Here’s a good thing — sort of: The mayor won’t be selling the D.C. Council seat being vacated by at-large Councilwoman Carol Schwartz.
No doubt, with city- … and county – … and state-like duties, D.C. may sometimes drive Adrian M. Fenty to feel as confused as Faye Dunaway in the movie “Chinatown.” But, one thing is clear — the mayor can’t appoint anyone to a political office.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t Rod Blagojevich-like action inside City Hall. Back-scratching and back-scrubbing occur and occasionally stink up the place.
Consider Councilman Jim Graham’s proposed use of fire department recruits for his holiday bash today. Perhaps Fire Chief Dennis Rubin thinks redirecting his agency’s resources will earn him favorable treatment when he next appears before the legislature.
Then, there is the matter of Michael Brown. Brown is a disciple of the Marion Barry style of politics and governance. It’s the first cousin to Blagojevich’s “what’s-in-it-for-me” brand.
When Brown ran for mayor, he soon realized he couldn’t win. Sources said he threw his support behind Linda Cropp, but only after she agreed that she would give him a senior post in her administration. Now Brown is on the D.C. Council — after a sleight-of-hand maneuver that undermines the intent of the city’s election rules.
The Board of Elections and Ethics certified Brown as the second-highest vote getter in the November general election for one of two at-large council seats. The BOEE took that action despite a challenge by the D.C. Republican Committee; the group argued that seating Brown violated the city’s constitution.
The Home Rule Charter specifically states that no more than three at-large council members, including the chairman, can be “affiliated with” the same party.
Brown registered in May as an independent. But in his campaign literature, he called himself an “independent Democrat.” If he is seated, that would make him the fourth at-large Democrat on the council; Phil Mendelson, Kwame Brown and Vincent C. Gray also are Democrats.
Continuing its fight with elections officials, the DCRC filed written arguments in support of its position last week in D.C. Court of Appeals.
Its chairman, Robert J. Kabel, said they want to “protect District residents from the monopoly powers that want to see this city become a one-voice town.” He said the city of Philadelphia and state of Pennsylvania — for county officeholders — have minority-party protection laws similar to the District’s.
“Local Republicans and Democrats have worked together for years to give voting rights to the District in Congress. Silencing diversity on the council is a step backwards,” Kabel added.
A step back indeed.
The council already is returning to its 20th-century ways: raising fees and taxes and spending every dime collected; misleading special interest groups about the government’s capability; and pushing behind the scenes for favored constituents to receive lucrative contracts. Brown’s arrival and his refried brand of politics promise to accelerate the legislature’s race to the past.
