Graham Gets Cold Feet . . . Again

Campaign finance officials could not be reached by press time Tuesday.

The Candidate of Urban Youth

Speaking of the mayor's race, candidate Michael A. Brown (D) is working hard to establish himself as the candidate of disaffected urban youth. First there were his lectures about families failing to save their kids from the "hip-hop culture." Now he's hosting the "Go-Go Summit."

According to a release from Brown's new communications director, former Washington Times reporter Robert Redding Jr., Brown plans to moderate the event tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Friendship Collegiate Academy, 4095 Minnesota Ave. NE. It will be, the release says, "the first in a series of community-based issue discussions focused on youth concerns and solutions."

"It is clear that young people must be involved in helping to solve many of the issues that face this city," Brown said in a written statement. "They are our future leaders and a Brown administration will ensure that the voices of our city's youth are heard."

Sadly, disaffected urban youth tend not to invest their disposable income in local politics. Campaign finance records show that Brown trails all other major mayoral candidates in fundraising and has less than $25,000 in the bank as the race for mayor begins in earnest.

Marshall's Big Plan

He's calling his campaign platform -- what else? -- the Marshall Plan.

Bruce A. Marshall, former director of the city's Department of Administrative Services and aide to former Ward 5 council member William R. Spaulding (D), announced earlier this week that he is running for his mentor's old job. The Ward 5 seat is being vacated by Vincent B. Orange Sr., who has his hands full running for mayor.

This Marshall plan does not include billions to rebuild Europe. It does, however, call for an increase in public safety, better public schools and support for seniors.