Fenty Wins Endorsement Of Barry for Top City Job

"It's better to pay that monthly mortgage than to buy a lottery ticket to get enough money to buy a whole house," said Cropp, speaking at a park on Capitol Hill, where leaders of the police and fire unions endorsed her candidacy.

"You know, some pundits may be willing to take a chance on the future of the District of Columbia, but I'm not," Cropp said. "We can't afford to put our future and the progress of the District of Columbia at risk. The stakes are really high."

The candidates vying to become the next D.C. Council chairman, in a tight race for the second-most powerful position in the city, also picked up key support yesterday.

Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) won the backing of two fellow council members, Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1). And Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) received the endorsement of an environmental organization and renewed support from a union local.

Although retiring council member Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6) endorsed Patterson at the beginning of the campaign, her council colleagues had not issued endorsements until now. Graham said he would hold a news conference today to formally announce his choice.

Yesterday, a campaign finance report showed that Gray had raised $543,807 and that Patterson had raised $336,657. Gray had $131,956 in cash on hand; Patterson, $58,731.

Patterson, who has been criticized at times by members of the business community, has defined herself as the candidate who speaks for members of the working class. That was in line with the renewed support she received at a news conference yesterday with Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, which represents custodians and security guards.

Staff writer Yolanda Woodlee contributed to this report.