Politics & Government

If Donations Mean Votes, Vincent Orange is in Trouble in Georgetown

Orange was favored among Georgetown voters when he ran unsuccessfully for council chair in 2010. Where does he stand now that he's running for an at-large Council seat?

Georgetown voted for Vincent Orange when he ran for District Council Chair in the 2010 election. He lost to Council Member Kwame Brown, but is back again, vying to fill the at-large Council seat Brown vacated. How does Georgetown feel about Orange now? It's unclear.

Orange in Georgetown earlier this week at . Though the filings on any donations made that night will not be available until much closer to the April 26 special election, the most current finance reports available show that Georgetown's 20007 zip code has not donated a dime to Orange to date.

When asked about the lack of local dollars for the campaign, Orange's communications director, Sean Metcalf, was unconcerned. He said it is possible the Georgetown donations were among the many that were missing an address and that they could appear on new reports closer to the election. Also, money does not necessarily mean votes.

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For Orange's 2010 run at Council Chair, he received $5,715 from Georgetown residents and businesses, compared with $21,400 for Brown. But when it came to the election, Orange won Georgetown's 5th Precinct with 53 percent of the vote, compared with Brown's 37 percent, and the 6th Precinct with 51 percent to 42 percent.

Still, no money coming from any Georgetown residents or businesses at all for Orange's at-large race raises some questions. Are Georgetowners not contributing to any campaigns? How are other candidates faring with their financial efforts in the neighborhood?

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Georgetowners are giving. Just not to Orange.

Sekou Biddle, who is currently filling the vacated at-large seat on an interim basis, has raised $4,590 from the 20007 zip code, according to the most recent finance reports available. Of the total, $3,500 comes from Georgetown businesses.

One of those donors, URI Retail Portfolio, with an address at 2900 K St., donated $1,000 to Biddle, but previously donated $1,500 to Orange when he was running for Council Chair.

Biddle also snagged several Georgetown businesses that previously supported Brown in his Council Chair race, including the Carribean American PAC, and LUF Limited Partnership c/o Donohoe Real Estate Services.

What of the other candidates?

Republican Patrick Mara has raised $3,250 from 20007 residents, entirely from individuals.

Even Joshua Lopez has raised a total of $70 from two individuals.

Last time around, Orange was out-raised in Georgetown, but still won the vote. His campaign seems to think he can do it again.


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