What Does Firing Say About Fenty?

On Tuesday, one union, District Council 20 AFSCME, which represents bus drivers and classroom aides, ruffled some feathers by breaking ranks and announcing its endorsement of Bobb. Council leaders had wanted the various unions to speak with one voice.

"The council encourages all affiliates to stay in the process," said Rick Powell , political/legislative coordinator for the Metropolitan Council, when told that the District Council had issued a news release on the Bobb endorsement.

But George Johnson , executive director of District Council 20, said his union "is looking out for its own interests now. I'm not going to sit on my hands waiting on the central council."

Johnson said District Council 20 also endorses advisory neighborhood commissioner Robert Vinson Brannum for the District 3 seat and Lockridge for District 4.

He said the union is endorsing Bobb because it has had positive experiences negotiating labor contracts with him. He said it likes Brannum because of his feisty activism in Ward 5. The union likes Lockridge because of his eight years on the board, Johnson said.

Though the Metropolitan Council is expected to endorse Borbely and Lockridge, Powell said it was not a done deal, as of press time Tuesday. Joslyn N. Williams , president of the council, "hasn't decided yet," Powell said. "Whoever told that was premature."

The Metropolitan Council typically endorses candidates who receive the support of two-thirds of its delegates, Powell said. But no one received that level of support, which could indicate that the members thought they were seeing a lackluster field of candidates.

So the council's executive committee directed Williams to make the endorsements by today.

Staff writer V. Dion Haynes contributed to this report.