Mayoral Candidates Target Education Reform

After a summer of political signs dotting Georgetown lawns, the D.C. primary election arrives Tuesday, Sept. 14. The offices of mayor, the District Council chair and several District Council seats will be up for grabs. In the heavily Democratic city, the primary more or less determines the outcome of the general election in November. 

Councilman Jack Evans has served Ward 2, which includes Georgetown, since 1991 and faces no challenger this year; Evans decided against a run for District Council Chair.

For Georgetown, the mayoral race is the hot political battle this year. Though polls show support for Mayor Adrian Fenty or former District Council Chairman Vincent Gray three others are running: Ernest Johnson, Leo Alexander and Sulaimon Brown.

Straw polls and mock elections this summer have largely favored Gray, even in Fenty's "home base" of Ward 4. But, Ward 2 went with Fenty, who also received the endorsement of The Washington Post.

Let's meet the candidates:

Fenty

The mayor came into office in 2006, succeeding Anthony Williams. A D.C. native, Fenty had served as a councilman for Ward 4, beginning in 2000.

During his tenure, Fenty brought the D.C. public school system under his administration's control and appointed a schools chancellor, Michelle Rhee, to overhaul the system. Rhee's arrival has been the most controversial element of Fenty's administration. She fired teachers who didn't meet her standards, although accounts conflict about how many. And she muscled through a new contract with the teachers union that diminishes the union's power but sets the District up to be a model of education reform. 

In campaign speeches and on television spots, Fenty points to what he has delivered, including new libraries, community centers and new affordable housing—in the very wards leaning toward Gray in straw polls. On his website, Fenty says as mayor he has been "getting things done" and "taking on our toughest challenges." His talk of action and his quickness to point to tangible results also serve to shy away from detractors' accusations of a single-minded and arrogant decision-making process in his administration.

Gray

Gray stepped-down from his position as District Council chairman to run for mayor; he first came to the council in 2004 and has served as chairman since 2006. Gray lives in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Ward 7.

On the issues, Gray focuses on education, too, highlighting his role on the council in supporting many of Fenty's reforms to the school system. However, Gray seizes on budget issues and Rhee's difficult relationship with teachers to distringuish his reform ideas from Fenty's. Gray's website states "we need a Mayor who will bring accountability and collaboration to the process. It's not enough to have mayoral control." Gray criticizes Fenty for  what he describes as a hands-off approach with Rhee.

Gray also focuses on "restoring the public trust," which he claims has been "shattered" during Fenty's time in office. On his website, Gray says Fenty failed to deliver on promises of accountability and openness because of "sweetheart deals and cronyism, and millions of dollars of contracts secretly funneled through back channels."

Fenty has criticized Gray for being more about process than action; other candidates claim Gray is too much like Fenty.

Johnson

According to his website, Ernest Johnson runs a small real estate firm Johnson & Johnson Realty and served as the executive director of Obama for America's online faith-based social networking group. His website also touts his recently published book, "Doolum the Mind of Christ — a Life Redeemed."

Johnson describes his campaign for mayor as the "People's Revolution" and says he is engaging in "hand-to-hand combat" to save an entire generation of D.C. residents lost to "poverty and violence." His main goals for his administration include creating 10,000 new jobs, proceeding with school reform "citizens can trust" and establishing a task force to find housing for families waiting for affordable housing. 

Alexander

A Brightwood resident, Alexander kicked off his campaign for mayor in September 2009. A former television news reporter and former D.C. government employee, Alexander proclaims his campaign is one of "bold visionary leadership."

On his website, Alexander says school reform is important, but that is needs to be executed through a "rational, collaborative process." On jobs, Alexander promises work force training and to create policies that favor hiring D.C. residents over other workers. On health care, Alexander advocates access for all residents. He wants to create acute care clinics in underserved neighborhoods that he says will in turn create jobs for more residents.

Brown

Brown touts his love for D.C. as a driving force behind his campaign for mayor. His biography offers a long list of his volunteer work in the District, including working on the Fenty campaign at one time. His website does not provide information about his stances on specific issues, but he vows to keep promises once elected.

Early voting began August 30, 2010; polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14.