Williams, MLB Turn Up Heat On Council's Stadium Foes

Based on interviews and council members' public statements, there appear to be four votes in favor of the project: Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3), Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6) and Orange; and four votes against it: David A. Catania (I-At Large), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4) and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8).

Four other members -- Mendelson, Schwartz, Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) and Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) -- have strongly opposed public funding for the project. But Williams and his aides believe some or all of their votes could be won.

Cropp, who like Fenty and Orange is running for the Democratic nomination for mayor, has been weighing the stadium issue deliberately, knowing that winning a better deal for the publicly financed project could help her mayoral chances.

Council sources said yesterday that some council members might attempt to alter terms in the lease before it is approved.

In the John A. Wilson Building, the administration, council members and their aides were keeping scorecards of the vote breakdown. The lists changed throughout the day.

"It appears there are five votes for the lease, and it's going to take an all-out effort to get the other two," said Evans, counting Cropp among the supporters.

In a joint meeting with Patterson and Mendelson yesterday, the mayor talked about baseball, school renovation and other issues, including Mendelson's bid for reelection next year.

Patterson, who is running to replace Cropp as council chairman, has asked the mayor to promise to support a $1.3 billion school reconstruction bill that she is negotiating with the council.

"I hope to be able to support it," Patterson said of the stadium lease. "But I need to see more information. . . . What private developers will be kicking in, the case the mayor is making [for money from] the federal government. If we get something in writing nailed down, that puts them on the record."

Mendelson, who last year voted against public financing for the stadium, declined to comment on the specifics of the meeting but said an increasing number of residents are growing unhappy with the stadium deal.

"There doesn't seem to be a grip on what the total costs will be, and people are picking up on that," Mendelson said. "Either [the administration is] going to deal with those questions and concerns or continue to leave people feeling anxious."

Schwartz sent the administration a list of 26 questions about the lease, the stadium designs, baseball's contribution to the funding of the project and other issues she wants answered by Tuesday.

Graham, who has consistently voted against the stadium, said he was taken aback by the mayor's vow to campaign against stadium opponents.

"I voted no four times in 2004, and we worked together all year," said Graham, who is running for reelection next year. "We've had many joint endeavors this year. I expect the same in the future. Why wouldn't I?"