'White Guy' Remark Explained

By Yolanda Woodlee and Nikita Stewart
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 12, 2006

Philip E. Pannell , the outspoken president of the Ward 8 Democrats, said after the September Democratic primary that he couldn't believe he was defeated for shadow senator by "some white guy." When he said it, there was no question in his mind what he meant.

Even Michael D. Brown , the white Ward 3 resident who won the seat, didn't give it much thought. Not until a friend read the quote from Pannell and pointed it out.

"I think a lot of white people were offended by it," Brown said. "I wouldn't have made an issue out of it."

Pannell and many others in his predominantly black ward couldn't believe that Michael D. Brown had overwhelmingly defeated one of Southeast Washington's most popular sons. Now if it had been Michael A. Brown , that would have been a different story. People in Ward 8 know him.

There was only one explanation, said Pannell backers in Ward 8. People got the two Browns confused. Michael A. Brown, who is black, waged a year-long bid for mayor, campaigning tirelessly in Ward 8, and he is the son of the late U.S. Commerce secretary Ronald H . Brown .

Pannell and others said the lack of a clear distinction between the two men on the ballot gave the Michael D. Brown an edge. Both Michael D. Brown and Michael A. Brown said people told them they were puzzled, particularly after Michael A. dropped out of the mayor's race just a few days before the election. He said some voters told him they thought he decided to run for shadow senator instead.

Michael D. said two women called him and said, "We voted for you, but we wanted to vote for Phil," adding that they thought he was "the other Michael Brown."

"I said, 'You didn't want to vote for Phil, you wanted to vote for the other Michael Brown.' "

That's what Pannell was referring to when he was asked about the election he lost. He said Michael D. Brown had name advantage.

"Of course, he took advantage," Pannell said in an interview at the time. "Anytime I lose my ward by 72 percent to some white guy, how do you think I feel?"

Since that remark was reported in a Washington Post article Sept. 16, Pannell said he has been shocked at the level of criticism.

"When I said 'white guy,' I meant a white guy who was totally unknown and hasn't done anything in the ward," Pannell said. "When I first read it, I said, 'I know I'm going to get in trouble for this one.' It can definitely be interpreted as I'm being resentful and racially insensitive."

In fact, Pannell said he's been very public about his commitment to diversity. And he has taken some unpopular stands to prove it. In 1986, he co-chaired the campaign of D.C. Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) for mayor against then-Mayor Marion Barry . And he came to the defense of the mayor's aide who used the word "niggardly" in proper context seven years ago after Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) accepted his resignation.

"I pride myself as being a strong advocate of diversity," Pannell said. "It's painful for folks to interpret any statement I've made as resentful. I in no way begrudge Michael D. Brown the victory in the election just because he is white. That's not me."

Democrat Backs Independent

There was a noticeable absence at a recent Ward 6 Democrats' unity breakfast. Leo Pinson , who lost to Democratic nominee Tommy Wells on Sept. 12 in a three-way race for the council seat, was not there.

Pinson, who received 13 percent of the vote, has endorsed independent candidate Will Cobb in the Nov. 7 general election.

Pinson said he has e-mailed and called his supporters to encourage them to vote for Cobb. Pinson's efforts -- combined with voter confusion over Republican candidate Antonio "Tony" Williams , who shares a name with the mayor -- might make the Ward 6 race quite competitive.

Cobb switched to running as an independent after failing to file nominating petitions on time for the Democratic primary. Aside from that misstep, he has run a disciplined campaign, knocking on doors throughout the ward and attending community meetings.

Pinson, explaining his support for Cobb, sounds as if he has not quite moved on from the primary campaign. "There is a feeling among many which I share that the incumbent, Sharon Ambrose , has not had the same focus on neighborhoods such as Southwest, Near Northeast and H Street," Pinson said. "With her support of Tommy, there is an expectation that it's Ambrose redux."

Fellow primary opponent Curtis L. Etherly Jr. said he is fully behind Wells. "I've been a lifelong Democrat, and I'm supporting the Democratic ticket," Etherly said.

On and Off Term Limits

Schwartz had a suggestion for her colleagues and Mayor Williams at a breakfast meeting last week.

She said she wanted to recommend term limits for the mayor's office. The proposal comes five years after Schwartz joined a majority of her council members in repealing term limits for the mayor, council members and Board of Education members.

Term limits were imposed by a 1994 referendum, with 62 percent of voters in favor. The restrictions, which would have limited elected officials to two consecutive four-year terms, were supposed to take effect in 2004.

The repeal made it possible for Schwartz to win a third term.

Schwartz said last week that the mayor's position needs term limits. "And Adrian, I swear, it's not targeted at you," she said to council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4), who is widely expected to win the Nov. 7 election to become the next mayor.

Schwartz said she would have imposed term limits on herself if she had ever been elected mayor. She ran and lost in 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2002.

The last two losses were to Williams. "Oh, you beat the crap out of me," she told Williams. "I learned my lesson."

Fenty had no response to Schwartz during the meeting. In 2001, he was one of four council members who voted against repealing the term limits.

Staff writer Elissa Silverman contributed to this report.