Photo by Jon Reeves.
The results are in for DC’s primary: Fenty is out, Gray is in; decisive wins for Wells and the unopposed DeMartino in Ward 6; Kwame Brown for Council Chair and Mendelson for At-Large. See the full results (as of 1:30 this morning) from BOEE.
So, what do you think? What options do you see for Capitol Hill — our schools, transportation, public safety? What did you think about the new polling equipment? Where did you go for election coverage (will this be the year blogs beat out traditional media)? Time sound off about the primary!
Photo by Jon Reeves.
I didn’t even see the electronic ballots as an option at Hine, they just gave me a paper one, at 7:30AM the place was a mess, I can only imagine how bad it was later in the day.
All in all, great win for Gray!
The results were slow to trickle in, and I found DCist to be the only place I could find with an explanation (or at least reporting) on why.
I voted early at Hine and I loved having that option; I hope the city keeps it.
I voted for Gray because I don’t actually see that the progress in schools has been made exclusively by Rhee. I think it is also neighborhood involvement, NCLB, and the viability of charter options. Once schools are off the table, the Fenty administration doesn’t look that competitive… and I myself experienced some of the hubris described by WaPo this morning. Shutting out or dismissing voices actually does lead to a diminished result; it’s not just a style issue.
I’m extremely disappointed and not at all surprised by the outcome of the mayor’s race.
A Moyor Gray is a step backwards for D.C. Gray supporters (or perhaps many of them should more appropriately be called Fenty opposers) can cry foul all day long about Fenty having a brash and unfeeling management style, and I can’t argue with that. BUT did Fenty’s brash style ever harm me? No way. And it probably did no harm to most people in D.C.
What has affected me is an improving neighborhood. Schools are better. Streets are safer. Frankly, I don’t care is our mayor isn’t the nicest or most relatable guy. I care about results.
So now we’ve thrown out the change agent in exchange for a member of the old political class that let this city stagnate for four decades. You can argue all day long about personalities, etc., but this decision was reactionary and irrational. We’ll be seeing its ill effects soon enough.
We will actually be seriously considering the pilgrimage to Northern Virginia and selling our beloved home here. I had hopes for the schools getting better under Fenty and Rhee, and Gray is just a return to the days of Marion Barryesque racial and class warfare.
Slow down, people. I voted for Fenty, but I don’t think Gray is just another Marion Barry. I think Marion Barry has that market pretty much cornered.
Honestly, I think the people (like Barry, perhaps) who supported Gray because they think he will the the “anti-gentrification mayor” or play exclusively to the Old Guard will be sorely disappointed. I think Gray will get things done and keep moving things on a generally positive trajectory – it’ll just be a bit slower than under Fenty.
Tommy Wells is still in office (and what a win!), and that’s great news.
Just to underscore and elaborate upon AMT’s thoughts, please check out this article at DCist:
http://dcist.com/2010/09/we_were_outraised_outspent_and.php#more
I’m with AMT. I voted for Fenty, but I’m not upset with Gray’s win. He’s a thoughtful, deliberative politician and very good at threading the political needle. A friend who lobbied for a progressive law a couple of years ago relied heavily on Gray’s help to get it passed.
Mary Cheh endorsed him and she’s hardly old-school.
@ Kathleen: I also relied on DCist – thought they did a nice job with info and updates. I voted early at Judiciary Sq – electronically, but I would have been out of there faster if I’d done paper – and it was a breeze so it must have been disconcerting for the people who had problems on Tuesday.
Despite the criticism that too many changes were made at one time, I like the new process because it seems to open the voting window of opportunity wide enough that anyone can (legally) participate with minimal roadblocks.
I’m looking forward to the good old days of a Control Board and every city agency being in court receivership. I don’t think that Gray will be able to make the really difficult decisions that are in this city’s future.
Personally I’m looking forward to fewer no-bid contracts to my frat homeys, weekend jaunts to take in tennis tournaments in Dubai paid for by oiligarchs and not telling anyone, and being able to drive on MacArthur Blvd without being told I can’t because the Mayor and his chums are getting a police escort for their Sunday bike ride.
I have to say, I was disappointed in the result. Gray lost me when he didn’t have the foresight or vision to originally vote for funding the streetcars on H St. NE. It was only after his office got blasted did he realize the error in his ways. How can we entrust our wonderful city to a man who lacks the vision to support a neighborhood that’s shifting in a more positive way?
I hope I’m wrong……..
The criticisms of Fenty are certainly warranted. Whether he was actually corrupt, I don’t know, but the Skinner et al. stuff stank to high heaven. The baffling part was that, instead of moving away from them, Fenty brought them closer. Big mistake. He brought this loss on himself, so I don’t feel sorry for him. I feel sorry for the people of DC.
Vince Gray??? Seriously? I’m genuinely confused as to why anyone thinks DC will benefit from him. He may be good at threading the political needle, but he doesn’t strike me as particular intelligent or progressive—the DC mayor should have both in spades.
More of a concern is Kwame Brown. There is absolutely no way that there are not 10,000 more qualified people in DC for that position.
I wish this was hyperbole, but we too will now think long and hard about abandoning the Hill for VA or MD. It’s too bad. There was such hope 4 years ago.
The Hill was a pretty nice place 4 yes ago, 8 years ago, 12 years ago… And there are many many improvements in the pipeline (for example, soon, h st will have more restaurants than eastern market/barracks row…and who would have forecasted that 10 years ago).
Gray may slow things down, but economic trends and private sector investments are very hard for govt to stop. (ps, I did vote for Fenty, but do not feel that the sky is falling or the need to cry wolf).