Wynn's Absence Doesn't Slow Edwards at Debate

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Nelson Hernandez
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, September 13, 2007

The race for the Democratic nomination in Maryland's 4th Congressional District cranked up last week with the first debate of the campaign season.

Sort of.

The Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted the lunchtime candidates forum over sizzling fajitas and plates of enchiladas at Ay! Jalisco Restaurant in Gaithersburg. At a table draped by an American flag sat attorney Donna F. Edwards, who last September came within three percentage points of knocking off Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D). George E. Mitchell, a Prince George's real estate agent also running for the seat, was there, too. Next to Edwards and Mitchell sat . . . Prince George's County Council member William A. Campos?

Noting that Congress had just come back in session, Lori Sherwood, Wynn's campaign manager, said the congressman was eager to debate but was unable to make the midday event and sent Campos (D-Hyattsville), a campaign co-chairman, in his place. Sherwood noted that Wynn has committed to taking part in at least two other debates, Nov. 8 and Jan. 3.

Still, Edwards did her best to capitalize on Wynn's absence in front of what appeared to be a largely friendly crowd. Afterward, she put out a news release claiming he was avoiding the event and said in an interview that she believes her opponent missed a good opportunity to talk to voters face to face about their concerns.

"It's unfortunate that we have passed Labor Day, and the campaign season is on . . . but we get a surrogate," she said.

Sherwood dismissed the criticism. "If he had left the Hill, the criticism would have been that he's not attending to his congressional role," she said.

On the agenda for the debate: immigration reform, small-business development and responsiveness to constituents. Campos did his best to stand in, pointing to Wynn's support for his own election as Prince George's first Latino County Council member as evidence of the congressman's sensitivity to Latino issues. Campos said Wynn has been active in supporting immigrant rights.

But Campos had to acknowledge that he was uncertain of Wynn's position when a chamber member asked about protecting homeowners facing foreclosure. And Campos could say little when chamber Chairwoman Alma E. Preciado rose to say Wynn's office has failed to respond to the chamber's attempts to reach out. Campos said he would relay the members' concerns to Wynn.

Edwards then turned to Campos and, with faux compassion, told him she understood how unfair it was to ask him to respond on Wynn's behalf. "I'm the type of candidate who will travel to every corner of her congressional district and take every question," she told the crowd.

Campos also handed Edwards a moment of spontaneous applause from the crowd when during a discussion of whether a wall should be built along the U.S.-Mexico border, he attempted to lighten the mood with a George Lopez joke.

Campos quipped: Who would build such a wall? Latino construction workers!

Following a few polite chuckles, Edwards popped in: "We can't joke, because people's lives are in danger. Their job opportunities are in jeopardy. We face serious challenges. . . . I wanted to be here to answer your questions because I want to be a leader in the United States Congress."

The comment drew strong applause, but not everyone was convinced. Chamber secretary Kenneth D. Weiss said afterward that he was impressed with Edwards's knowledge of the issues but was concerned that she seemed too serious. "Not very personable," he said. He said, too, that he could forgive Wynn's absence: "If Congress is in session, members of Congress should be there. I believe in that."

Mitchell, a Temple Hills real estate agent, continued his quest to be seen as an equal choice to Wynn and Edwards. He noted that he was not invited to take part in the event initially but was quickly added when he reminded chamber officials of his existence.

At the event, he handed out literature in Spanish and joined Edwards in criticizing Wynn for his failure to appear. However, he drew some clucks from the crowd when he advocated physically closing the border as the first step to immigration reform, including using more fencing and checkpoints.

School Board Members Make Nice

After a contentious meeting Aug. 23, the Prince George's County school board returned to a state of tranquility last week. The meeting began with an apology by John E. Deasy, the superintendent, for snapping at board member Rosalind Johnson (District 1) during a discussion of a budget reassignment.

"I'm sorry that I didn't maintain my appropriate composure," Deasy said. Johnson didn't reply, but she had made it known in an earlier interview that as far as she was concerned, the argument was over.

"Do not think I will not kick the butt of anyone who wants to take down Dr. Deasy," Johnson said at a meeting of the board's curriculum and instruction committee. "I think he is terrific."

The board then postponed its vote on a bill that would take away the student school board member's right to vote on the board chairman and vice chairman positions. Because the meeting was held in the afternoon, students affected by the bill were unable to attend and testify; the next board meeting, Sept. 20, is at the usual 7 p.m.

Deasy's staff also gave a presentation on the superintendent's idea of creating schools that offer education from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The presentation outlined several potential scenarios for the idea, which would require changes in school boundaries.

Rather than tackle such a delicate issue right away, the board opted to write a list of questions for Deasy's staff to address at the next board meeting.