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In Politics, Time Is Everything

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"It's really simple," Sydney Brooks said. "I really like Michael Brown, and I think he should be on the council."

Brooks said she and her husband were friends of Brown's father.

The fourth host was Zdenka Gast, who owns a construction company in western New York. In April 1996, Gast was traveling in Croatia with a U.S. delegation headed by Brown's father, then-Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown, when the plane carrying Brown crashed, killing all aboard. Gast had decided to fly that part of the trip in another plane, according to news reports.

Michael Brown said Gast owns a home in Georgetown and has been a longtime friend. In previous election cycles, Gast contributed to Republicans, including Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-N.Y.) and President Bush.

"I'm competing against a candidate that has a mayor's financial backing," said Brown, referring to Bowser.

Brown, who ran against Fenty for mayor, said that Fenty's involvement in the race has raised the stakes on raising money and forced him to fundraise outside the ward.

Brown said he will have a fundraiser in Bethesda tonight and has plans for events in New York, Miami and Los Angeles in coming weeks.

Staff writer Elissa Silverman contributed to this report.


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