best interest. The next question is whether Fenty can meet Gray halfway, talk with him on a regular basis, cooperate with him and other council members and see them as partners rather than obstructionists.
If the mayor continues to ignore and marginalize Gray and the council, Fenty will be up for Turkey of the Year.
