Poll Lampoon Has Orange Seeing Red

Also on Deck . . .

In other news about 2006, Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) held his first mayoral campaign event Friday, a meet-and-greet at the home of Shaw activist Beth Solomon. About 100 supporters from across Evans's downtown district showed up to hear him sketch out a platform emphasizing better schools and health care for the poor.

"I intend to run for mayor in 2006 and I intend to win," Evans said, according to those present.

And Council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) stands ready to join the line forming to run for council chairman if Linda W. Cropp (D) runs for mayor. Patterson met with several dozen advisers two weeks ago to game out a campaign strategy. She could form an exploratory committee, but -- as one of the council's good-government types -- she has promised to make public reports about donations and expenditures.

"There's no secret that I'm interested in serving as council chairman and there's also no secret that I would not run against Mrs. Cropp,'' Patterson said.

Washington's the Man

Judge Eric T. Washington of the D.C. Court of Appeals appears to have sewn up the nod for chief judge of the District's highest court. The D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission announced this week that Washington, 51, is the only applicant to replace Annice M. Wagner , who has served as chief judge since 1994.

Wagner announced earlier this year that she would step down after almost three decades on the bench, first in Superior Court and later on the appeals court. The judicial nomination commission plans to meet May 23 to choose her successor.

The Court of Appeals is the District's highest local court and, in a city teeming with lawyers, the chief judge assumes a post of considerable legal and political influence.

Washington has been a judge for 10 years, first on the superior court bench from 1995 to 1999 and then on the court of appeals. Before becoming a judge, he was a partner at Hogan & Hartson, and before that he was a senior attorney for the corporation counsel, now known as the D.C. attorney general.

Moving and Shaking

· D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) showed up at the White House Correspondents Association dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night as a guest of the Los Angeles Times. "I'm a hometown boy," said the mayor, who was born and raised in the City of Angels. " They appreciate me."

· D.C. school Superintendent Clifford B. Janey has hired a new communications director. Alexis Moore-Bruton , a former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who later worked in public relations for the Philadelphia public schools, started work Monday.

· There's also a new spokeswoman at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. LaShon Seastrunk came from the Falls Church sports and entertainment PR firm of Brotman-Winter-Fried Communications, where she worked on homeless and youth projects. She started this week.

Staff writers Eric M. Weiss, V. Dion Haynes and Theola Labbe contributed to this report.