Brown Back in Politics, Yet Again

Like flowers in springtime, Michael A. Brown is a perennial occurrence, at least when it comes to running for political office.

Brown made an eleventh-hour exit from the 2006 mayoral race, endorsing Linda W. Cropp, who lost the Democratic nomination to Adrian M. Fenty. Last year, Brown lost a special election in Ward 4 to replace Fenty (D) on the D.C. Council.

Brown filed Tuesday to run as an independent for a council at-large seat this fall.

"I care about this city. That's first of all," said Brown, 42, son of the late Ron Brown, secretary of commerce. "I think my skill set can be helpful."

Is he fearful the city could be suffering from Michael Brown fatigue?

"I'm not tired," he said. "I'm ready to go again."

But he's not ready to go against council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) again. With a key endorsement from Fenty, who surely remembered Brown's endorsement of Cropp, Bowser beat Brown in last year's special election. Although Bowser is up for reelection, Brown has assessed his chances and decided he would have better odds against the two at-large members who are seeking reelection: Carol Schwartz (R) and Kwame R. Brown (D).

Michael Brown, a lobbyist, said he will run as an independent.

"I didn't want to take on Kwame in the [Democratic] primary," he said. "That would be messy."

Brown said he was encouraged to run by two committees that concluded he "can be helpful in all wards."

Newcomer Adam Clampitt and Dee Hunter, who lost a 2002 bid for Ward 1 council member, also have announced their intentions to run for at-large. Voters will select two, including one who must be a non-Democrat under the city's election laws created to be fair to minority parties.

As candidates are lining up, an official list will not emerge until nominating petitions are picked up May 9.