D.C. Wire - News and notes on District politics.

Posted at 06:22 PM ET, 03/30/2012

Jim Graham backs Vincent Orange in at-large race

By Tim Craig

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D) announced Friday that he’s supporting his colleague, Vincent B. Orange, in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for an at-large seat on the council.

By Tim Craig | 06:22 PM ET, 03/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:02 PM ET, 03/30/2012

Biddle launches red-eyed attack on Orange

By Tim Craig

Voters in Northwest received a mailer from at-large primary candidate Sekou Biddle that included a photograph of D.C. council member Vincent Orange with bloodshot eyes.

By Tim Craig | 06:02 PM ET, 03/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vincent Orange, Sekou Biddle, D.C. council, D.C. city government

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 03/30/2012

Orange, Biddle under fire at WAMU debate

By Tim Craig

In the final debate before Tuesday’s Democratic primary, D.C. council member Vincent Orange was repeatedly put on the defensive over ethical issues involving his colleagues.

By Tim Craig | 03:37 PM ET, 03/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vincent Orange, Sekou Biddle, D.C. council, D.C. city government

Posted at 05:22 PM ET, 03/29/2012

Howard Dean endorses Sekou Biddle

By Tim Craig

Ex-Vermont governor said candidate for D.C. council is a “smart, dedicated leader who will champion progressive policies.”

By Tim Craig | 05:22 PM ET, 03/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Sekou Biddle, D.C. council, D.C. city governoment

Posted at 02:13 PM ET, 03/29/2012

Bar owners back Gray’s alcohol proposal; call for 24-hour city

By Tim Craig

“We have a 24-hour city and a 24-hour world,” bar owners say

By Tim Craig | 02:13 PM ET, 03/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:55 PM ET, 03/28/2012

District’s director of boards and commissions retires

By Nikita Stewart

Longtime city government aide Ronald R. Collins has retired from his post.

By Nikita Stewart | 05:55 PM ET, 03/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:15 PM ET, 03/26/2012

Mayor Gray seeks to repay workers for furlough days

By Nikita Stewart

Mayor Vincent C. Gray will ask the D.C. Council to approve legislation that would repay city employees the wages they lost during furlough days last year.

By Nikita Stewart | 04:15 PM ET, 03/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:57 PM ET, 03/26/2012

David Catania backs Sekou Biddle in Council Democratic primary

By Tim Craig

Catania also supported Biddle in last year’s special election.

By Tim Craig | 02:57 PM ET, 03/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:48 PM ET, 03/26/2012

Mara endorses former rival Biddle over Orange in D.C. council race

By Tim Craig

Republican Patrick Mara endorsed his former rival, Democrat Sekou Biddle, over incumbent Vincent Orange in the April 3 Democratic primary for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council.

By Tim Craig | 01:48 PM ET, 03/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Patrick Mara, Sekou Buiddle, Vincent Orange, D.C. council

Posted at 04:59 PM ET, 03/22/2012

Boehner, Lieberman ask Obama to fund D.C. scholarship program

By Ben Pershing

The two biggest backers of the District’s Opportunity Scholarship Program want the White House to fully fund the program.

By Ben Pershing | 04:59 PM ET, 03/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:31 PM ET, 03/21/2012

NW block named for former NFL standout Willie Wood

By Nikita Stewart

Willie Wood, a Hall of Fame safety for the Green Bay Packers, was honored Wednesday when a block in the Northwest neighborhood of his childhood was named for him.

By Nikita Stewart | 05:31 PM ET, 03/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:46 PM ET, 03/20/2012

D.C. Council temporarily halts new parking meter program

By Tim Craig

Red top meters have caused confusion among drivers and activists for the disabled, and council members say program should be evaluated further.

By Tim Craig | 02:46 PM ET, 03/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:04 PM ET, 03/15/2012

D.C. Shadow Senator candidate sentenced to jail — at his own request

By Tim Craig

Shadow Senator candidate Pete Ross was sentenced by a judge new to the case when the old judge said incumbent Michael D. Brown had tried to influence her decision.

By Tim Craig | 05:04 PM ET, 03/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: D.C. election, D.C. primary

Posted at 01:43 PM ET, 03/14/2012

Cheh bill limits political giving via money order

By Tim Craig

Cheh said her staff is drafting a bill that bans the use of money orders for any political donation over $25 as a further safeguard against campaign finance abuses.

By Tim Craig | 01:43 PM ET, 03/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:17 AM ET, 03/14/2012

D.C. campaign finance office to audit Orange contribution records

By Tim Craig

The D.C. Office of Campaign Finance has launched a “random audit” of Council member Vincent B. Orange’s 2011 election campaign.

