Cropp Likes What She's Hearing

Newcomer on the Run

Then there's Johns.

Political observers are toying with the notion that Johns could drop out of the mayor's race and instead seek the chairman's office if Cropp declares for mayor. The theory is that Johns and Cropp are both poised, professional African American women likely to appeal to the same voters and business leaders. But Cropp is much better known. So why would Johns want to run against her?

Johns seemed to waver when asked that question. "I've signed my papers. I'm ready to go," she told reporters during a campaign announcement last week in the Frank Reeves Municipal Center. "I heard that Mrs. Cropp is also considering the race, and we'll see."

So far, it's not completely clear why Johns is running for any office. A newcomer to politics, she didn't deliver a speech to explain her desire for the city's top job. And she said she was unprepared to take positions on issues likely to shape the campaign, such as public funding for a new baseball stadium.

Even odder, Johns made her announcement at an 11 a.m. news conference that actually started at 10:45 a.m. She was peppered with unfriendly questions about her voting record (Johns has lived in the District only since 1999) and her knowledge of local politics ("Actually, I don't know my ANC representative," she conceded). Then, just as reporters began asking about her broader campaign goals, she swept out of the Reeves Center, claiming she had to get to her next appointment.

It was 10:55 a.m. If anyone had actually shown up on time for the 11 a.m. news conference, they would have missed it.

Annoyed reporters hectored Johns adviser Marshall Brown , arguing that a political unknown should really set aside more than 10 minutes to answer questions. Johns did so at her next event, a door-knocking session in Ward 5, and later apologized to at least two reporters.

"This is Day One," but just wait, she said. "This is going to be such a crack operation."