Cooper Follows Orange To Pepco

By Yolanda Woodlee and Nikita Stewart
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, April 10, 2008

D onna Cooper, director of policy for the D.C. Council, is following in her old boss's footsteps. Former council member Vincent B. Orange Sr., who represented Ward 5 for eight years, went to work for Pepco in February 2002. Cooper, who was Orange's committee clerk, has accepted a position working for him again.

Cooper will be the senior public affairs manager for the D.C. Pepco region, a position that reports directly to Orange. Orange is responsible for government affairs and public policy issues relating to the District.

Like Orange, Cooper will still work on the District's legislative issues. Orange is still spotted at the John A. Wilson Building. On Monday, he made an appearance at a council committee's hearing on a new contract for the lottery.

Cooper is the second policy staff member to leave the office, which was established by council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D). Jesse B Rauch, a policy analyst, left last month to fill the gap left by Gray's legislative counsel Nicole L. Streeter, who took a job as deputy general counsel for D.C. public schools under Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee.

Cooper worked for Orange for five years as clerk of government operations, which had oversight for 23 city agencies. Cooper, who has a doctorate in public policy and U.S. government, will serve as a liaison with government entities, business organizations and community leaders.

"Having Donna at Pepco is a great asset," Orange said. "With her unique skills set, she'll have an opportunity to do research and help us establish policy for the blueprint for the future, [including] our proposed 230-mile transmission from Northern Virginia to New Jersey."

Orange said Cooper's experience had made her an expert on many local and federal government issues.

"That experience will take her a long way in the Pepco family," he said. "She can be on the same track as a Beverly Perry, senior vice president for Pepco Holdings Inc.; Deborah Royster, deputy counsel; and Debbi Jarvis, vice president of corporate communications."

Falcicchio Going West

Speaking of departures, John Falcicchio, adviser to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), has taken a leave to work on the mayoral campaign of former NBA all-star Kevin Johnson.

Kris Deutschman, a volunteer spokeswoman for Johnson's mayoral bid in Sacramento, said in an interview Tuesday that Falcicchio "started maybe, what, three or four days ago."

The young fundraiser and field coordinator got the nickname "Johnny Business" because of his work ethic. He apparently has Fenty's blessing to share those skills with Johnson, who is challenging incumbent Heather Fargo. The primary is June 3.

Fenty hosted a fundraiser Monday afternoon for Johnson at the Woodward Building. About 35 to 40 people attended; Deutschman said she did not have a tally of how much money was raised.

Johnson, retired from the Phoenix Suns, has a tie to the District and the mayor through Rhee.

He is founder and chief executive of St. Hope, a nonprofit community development corporation that "operates St. Hope public schools, a system serving more than 1,500 students in grades pre-K-12," according to his campaign Web site.

Rhee was on the board of St. Hope until last year, when she took the chancellor's job. Johnson testified on Rhee's behalf during her confirmation hearing last year, and St. Hope was mentioned early on by Rhee as a possible operator of some of the District's failing schools under a plan to improve low-performing schools.

Thomas Gains 'Super' Powers

Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) became the latest Democrat to be elected a superdelegate, that all-powerful title that could make it or break it for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in their bids for the presidential nomination.

During the Potomac Primary in February, Thomas said he was in Clinton's camp. After Obama stomped Clinton 3 to 1 in the District, Thomas hedged a bit.

Last week, he narrowly beat Obama supporter Miriam Sapiro24 to 22 to become an unpledged delegate representing District Democrats at the national convention in Denver in August. Council member Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7) was the clear winner among 12 candidates for two superdelegate spots. She received 31 votes and has been in Obama's camp from the beginning.

"I didn't know being an unpledged delegate would make me so popular," Thomas said. "I've gotten 100, 200 calls and e-mails from the Listserves from Obama supporters."

The local committee sent out a news release last week, saying Thomas was pledging himself to Clinton. Thomas asked for a correction, which was sent Monday.

"I'm unpledged," Thomas said. "It's not political gamesmanship for me. I'm really undecided.

"I, at least, want to meet with [Obama] and see what he has to say," Thomas said. "I take this very seriously."

He said he will also listen to his constituents. That would make him for Obama, right?

"I will make a decision . . . before the Pennsylvania primary," Thomas said.

Also elected were council Chairman Vincent C. Gray and member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) as pledged party leader delegates who will cast their votes in Denver for Obama. The two ran unopposed.