Lesser-Knowns Garner Support In D.C. Race

The District's political powerbrokers -- including members of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's Green Team and lawyers led by a former council member -- are throwing their muscle behind little-known challengers trying to unseat two incumbents on the D.C. Council.

The moves, in support of Democrats-turned-independents Mark Long and Michael Brown, add new twists in a contest that first took a major turn when Republican incumbent Carol Schwartz lost her Sept. 9 primary race to eager newcomer Patrick Mara.

This week's jockeying continues to show that there is no clear winner for Schwartz's seat, which must go to a non-Democrat. Most observers say it's clear that longtime incumbent Schwartz remains a threat as a write-in for the general election in November.

The political arm of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington sponsored a poll last week, showing that Schwartz's approval rating is higher than any other candidate in the contest. Sixty-four percent of the 595 likely voters polled had a "favorable opinion" of Schwartz, who was also the most well-known among all candidates, including popular council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large).

The seats held by Brown and Schwartz are up for grabs. Voters will be allowed to pick two candidates. In the Democrat-dominated city, challengers have focused on the seat held by Schwartz. Kwame Brown has the advantage of the party, and his popularity dissuaded potential challengers from entering the primary.

City law requires that one of the at-large seats go to a non-Democrat, so that the race essentially has shaped up as a contest between the five other candidates on the ballot and Schwartz.

The candidates have just shy of six weeks to reach voters, who according to the poll, are most concerned about improving public education, the economy and creating jobs. The poll of likely November voters was conducted by phone Sept. 18 through 20.

DC Legal PAC, the political action committee of the trial lawyers, said it did not sponsor the poll on behalf of any one candidate and is not going to make an endorsement, said former council member William Lightfoot, a member of the PAC's board of directors.

But he said "many prominent attorneys will support him [Michael Brown] because of this poll. . . . Michael Brown certainly can win the election."

Michael Brown, a lobbyist, dropped out of the 2006 mayoral race and lost a 2007 special election for the council's Ward 4 seat. But his name is familiar to the public.

The relatively little-known Long, an education consultant and Ward 7 resident, has recently gone on a sign blitz, blanketing downtown. Observers have been abuzz about Fenty supporters moving into his camp.

Ben Soto, Fenty's friend and campaign treasurer, said, "We're childhood friends."