Maybe It Was the Free Chicken

Why did Williams have a cash-flow crunch?

"He said he had put all of his money in his campaign," Ross said.

So far, Williams has contributed $34,680 to his campaign, according to campaign finance reports. That's about 80 percent of his total war chest of $43,400.

Ex-Barry Aide Takes PR Job

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Linda Mercado Greene , former consigliere to council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) who took a leave of absence in March, has landed on her feet.

MacFarlane Partners, a real estate investment firm, announced Monday that Greene has been hired as vice president for community affairs and public relations in its new Washington office. The San Francisco-based firm specializes in urban development and redevelopment projects, such as the Southeast Federal Center, and hopes to expand its operations in the nation's capital.

Greene, who worked on Barry's 2004 council campaign and served as his chief of staff, has had a long career in public relations. She founded Linda Greene and Associates, a PR firm that worked for the Congressional Black Caucus Policy and Leadership Institute, the United Negro College Fund and entertainers Dionne Warwick , the Dells and M.C. Hammer , among other clients. Greene was widely praised for her work as national fundraising director for the Million Man March in 1995.

"With Linda's background in public relations and her decades of work with community groups and public officials throughout all levels of government, she has the ideal combination of experience, knowledge and relationships with various constituencies to support our activities in Washington, D.C.," said MacFarlane Partners founder Victor B. MacFarlane .

Staff writer Robert Pierre contributed to this report.