Rhee Question Dogs Gray Campaign

It's the question that just won't go away: will D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray keep Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee on if he's elected mayor?

Gray, for now, is refusing to answer. But the issue is becoming campaign fodder for his opponent.

If Gray thought he could escape the Rhee question at a debate on senior citizen issues, he was mistaken. In fact, when the men were asked about it, Fenty pre-empted Gray's answer.

"I'll tell you what the Chairman is gonna say, he's going to say that he's not gonna say what he's gonna do about Chancellor Rhee until he gets elected," Fenty said. "How can you run for mayor of the District of Columbia and not be willing to say what you are going to do on the top issue that people are concerned about in this city, and that's education."

Gray didn't bite. In his answer, the chairman talked about his education plan but not about his plans for Rhee. When I asked him about it after the debate, he wouldn't budge.

"When there is a reason to have that discussion I'll have it with everyone, including Michelle Rhee," Gray said.

But until then, there are no signs the issue will go away.