Reply to Gray/Bowser Split

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele]There has always been a lot of animosity between the Vincent Gray and Muriel Bowser camps in DC's Democratic Party. Just after Gray's victory over Adrian Fenty, a lot of Gray's backers hinted that Bowser was next. But, since Gray almost immediately became embroiled in ethics issues, he didn't have a lot of electoral pull and Bowser's Ward 4 seat was never seriously threatened. Once the Jeff Thompson case blew up, Bowser was one of the first members of the Council to call on him to resign and during the primary, Bowser would not say whether she would endorse Gray. Since the primary, Gray has refused to endorse Bowser and even a few days ago said that he didn't know for whom he would vote.

The Park Southern slumlord controversy that has embroiled Bowser and her supporters is probably orchestrated by the Gray administration or Gray supporters feeding information to reporters. Most recently, Gray and Bowser have been sniping over Gray's school boundary recommendations with Bowser promising to thrown them out and start over and Gray ridiculing both that idea and Bowser's suggestion that she would not include DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson in the process. Henderson has publicly supported the recommendations, putting her at odds with Bowser. Bowser has previously committed to keeping Henderson, but they also seem to differ on the issue of Crestwood and 16th Street Heights residents maintaining access to Deal Middle School and Wilson High School. Bowser said she would not accept a plan that eliminated such access (or access to Eastern High School by East of the River students), while Henderson said that she didn't care if those residents moved due to being denied access. She said they would be replaced by new residents, some of whom would have babies.

The Gray/Bowser animosity has also shown up in Bowser's Ward 4 where ANCs have attempted to organize a mayoral debate. The commissioners attempting to organize the event included both Gray and Bowser supporters who apparently couldn't agree upon arrangements acceptable to Bowser. As I understand it, she still does not plan to attend the event.

Moreover, many Gray supporters feel that their candidate was defeated, not by Bowser, but by [b]KUS Attorney Ron Machen who suggested guilt on Gray's part during the Jef Thompson proceedings. [/b]Every day that goes by without Gray being indicted, the stronger feelings will grow that Gray was unfairly tarnished. Bowser is likely to become the target of that anger.

Bowser has been considered the favorite because of expected strong Democratic support and the fact that, while she hasn't inspired a lot of people, she generally hasn't upset a lot of people either. Now, she is not only facing battles on two fronts -- one against Independent candidate David Catania and other against members of her own party -- but, one of those battles involves people who apparently know where the bodies are buried (or have access to inside information). To the extend that Gray staffers and supporters continue to act as an opposition research organization against Bowser, it only benefits Catania. That should make for an interesting Fall.

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I agree. It was contrived, otherwise there would be an indictment by name. [/quote]

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