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All politics is local in the most political city in America.

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August 31, 2010 | 9:58 AM | By

Mendelson Trails Brown in At-Large Race; More Mistaken Identity

Last week, we mentioned that DC voters might be confusing Michael D. Brown, a last minute candidate for the At-Large Council seat who is running against Phil Mendelson, with Michael A. Brown, a Council member who is not on the ballot this year. Michael D. Brown is white, Michael A. Brown is black. A new poll of Democratic voters from the Washington Post finds that Michael D. Brown is now leading Mendelson by 17%. Brown has a 12% lead among likely voters and is popular with African Americans. Via the Washington Post:

The numbers also show Michael D. Brown, who lives in Ward 3′s American University Park in Northwest, registering his strongest support from residents who live east of the Anacostia in Wards 7 and 8. More than half (51 percent) of polled voters there say they favor Brown; 11 percent say they back Mendelson. More broadly, support for Michael D. across the city tracks almost exactly with Michael A.’s showing in the 2008 election results.

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FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, City Council
August 30, 2010 | 4:37 PM | By

Voters: Fenty “ain’t mad atcha”!

Though it’s a few days old, my Twitter is abuzz (again) with references to this video produced by Ron Moten for his pal, the Mayor: “Don’t leave us, Fenty”. If you can’t (or don’t want to) watch it, I’ll summarize it by saying that Moten borrowed BLACKstreet’s hit from 1996, “Don’t Leave Me” to create his jam. I can’t be the only one who thought of Tupac’s “I Ain’t Mad Atcha” when I heard the familiar melody, not when both BLACKstreet and ‘Pac sample the same song (“A Dream“) from DeBarge.

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FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, Fenty, Video
August 30, 2010 | 11:16 AM | By

Vote Early, not Often

Ballot Box

NewsHour

Early Voting started today!

Lining up forty minutes early to cast your choice? Looks like DC is excited about early voting. Via WaPo:

D.C. election officials reported that at 7:50 a.m., about 25 people were already lined up Monday morning to cast their ballots in D.C. — the first time residents have been allowed to vote early in primary elections. Voting was slated to begin at 8:30 a.m…

Today through Friday, voters can cast their ballots at one site — One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street, N.W. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 4, four additional early voting locations will open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are:

  • Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Avenue, NW
  • Hine Junior High School, 335 8th Street, SE
  • Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Avenue, SE
  • Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE

    • That sounds simple enough. Not so simple? Remembering that you can vote on Labor Day but NOT on the set of Sundays which fall on September 5 or 12.

    FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, Early Voting, Politics
    August 27, 2010 | 2:06 PM | By

    Vince Gray Liked “Sex and The City”. So What?

    SATC 2, The Movie

    NYCArthur

    Sex and The City 2

    All morning long, my Twitter feed has contained references to the fact that Mayoral candidate Vince Gray liked the HBO show “Sex and The City” so much, he slipped out of work to watch the movie alone, at Gallery Place. I find this admission quirky and endearing, but my larger reaction is, “So what if he did?” Putting aside the “sneaking out of work” bit, what’s so wrong with seeing a film, alone? Even if it is that film? Everyone learned about this trip to the movies via an article by Tim Craig, at The Washington Post: “Friendships that last have molded Vincent Gray’s life“.

    In that piece, Gray had this to say about SATC:

    Continue reading →

    FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, Campaigns, Vince Gray
    August 26, 2010 | 5:03 PM | By

    Fenty: Rhee is Sticking Around

    Michelle Rhee

    David Clow – Maryland

    Michelle Rhee

    Michelle Rhee is marrying the Mayor of Sacramento, California; it’s not surprising that DC residents are wondering whether that milestone could mean a cross-country move for the DC schools Chancellor. Considering how important our city’s schools (and Rhee) have been to the Mayoral race, it’s an issue worth addressing. Mayor Fenty did just that, when he met with the staff of the Washington City Paper today:

    CP: There’s been some talk, mostly from people who are supporting your opponent, even if you win, Michelle Rhee will probably move. She’s getting married, etc. Do you and her have an understanding that’s she’s going to stay for your second term?

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    FILED UNDER: Education, 2010 Elections, City Paper, Fenty, Michelle Rhee
    August 26, 2010 | 9:45 AM | By

    Mayor Fenty Campaigns on U Street

    Campaign time for the Mayor, on U st.

    Mayor Fenty asks a potential voter if she is registered in the District.

    As they walked by, Mayor Adrian Fenty asked people if they were registered to vote in the district; if the answer was “No”, they were directed to an extremely cordial volunteer who offered to explain how to do that while he noted their information on a clipboard.

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    FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, Campaigns, Fenty, U Street
    August 25, 2010 | 1:22 PM | By

    A Tale of Two Browns

    michael-brown

    Credit: Michael A. Brown (dccouncil.us)/Michael D. Brown(KCinDC via Wikimedia Commons)

    Michael A. Brown (left) and Michael D. Brown

    One Black, one White. And one of them seems to be benefiting from voter confusion. TBD has more:

    “The strangest storyline of the D.C. Council race continues: little-known Michael D. Brown, one of the District’s shadow senators, beat incumbent Phil Mendelson in last night’s Ward 5 straw poll, 370 to 250. The victory again raises the specter that Michael D. Brown, who only recently said he might start actively raising campaign funds, might be the beneficiary of mistaken identity — he shares the same name as current councilmember Michael A. Brown.”

    Current council member Michael A. Brown (the Black one) is not running this year. According to WeLoveDC, Phil Mendelson has resorted to creating fliers detailing the difference between Browns (with a photograph). Here’s hoping that voters figure out their Browns, soon.

    FILED UNDER: Elections, Elections, Politics
    August 24, 2010 | 2:32 PM | By

    DC and Maryland both “Race to the Top” for Education Funds

    WaPo reports that both DC and Maryland have won sought-after education grants:

    Maryland’s award is worth up to $250 million and the District’s up to $75 million.

    The timing of these wins is significant for two candidates:

    The awards come as D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, both Democrats, are seeking reelection.

    The grant money comes from the economic stimulus and was awarded to eight other states that made it to a second-round of funding.

    FILED UNDER: Education
    August 23, 2010 | 11:09 AM | By

    Schooool’s … in …. from … Summer

    wilsonhigh

    M.V. Jantzen / Flickr

    Construction on the Woodrow Wilson Senior High campus.

    Today was the first day of school in Washington, DC. That’s always a big event, but it looms even larger in a city where the Mayoral race seems to be hinging on DC’s schools (and their polarizing Chancellor, Michelle Rhee). The Washington Post reported the first day back was uneventful, albeit slow for transplanted students of Woodrow Wilson High School, who will be attending classes at UDC while their Tenleytown campus undergoes work. Continue reading →

    FILED UNDER: Education