The atmosphere was electric, a circus at times at the Ward 4 Democrats meeting, forum and straw poll in the city's race for mayor. A highly combative affair with Mayor Adrian Fenty beginning the attacks—in his opening remarks—making it "open season" for battle.
Gray was initially less combative, sounding downright polite and at times deferring at the beginning of the forum, which was rounded out by Democratic mayoral candidates Ernest E. Johnson, Sulaimon Brown and Leo Alexander.
The turnout that, at all examination, appeared larger than at a precinct in an actual election, evidenced how the mostly black Northwest community could help decide the contest between Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and chief rival Vincent C. Gray. The line to enter for the straw poll was up the street as Ward 4 residents waited patiently while campaigners and supporters conversed, sometimes hotly, about the choices in the race for mayor.
The vote was on Fenty's home turf, the ward where he served as a council member for six years before taking office as mayor. Shortly after 11 p.m., Gray led Fenty 300 to 205. By Thursday morning, Gray had won with 58% of the vote, falling 2% shy of gaining the Ward 4 endorsement.
For Fenty, a victory in Wednesday's straw poll would be about saving face as much as about winning. For Gray, a win would embarrass the mayor and show that Gray, the city council chairman, has the organization to defeat Fenty in the September 14th primary.
The straw poll was the sixth held by a ward Democrats group. Gray already had won straw polls in wards 3, 6 and 8 and his home base in Ward 7, while Fenty posted a victory in Ward 2.
Though Fenty swept every precinct in the 2006 primary for a solid victory with 57 percent of the vote, his success in Ward 4 was unmatched. He pulled 69 percent of the vote there, and the traditionally civic-minded community had the city's highest turnout, with 46 percent.
But Fenty's popularity in Ward 4 has waned, as it is home to teachers and District government employees. It has seen many residents effected by Fenty's policy decisions to fire and lay off longtime workers. The latest defensive decision of Fenty to extend summer jobs for youth an extra week over funding for the homeless didn't help him last night. The city council rejected that Fenty proposal on Tuesday. Paving streets—right before election time—came off to many Ward 4 residents as a play for votes.
You knew it was on when Fenty used his two-minute opening statement to begin a series of attacks on Gray, focusing especially on Gray's tenure as director of the city's Department of Human Services in the 1990s. Fenty also appeared to highlight their age difference. Fenty is 39; Gray is 67. This reporter doesn't think age discrimination will play well with DC's higher number wards.
"My opponent has spent the entire time not solving problems but criticizing me for how I go about doing things," Fenty said. "You all are like me. You say, 'Hold on, isn't this the same Vincent Gray who ran the Department of Human Services in the ground?' "
The Fenty campaign was loud and in large numbers outside and inside the meeting at St George's Ballroom on 16th Street. Fenty's campaign green evidenced a outspending in the race, but in the end the numbers at the polls will dictate the city's next mayor.
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The Notwist - Gloomy Planetsby Drnwhyl137,544 views
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