By Tim Craig | 10:17 AM ET, 03/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vincent Orange, campaign finance, D.C. city government

Posted at 03:40 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Orange releases campaign contribution records linked to Thompson

By Tim Craig

D.C. Council member Vincent Orange says he didn’t realize until recently that he accepted money orders apparently bought at the same time and with similar handwriting.

By Tim Craig | 03:40 PM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vincent Orange, Jeffrey Thompson, D.C. city government

Posted at 11:48 AM ET, 03/12/2012

Former Sekou Biddle campaign manager decries Vincent Orange’s ‘dirty’ tactics

By Tim Craig

Vicky Wilcher, who briefly headed up Sekou Biddle’s campaign last year, said Vincent Orange is “dirty” for reminding voters of her arrest last spring for bringing a firearm into a city building.

By Tim Craig | 11:48 AM ET, 03/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 03/08/2012

DC Vote activists head to Arizona for abortion bill protest

By Ben Pershing

Advocates take their fight to the home turf of a member they believe is meddling in District affairs.

By Ben Pershing | 12:00 PM ET, 03/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:32 PM ET, 03/07/2012

Judge suspends sentence for Sulaimon Brown on traffic stop

By Nikita Stewart and Keith L. Alexander

Former mayoral candidate agrees to pay $50 in court costs to resolve a charge that he was driving with no permit in September.

By Nikita Stewart and Keith L. Alexander | 06:32 PM ET, 03/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:06 PM ET, 03/07/2012

Orange: I’m ‘clean’ in D.C. campaign finance probe

By Tim Craig

D.C. council member Vincent Orange is warning that his opponents’ focus on donations he received from a city contractor opens the door to a bruising campaign.

By Tim Craig | 03:06 PM ET, 03/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vincent Orange, D.C. city government, D.C. city council

Posted at 01:36 PM ET, 03/07/2012

District to pump $2 million into job training program

By Nikita Stewart

Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced the launch of a program that will provide 90 percent of the salary of participants trained at private companies.

By Nikita Stewart | 01:36 PM ET, 03/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:15 PM ET, 03/06/2012

Ron Moten, Don Folden, clash at GOP debate

By Tim Craig

The debate, between Ron Moten and Don Folden Sr. is believed to have been the first between two African-American Republican candidates for local office under Home Rule.

By Tim Craig | 04:15 PM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:34 PM ET, 03/05/2012

Gray to pitch for D.C. statehood at GOP convention

By Tim Craig

Mayor Vincent Gray plans to take his push for D.C. statehood to the Republican National Convention.

By Tim Craig | 05:34 PM ET, 03/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:42 AM ET, 03/05/2012

Vincent Orange’s donations become issue in race

By Tim Craig

The federal raid on a contractor’s home and office is providing fresh ammunition for candidates hoping to unseat Orange.

By Tim Craig | 11:42 AM ET, 03/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:13 PM ET, 03/03/2012

Marion Barry elected as Obama delegate

By Tim Craig

By Tim Craig | 10:13 PM ET, 03/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:49 PM ET, 03/02/2012

Vincent Orange, Obama, share words to honor Dr. Seuss

By Tim Craig

Statements share more than sentiment on Read Across America Day.

By Tim Craig | 08:49 PM ET, 03/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:16 PM ET, 03/02/2012

Orange clashes with Biddle, Shapiro in at-large race

By Tim Craig

The D.C. Council member was on the defensive during a candidates forum, but turned in a performance that repelled his opponents’ attacks.

By Tim Craig | 02:16 PM ET, 03/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:23 PM ET, 03/01/2012

Marion Barry: ‘Haters’ trying to keep me away from Democratic National Convention

By Tim Craig

D.C. Council member Marion Barry says “doubters and haters” are trying to keep him away from the Democratic National Convention.

By Tim Craig | 04:23 PM ET, 03/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:07 PM ET, 03/01/2012

Progressive activists organize for ballot slog

By Tim Craig

Organizers need 22,700 signatures to get a referendum on the November ballot banning corporate contributions to city political candidates.

By Tim Craig | 02:07 PM ET, 03/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:02 PM ET, 02/29/2012

Ward 4 candidate attacks council member Muriel Bowser’s cell phone use

By Tim Craig

Ward 4 Council candidate Max Skolnik is calling on incumbent Muriel D. Bowser (D) to release detailed cell phone records.

By Tim Craig | 01:02 PM ET, 02/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: D.C. city government, D.C. Council

Posted at 11:24 AM ET, 02/29/2012

Council hopeful Peter Shapiro didn’t vote in special election

By Tim Craig

The candidate, campaigning on a platform of restoring integrity and reforming what he’s called the city’s “very dysfunctional political system,” did not vote in last year’s special election.

By Tim Craig | 11:24 AM ET, 02/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

D.C. Wire: March, 2012