A former official in Mayor Adrian Fenty’s administration said he plans to support a Ward 4 council candidate who is competing with the mayor’s pick to serve out Fenty’s term.
Merrit Drucker said Friday that he plans to support Artee “R.T.” Milligan, one of 18 candidates vying for the Ward 4 council seat Fenty left in January. Fenty endorsed Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Muriel Bowser in February. She has remained a top candidate and fundraiser ever since.
Drucker, who lives in Ward 4 and also served as that ward’s neighborhood service coordinator under Mayor Anthony Williams, resigned from directing Fenty’s Office of Community Relations and Services last month over policy and strategic differences.
“It’s not a case of bad blood,” Drucker said Friday. “It’s just a case of philosophical difference and how I thought my ward should be managed.”
Drucker said he left Fenty’s administration over a policy disagreement and the mayor’s choice to station neighborhood service coordinators within the John A. Wilson Building instead of the individual wards.
“Based on my knowledge of the ward and my knowledge of the candidates, I just thought that Mr. Milligan had a more comprehensive plan for the ward.”
Drucker said he knows Milligan, who serves as executive director of the Metropolitan/Delta Adult Literacy Council, from his work in the ward. The two are also neighbors.
“When I was the Ward 4 service coordinator, he was extremely active in trying to keep Georgia Avenue kept clean,” Druckersaid. “He’s a no-nonsense candidate.”
Fenty spokeswoman Mafara Hobson said the mayor was not bothered by Drucker’s endorsement.
