First, a hiring scandal and claims of nepotism. Then, allegations of corruption on the city council. Now Mayor Vincent Gray is facing plummeting popularity among the people who voted him into office just 9 months ago.
A new Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation poll out this morning shows that Mayor Gray’s popularity numbers are lower now than former Mayor Adrian Fenty’s numbers just before he was defeated by Gray.
Back in August, Gray was seen favorably by 60 percent of District voters. That favorable view is now held by just 47 percent, while 4 in 10 have unfavorable opinions of the mayor.
It shines a light on the stark contrast between how Gray began his campaign, as a unifier calling for “One City,” and the scandal-ridden months that have followed.
The distractions of his administration's numerous scandals are reflected in the Post’s new numbers. Only 41 percent of voters approve of the way Gray has handled his job, compared to 40 percent who disapprove. More than half of voters say that there is a big corruption problem in D.C. government. And for the first time in nearly a decade, those surveyed said the government is one of the top three biggest problems facing the city.
The ratings for some city services, however, are at an all-time high, according the Post. Both the job of police officers and the quality of parks and recreation facilities received record high ratings.
The poll was conducted by phone in May, among a random sample of more than 1,300 District adults.
