Fenty Trounces Foes in Mayoral Race

"I don't think everyone realizes just how much energy he has," said the Rev. Anthony Evans, associate minister of Mount Zion Baptist Church, who voted for Fenty. "Now the city will realize it. He's a marked improvement on Williams. He's more hands-on."

The mayor's race this year gave voters a stark choice between Cropp, 58, who spent 26 years in elected office, and Fenty, whose service consists of six years on the council.

Marion Barry won four terms as mayor with his man-of-the-street image; Sharon Pratt won in 1990 as an outsider with new ideas; and Williams won in 1998 as the bow-tied technocrat who would rescue the finances of a bankrupt city. But Fenty's appeal was a mix of all three.

Young, handsome, biracial, Fenty went door-to-door nearly every night for more than a year to establish his populist credentials. He pledged to eschew fractious, insider politics in favor of hard work, new energy and creative ideas.

While Cropp cast herself as best-suited to carry on the economic turnaround begun under Williams, Fenty said he will build on Williams's legacy by tackling remaining social problems, such as schools and poverty.

"I was impressed that he knocked on my door; I don't remember someone doing that since Marion Barry," said Juanita Glover, 69, a resident of the Woodridge neighborhood in Ward 5 who voted for Fenty. "He'll make a good mayor because he keeps the needs of people in mind."

Yet Fenty, known as a lone wolf on the 13-member council, will be tested in his new role to develop consensus and push his agenda forward. His proposal to take control of schools, which could mean turning the elected school board into an advisory panel, already has been criticized by some community activists.

How Fenty will work with Gray, who has spent only two years on the council, and several new members is unclear. Gray, whose campaign slogan was "One City," made his own journey through the District yesterday and will announce details of his plans this week.

Gray, who turns 64 today, once directed the city's Human Services Department and, like Fenty, has pledged to tackle the city's social problems. Coming from Ward 7, Gray also has made a point to talk about ensuring that the government addresses concerns of residents east of the Anacostia River.

He and most other council members have said they will wait to see a specific plan before making up their minds on Fenty's school takeover plans.

"I want to see the proposal," Gray said last night, celebrating his victory at Clyde's of Gallery Place. "It's nothing I have a position on."

But yesterday, some residents already were looking to Fenty for cues. After he arrived at a polling place in Mount Pleasant, Kassie Rempel, 33, approached him with a question: Who should she vote for in the school board race?

Fenty led Rempel away from reporters gathered on the sidewalk and spoke with her in private. Rempel, who has a 9-month-old baby, said education is the most important issue to her but would not reveal what Fenty told her.

In any case, she said, she plans to support Fenty if he moves to take over the school system.

"If he thinks that's the best plan," Rempel said, "I'm going to trust him."