Post Endorses Mara
During the candidate forum on Tuesday night at the Black Cat, rumors started flying that Patrick Mara had received the much-awaited endorsement from the Post. He even dropped the bombshell during an answer, but no one could confirm it until the forum ended. Regardless, it was true -- Mara got the Post.
It's a huge get for Mara, whose campaign was struggling along in a consistently unsettled race, even more so if you consider that the endorsement's main message is this -- if you're sick of the scandals, choose Mara. And yes, plenty of people who read the Post are sick of the scandals.
The biggest loser was likely Vincent Orange, who had received the Post's endorsement last year during his run for D.C. Council Chair but was presented as backwards-looking this time around. Orange's campaign staff didn't seem particularly pleased with the news that they had lost the endorsement to Mara. The news probably isn't great for Interim Councilmember Sekou Biddle either, who has had his own struggles during the campaign.
Of course, in ordinary circumstances the Post's pick in marquee races hasn't fared too well recently. But this election is anything but ordinary, so Mara could see a substantial boost in his chances come April 26.
The full text of the endorsement, after the jump.
Four/26 Roundup: Independence and Orange
Today the Post's Tim Craig does a great job identifying a key issue in the April 26 At-Large Special Election -- independence.
Generally, pretty much every candidate is trying to play up their "independent" credentials, arguing that they're not part of the District's political establishment that is so unpopular these days. At the losing end of this argument is Interim Councilmember Sekou Biddle, who received warm endorsements from Mayor Vince Gray, D.C. Council Chair Kwame Brown and the majority of the D.C. Council a few months back, making him seem like part of an establishment that he was never really a member of. (Who really knew much of Biddle before January? And isn't Vincent Orange himself something of an establishment guy, just not the same establishment in power right now?) Either way, a must-read on the state of the April 26 At-Large Special Election.
Also worth reading is the Georgetown Dish's account from Orange's Saturday campaign kickoff.
Some Evening Tidbits — Biddle and Mara
Some tidbits from the evening:
- The Post's Tim Craig tweets that Interim Councilmember Sekou Biddle received the endorsement of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club during a second round of balloting, locking down 61 percent of the votes. Surprisingly, Vincent Orange took second place, even though he was the only candidate there that had once been against marriage equality. He either brought a lot of supporters, or members thought he was being sincere when he admitted that he is a different man now than what he was in 2006, when he opposed same-sex marriage.
- Mike DeBonis, also of the Post, has a great rundown of the circumstances surrounding Pat Mara's hearings before the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, notably the allegations of forged signatures. The decision is due tomorrow.
Biddle Challenges Patterson, Mara, Weaver (Updated)
The Post and the City Paper have the story -- Interim Councilmember Sekou Biddle's campaign has chosen to challenge signatures on the nominating petitions submitted by Jacque Patterson, Bryan Weaver and Patrick Mara. A separate challenge to Mara was filed by a supporter of Josh Lopez, while a possible challenge of Vincent Orange's nominating petitions by Biddle was pulled back at the last minute.
Weaver and Patterson are most at risk -- each campaign submitted between 3,400 and 3,600 signatures, leaving them little wiggle room should some of the challenges succeed. (A total of 3,000 valid signatures is needed to get on the April 26 ballot.) Mara should be fine; he submitted around 6,000 signatures, begging the question as to why his petitions were even challenged. Arkan Haile, Dorothy Douglas, Alan Page, Tom Brown, Lopez, Orange, and Biddle emerged from the 10-day challenge period unscathed and will appear on the ballot.
There was some debate as to the way and wisdom of Biddle's challenges. On the one hand, he looks like a bit of a bully for challenging Weaver, Patterson and Mara -- especially since he raised about $30,000 more than all three combined through January 31. Moreover, that it was his campaign treasurer that did the challenging makes it impossible for Biddle to maintain at least some distance and plausible deniability about the decision. On the other hand, this is politics, and things are bound to get ugly. Additionally, if a candidate doesn't have the signatures, well, then they shouldn't be on the ballot, now should they?
The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics has until March 15 to issue final rulings on challenges. The candidates then have until March 18 to file any appeals with the D.C. courts.
