On Barry's 70th, Cake and Contributions

D.C. Council member and former mayor Marion Barry kicked off his 70th birthday party in grand style Sunday at a Georgetown mansion with a fundraiser for a very worthy cause.

More than 40 of Barry's friends and supporters celebrated the joyous occasion hosted by developer Herb Miller at his home. The donation requested: $1,000.

The worthy cause: The Marion Barry Scholarship and Education Fund.

"He is now 70 years old, and it's time to look at the good things he's accomplished," Miller said.

Barry's week may have begun on high note, but he is expected to be sentenced today on federal misdemeanor charges for failing to file tax returns for six years after he left the mayor's office in 1998.

His birthday was Monday. Most of his council colleagues stopped by the septuagenarian's office for cake and ice cream between meetings. His chief of staff, Linda Greene , who is also a board member of the nonprofit scholarship fund, sent out an e-mail with details of his life: where he was born, where he attended college and how Washingtonians have elected him mayor four times and council member three times. He now represents Ward 8.

Miller, one of several developers interested in building along the Anacostia waterfront, said too much focus is placed on Barry's low points. Miller said the fund will recognize Barry's positive accomplishments.

The fund was established by several business, civic and philanthropic leaders in the city to raise money to provide a college education for deserving high school students who live in the District. Miller said he was not sure how much money was raised Sunday, but he said an independent group that manages philanthropic dollars will control the funds.

Among the high-profile guests at Sunday's soiree were former Redskin and developer Brig Owens , political consultant Max Brown , sports commission chairman Mark H. Tuohey and businessmen Pedro Alfonzo, Ernie Jarvis and Butch Hopkins . In addition, council members Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Vincent B. Orange Sr . (D-Ward 5), Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) and Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) attended.

The Dash for Cash

As the clock ticks down to tomorrow's filing deadline with the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance, some mayoral candidates are making a last-minute push to rake in cash.

Council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4), the fundraising leader with just over $900,000, held an event Sunday billed as "Tea with Michelle," his wife. Council chairman Linda W. Cropp (D-At Large) had an event Monday at Cafe Nema. No word on how it went, but Cropp invited a lot of people -- and her e-mail invitation inadvertently revealed all of their e-mail addresses.

Former Verizon Washington president Marie C. Johns (D), meanwhile, sent a letter to supporters urging them to ignore rumors that she's contemplating switching races, either to replace School Board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz or to replace Cropp.