There’s good news during these dark and scandalous days of District politics in which elected officials, with falling popularity ratings, eagerly get arrested to save their careers; senior-level government managers misrepresent facts during investigative hearings; and so-called civic leaders evade subpoenas while proclaiming their dedication to full disclosure. The past two election cycles have revealed a strong bench of potential political leaders. Shout hallelujah.
These newcomers could move the city forward in the tradition of former mayors Anthony Williams and Adrian Fenty — but without the attending idiosyncrasies and personality flaws. While most have yet to win any elections, they have promise and eventually could be victorious, if they persevere and District voters don’t lose hope, choosing to remain engaged in local activities.
Joshua Lopez, Bryan Weaver, Patrick Mara and Andrew Moss were players in the recent special D.C. Council at-large election. Douglas Sloan and Dave Hedgepath were candidates last year. While they didn’t win the offices they sought, they demonstrated political skills, understanding of local issues and a sincere, deep desire to serve.
I am not the only person to have recognized their potential, however. Vincent Orange, who last week was elected at-large councilman, offered his own warnings.
“If I were a ward [council] representative, I would be a little concerned,” Orange said on WPFW-FM’s “D.C. Politics” show hosted by Chuck Thies, citing Mara, Weaver and Lopez as up and coming candidates.
Mara, a Republican, excited voters throughout the city. He was the second highest vote-getter in last week’s election; he did particularly well in Ward 3. In 2008, he won the Republican at-large council primary but lost the general election after Michael Brown, a lifelong Democrat, declared himself an independent — gathering liberals to his corner in the process.
Orange said Mara might be a danger to Cheh. But Mara isn’t a Ward 3 resident. That doesn’t mean the incumbent legislator is in the catbird seat. Republicans know their best chance to gain a seat on the council is in their stronghold. Hedgepath, a Republican, ran an interesting campaign last year. Will he try again or with the D.C. Republican Committee find an equally impressive opponent? The DCGOP has demonstrated an increasing command of the political game.
Weaver ran against Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham in 2010; he lost. But political observers continue to judge the incumbent vulnerable. Lopez, a Latino with charisma and a big liberal heart, lives in Ward 4 and could challenge incumbent Muriel Bowser. That community has the city’s second-largest Hispanic population. And, Sloan, who managed Orange’s recent council campaign, may have learned a few tricks that could help him if he makes a second attempt to unseat D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.
With the next primary election only a year away, the campaign already has begun. The city will be better served if the public and media listen not just to incumbents but also the fresh voices among us.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