After the jump, a Twitter timeline of the announcement and some of the ensuing debate.
Update: Keith Ivey accurately points out in the comments: "You skipped the second challenge to Patterson, from Alonzo Edmondson (who successful challenged Calvin Gurley’s ballot petitions for last year’s Democratic primary). Not sure which candidate Edmondson might be allied with." That means that both Mara and Patterson face two challenges.
Biddle opens a well-staffed office for council race
By Tim Craig, The Washington Post
Interim DC. Council member Sekou Biddle (D-At large) opened his campaign office Sunday as he gears up for the April 26 citywide election, telling a room of supporters they have to move at "light speed" to fend off more than a half-dozen potential challengers.
The opening of the office, located on the top floor of Mayor Vincent C. Gray's former campaign headquarters on 6th Street NW near Chinatown, symbolizes Biddle's early advantage in fundraising and organization in his bid to permanently fill the at-large seat left vacant by Kwame Brown's (D) election as chairman last year.
Read the rest of the article here.
Patrick Mara is indeed a Republican, says Web site
Editor's Note: This is hilarious, if only for the fact that it may well be the only time that I can remember in recent history that an anonymous attack website like this has been launched against a candidate in a special election.
By Mike DeBonis, The Washington Post (link)
Someone really wants the world to know that D.C. Council candidate Patrick Mara is a Republican. A Web site has appeared advertising that fact: patrickmaraisarepublican.com.
Mara, running for an at-large seat in the April 26 special election, has never denied his party identity, but many of his campaign materials fail to note his party affiliation -- an understandable move in a city where three-quarters of registered voters are Democrats.
At-large council candidates debate budget, pay cuts, taxes and education
By Tim Craig, The Washington Post (link)
D.C. Council member Sekou Biddle (D-At large) said Wednesday that the city should get rid of taxpayer funded SUV's for top-ranking city officials and cut council members' pay to help close a budget shortfall.
Biddle, an interim member who is seeking a full term in an April 26 special election, made his remarks as he squared off against five other opponents Wednesday night in a candidates forum sponsored by The Georgetown Dish and The Georgetown Current.
The forum, held at the Social Safeway in Georgetown, was one of the best opportunities to-date for the candidates to try to distinguish themselves and set the narrative for what is expected to be a noisy citywide campaign.
Biddle wins endorsement of hotel workers union
By Mike DeBonis, The Washington Post (link)
Democrat Sekou Biddle has won one of the first major endorsements in the at-large D.C. Council race -- one that could give him a real advantage in the April 26 special election.
UNITE HERE Local 25, which represents about 8,000 city hotel and restaurant workers, is giving Biddle the early nod. Votes from the membership itself might not add up to a whole lot for Biddle, given that many live outside the city. But Local 25 is one of the best-organized labor groups in the city and it is pledging to make a difference in volunteers and in working to get members of other unions to vote.
11 enter special at-large D.C. council race
By Tim Craig, The Washington Post (link)
Eleven candidates are running in the April 26 special election for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council, setting up a noisy citywide campaign.
Last month, the D.C. Democratic State Committee selected former school board member Sekou Biddle to temporarily fill the vacancy created by the election of Kwame R. Brown (D) as council chairman. But candidates from any party or none can appear on the ballot in the special election.
Biddle and 10 others met the Wednesday deadline to submit the signatures of at least 3,000 voters. The Board of Elections and Ethics has two weeks to determine whether the signatures are valid.
D.C. council member Sekou Biddle eyes tax hike for $125,000-plus wage earners
By Tim Craig, The Washington Post (link)
The District's newest council member, Sekou Biddle (D-At large), said Tuesday he will likely support a tax increase on the wealthy this year to help balance the budget, perhaps even on those who make as little as $125,000 per year.
In an interview with the Washington Post after Tuesday's council meeting, Biddle said he will work with his colleagues to try to identify savings to close a shortfall in the fiscal year 2012 budget that is estimated to between $400 million and $600 million.
But Biddle, an interim council member who must stand for election in an April 26 citywide vote, said he fully expects the 13-member council will also have to take up a tax increase.