Hostility Simmers In Chairman Debate

Candidates Go After Each Other's Records

The Democratic candidates for D.C. Council chairman traded charges over qualifications yesterday, with Vincent C. Gray accusing Kathy Patterson of failing to foster cooperation on the council and Patterson saying that her opponent lacks the experience to be chairman.

Gray, a first-term council member, said in a radio debate that he would be a "consensus builder" and that Patterson was known for being a stubborn council member who does not work well with her colleagues. Patterson said that if Gray is elected chairman, he would need "on-the-job training."

Less than two weeks before the Sept. 12 primary, the morning debate on Washington Post Radio displayed an increased level of hostility.

Patterson, who has represented Ward 3 on the council for nearly 12 years, and Gray, who left a career in social services in 2004 and won a Ward 7 council seat, have been polite with each other until recently.

The change in tone was obvious in a live, 15-minute television debate last week on WUSA (Channel 9) and in yesterday's hour-long debate moderated by political commentator Mark Plotkin.

Patterson, for example, followed up on a question by Plotkin about Gray's tenure as the director of the city Department of Human Services in the 1990s. She asked Gray to explain his record there. Two divisions of the department, Child and Family Services and the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration, were placed under federal court-ordered receivership after Gray left his post in 1994.

"Mark, is she now asking the questions?" Gray asked.

Gray said that he was proud of his record and that he nearly quadrupled the number of social workers handling children's cases, from 83 to 325. He also said the agencies had improved by the time he left.

Patterson responded, "He is right that it was stronger at the end because the court took over."

Gray said Patterson, who is chairman of the education committee, almost bungled a $1 billion plan to modernize the city's public schools with her obstinate attitude this year.

With council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4), Gray last year co-introduced the plan to repair and improve aging, dilapidated schools. Fenty is a leading candidate for mayor in the Democratic primary.

As the plan was being considered, Gray said, Patterson failed to consult business and tourist industry officials before proposing an increase in the city's hotel, parking and cigarette taxes.

"It was a disaster," Gray said. "That's not the way to do business as a council. That's not how I will do business as council chairman."

Patterson said she thought it was important to get the views of her council colleagues on the issue before going to the business community.

The modernization bill passed after Patterson and council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who heads the finance committee, proposed using city sales tax revenue to fund the repairs over a decade.

A poll of likely Democratic voters by The Washington Post in July showed Patterson and Gray in a virtual tie.