Evans, Brown Raise More Than $400,000
By Nikita Stewart
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 12, 2008
D.C. Council members Jack Evans and Kwame R. Brown have raised the most campaign funds so far in the District's upcoming election, with each collecting more than $400,000, according to finance reports filed this week.
The reports, which show Evans (D-Ward 2) raising $467,486 and Brown (D-At Large) raising $408,783, also reveal their strategies for holding on to their seats.
Brown has spent almost $200,000 on consultants who he said are working on his field operation, and Evans, a longtime incumbent, has spent a large amount on introducing himself to residents new to his ward.
"I think we set a record for a ward campaign," said Evans, who was first elected in 1991 and is facing his first challenge in the Democratic primary since 2000. He is up against lawyer Cary Silverman, president of the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association, who has raised $29,044, including $5,000 in loans.
The contested race, which includes Republican Christina Culver, has Evans retooling a bit, he said.
That means yard signs, literature and meet-and-greets in homes. "It's getting to the voters," Evans said. "That's where we are spending. I don't know if you need a lot of consultants to go out and do that. You just get out and do it."
The primary is Sept. 9, followed by the November general election. To become official candidates, individuals must have nominating petitions signed and filed by July 2.
Brown, who is running citywide and is in his first term, has a different approach than Evans. Banner Consulting Services, headed by Charles D. Hawkins, an Upper Marlboro resident and treasurer of Brown's 2004 bid, has received $124,945, according to campaign finance records beginning in January.
Banner lists its address as a building on Otis Place NW. But the building houses a Papa John's.
"They are upstairs," Brown said of Banner. But the second floor appears empty, and an outside door to the second floor is filled with graffiti.
Brown later explained that Hawkins decided to rent to Papa John's about two months ago and will renovate the upstairs for Banner. Hawkins did not return a call seeking comment yesterday.
"Banner handles all of my field operations," Brown said.
He has one potential challenger in the Democratic primary, Clarence Cherry, an active PTA president.
Brown said he is looking beyond the primary at a field of potential candidates in the general election that might include independents such as activist Dee Hunter, newcomer Adam Clampitt and Michael A. Brown, son of former commerce secretary Ronald H. Brown, who died in 1996.
"To be honest, I didn't have three years to campaign like last time. I have a job to do," Kwame Brown said, referring to his council position.
In comparison, Evans has spent nearly $40,000 in consulting fees, half going to campaign manager Keith Carbone.
Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), a political legend and former mayor, has raised $108,545 in his reelection bid, significantly outpacing several grass-roots organizers in money raised and spent.
But Barry said he is taking his time. His first fundraiser was March 21. "I think it's extraordinary that we got money this quickly," he said.
He announced his decision to run just last week, although he had already paid consultants, even enlisting son Christopher for $5,000.
"He's out campaigning with me," Barry said. "He's earned his money."
Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), a longtime incumbent, said she is sticking with what has worked for her through the years: a word-of-mouth campaign based on her record, which she will kick off this summer. "I haven't raised one penny," she said. "Right now, I'm trying to get office space and fax machines and computers and a bank account.
"I just announced on Monday."
But Patrick Mara, an alternate delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive presidential nominee, said he plans to give Schwartz a run for whatever money she raises with $50,125 from the contributions of parking magnates and developers.
He said he knows he can raise more. "I definitely haven't taken advantage of the fundraising buckets," Mara said.
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