Mayor Adrian Fenty was on the defensive during Thursday night’s candidates forum at the Field School, calling “shenanigans” on rival Vincent Gray’s maneuvering on streetcar funding, and referring to the problems facing the D.C. Department of Human Services under Gray’s leadership in “Vince Gray's early-‘90s days” -- a dig at both Gray’s age and his ties to the best-forgotten Sharon Pratt Kelly era.
But the mayor was clearly rattled by Gray’s aggressive and rising campaign, and fiddled with his beloved BlackBerry during the event, before taking off a bit early. Tim Craig of the Washington Post says Fenty looked “vexed” through much of the questioning, and came off as “annoyed, distracted and uneasy.”
Fenty, referring to Gray and Leo Alexander, who has emerged as an unexpectedly strong third contender in the Democratic contest, said at one point, “As you can tell, the gentleman on my left and the gentleman on my right are really big critics. If we were electing a chief critic for the District of Columbia, I would probably recommend either of them. But we are electing a chief executive officer and that means we need someone who can get things done.”
Gray was respectful of the mayor, conceding Fenty’s achievements but questioning his leadership style. As DCist’s Martin Austermuhle writes this morning, Gray “came in as a candidate who doesn't seem convinced the he should even be in the race, angered by Fenty's style but unwilling to argue that it's all been bad during his tenure.”
Gray pressed his campaign’s central theme -- that his administration would be open and transparent, and would enjoy better relations with the Council than Fenty has.
Gray said, “I am chair of a body that has one of the highest approval ratings for a legislative body in the nation.” But Fenty tried to turn the theme of collegiality against Gray, saying, “Going along just to get along is not a way to run a city.”
On the issues, the candidates differed most sharply on education and economic inequality. Fenty vowed to keep Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Alexander vowed to fire her, and Gray played the middle, lauding the city’s educational achievements under Rhee but saying that her autocratic style made him unsure whether he would keep her on.
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On jobs and the economy, Fenty said continued construction and economic development would boost the city, citing “new grocery stores in Ward 8” and “new restaurants in Ward 7” as proof that progress is not limited to the wealthier parts of the city. Gray said unemployment remains high, since “lots of people feel their skills don't match with the jobs that are available.” He said the Council had to restore job funding that had been cut by Fenty. Alexander faulted illegal immigration for the high unemployment rate.
With a tight race between Fenty and Gray, and the energetic Alexander making a serious race, it looks like it will be a hot political summer in the District.
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