Gray to Ask Lanier for Police at Polls on Primary Day

As the primary election draws near, early voting has led to passionate supporters of incumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty and mayoral challenger and D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray heading to the polls by the thousands.

In some instances, they have not met one another happily.

Intense shouting at some polling sites over the last week has led Gray to say that he will ask D.C. Chief of Police Cathy Lanier to post Metropolitan Police Department officers at each of the city's 140 precinct stations on Sept. 14.

Vocal Fenty and Gray supporters have shouted at one another at polling stations open for early voting. There have been no reports of arguments coming to blows.

Gray specifically said he was including his overzealous supporters in his concern. He said he has told his unruly people, "you don't do me any good" with that kind of behavior.

"I'm talking about everybody," Gray said. "I've said to my own people that, 'Listen, we want you to do what you came there for, and that's to help promote our campaign, not interact negatively with other people.'"

"I agree," Fenty said. "I think that anytime people in elections interrupt campaigning of other candidates, I think it absolutely makes the candidate look bad."


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