Fenty's Mode On Schools Is Breeding Alienation

"This time was the first major pushback," said Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5), whose district has the most schools slated for closure: seven. Thomas will hold a hearing tonight on the closings.

Fenty attempted some damage control, dropping by unannounced to chat with Thomas and Gray on Thursday.

In an interview, Fenty rejected the notion that he has been dismissive of the council, saying his plan to brief them before making the news public was undercut by a Washington Post story Wednesday morning that revealed specifics.

Asked why he and Rhee did not ask residents or council members for input before developing their list of schools, Fenty explained that Rhee must act without concern of political pressure. "I said to the chancellor: 'We need a plan to fix schools. You put together a plan free of any factors except what's best for kids,' " Fenty said. He added that parents will be able to weigh in during nine public hearings this month.

As for the council, Fenty, who spent six years as a member from Ward 4, said, "I not only respect but appreciate the role of the council."

Tony Bullock, who served as spokesman for former mayor Anthony A. Williams (D), said Fenty recognizes that residents don't want their elected officials "wasting a lot of time sitting around chitchatting." But, he added, the mayor should work to keep the council on his side, lest members try to block his initiatives.

As frustrated as some council members have been, they have seldom exercised their displeasure from the dais. Last spring, Gray temporarily delayed the appointment of Victor A. Reinoso as a deputy mayor. But if anything, the council has helped Fenty consolidate power. In addition to handing him the schools, it also allowed him to take over two independent city planning agencies.

The council's support has been influenced by Fenty's unprecedented sweep of all 142 voting precincts in last year's election. The council, some members acknowledge, must walk a fine line of challenging the mayor while avoiding the appearance that it is obstructing progress.

Fenty has also wielded his political capital to win support. He endorsed Bowser in her bid to replace him on the council; helped raise money for Evans, who faces reelection next year; and supported Catania's proposal to bail out financially strapped Greater Southeast Community Hospital. Those three members have been among Fenty's most consistent boosters.

Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), who voted against the takeover and has been a vocal critic of Fenty, said the council's pushback last week could become a defining moment.

"The mayor's testiness was a surprise. I think the criticism from some of the allies was also a surprise," Mendelson said, adding that members must decide "whether the council . . . is willing to put up with this kind of governance. If the members are willing to continue to be an afterthought, that's how it will work for the next few years."

Fenty's dust-up with Barry (D-Ward 8) and Graham (D-Ward 1) was especially notable because they were the only two council members to endorse his mayoral bid. Last week, Barry said Fenty is "acting like a dictator. He doesn't bring us in unless he needs us."

Graham said his relationship with Fenty remains cordial but added that he thought he asked a "legitimate question" at the breakfast meeting.

"My whole point was simply to get a legal interpretation of whether we had legal authority over these school closings," Graham said. "Then it sort of went downhill from there. I don't know why."

Fenty said he has no regrets about how he rolled out his school-closings plan. Harkening to his campaign, Fenty said residents were clear that his priority must be to improve public education as quickly as possible.

"In many ways, this is still a connection to that overwhelming tidal wave of outpouring of 'Fix the schools,' " he said. "People want us to fix the schools almost by any means necessary because it's taken so long."