But unlike the mayor’s race, in which Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) had an overwhelming advantage in majority-black neighborhoods while former mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) dominated other areas of the city, the nine candidates vying for the at-large seat are struggling to line up solid bases of support, political observers say.
“There is a lot of ambivalence among voters because none of the candidates seem like their cup of tea,” said Chuck Burger, a veteran local political organizer.
The contenders viewed as having the best chances for cobbling together enough votes to win — perhaps as few 10,000 in what is expected to be a low-turnout election — are council member Sekou Biddle and former council member Vincent B. Orange, both Democrats.
Orange, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2006 and council chairman last year, has raised nearly $200,000 for his campaign and is banking on name recognition to solidify support near his home in Northeast and communities east of the Anacostia River.
But Orange, a former Pepco executive, is campaigning hard in Northwest, joining residents near Georgetown and American universities to resist attempts to expand student housing into the neighborhoods. And because of the SUV-spending controversy surrounding Brown, Orange is hoping voters will turn to him to be the chairman’s antidote on the council.
“Nearly 50,000 people thought Vince Orange was the best choice for chairman of the council” last year, Orange frequently says, referring to the number of votes he received in his race against Brown. “I would say, ‘Boy, were they right.’ ”
Biddle, a former Ward 4 school board member, is also aggressively campaigning in majority-white neighborhoods in Northwest. A former executive director of Jumpstart for Young Children, Biddle is aligned with the city’s school-reform movement and is trying to win over voters who enthusiastically backed former schools chancellor Michelle A. Rhee.
“I fundamentally believe that improving the quality of education can transform our communities,” said Biddle, who in January was appointed by the D.C. Democratic State Committee to temporarily fill the at-large seat until the special election.
Unclear paths
But the early support Biddle received from Gray and Brown — now politically injured due to recent controversies — has hamstrung his effort, resulting in a campaign still trying to identify a path to victory. While Biddle concentrates heavily on Northwest, his backers, including Brown’s father, Marshall, are working to line up support in other areas.
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