Fenty's Missteps Will Follow Him All the Way To Election Day

No one benefited more than District Mayor Adrian M. Fenty when the latest controversy erupted this past week over D.C. Council member Marion Barry. Barry's romantic difficulties were a welcome distraction from a string of recent embarrassments for the mayor. In just the past 2 1/2 weeks, his administration has come under fire for a scandal in the summer jobs program, another escape from the city's spanking-new youth detention facility, and mishandling the Red Line crash's aftermath.

In addition, the revelation that Barry (D-Ward 8) gave his then-girlfriend a city contract allowed Fenty (D) to put his political rivals on the D.C. Council, especially Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D), on the defensive. D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles, a key Fenty lieutenant, pushed successfully for the council to overcome its fear of offending Barry and his supporters and investigate the potential misuse of taxpayers' money.

The respite for Fenty will be short-lived. The remaining 17 1/2 months of his four-year term promises to be a sour period, dominated by struggles with a widening budget deficit, stalled economic development and growing political challenges.

Moreover, Fenty's image as an engaged, energetic official focused on helping constituents, long one of his most valuable assets, is eroding. It has suffered from a series of mini-scandals, including Fenty's allowing a friend to drive his city-issued SUV in violation of the law, the installation of a $75,000 heater at a public pool that he uses to prepare for his triathlons and having a petty battle with the council over temporarily withholding their tickets to Nationals baseball games.

"I think I made a lot of mistakes, and I think they're all my fault," Fenty said in an interview Tuesday in the open, light-filled "bullpen" area in the Wilson Building where he sometimes works alongside his aides. But he said he hoped the voters will reward him anyway when he seeks reelection next year, citing what he said were improved public services, especially in the schools and police work.

Other ambitious politicians in the city are watching closely as they decide whether to run for mayor themselves. Gray, in particular, has the potential to become a strong challenger. Although he lacks Fenty's personal flair and media savvy, he is building an effective staff and personal expertise on policy issues.

Gray wants to strengthen the council's role in governing the city, partly to shore up his own political base and partly to offset what many on the council see as Fenty's high-handedness. He wants to exercise greater oversight over school reform and organize a summit to develop a long-term economic strategy for the city.

From Fenty's perspective, the Barry probe might seem like sweet comeuppance, because he's been at odds with the council over its desire to investigate his administration. In April, Nickles blocked council inquiries into the city's donation of a firetruck and ambulance to a town in the Dominican Republic and into alleged fraud in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer.

Many on the council are frustrated by what they see as lack of cooperation from the mayor's office, especially in making officials available for hearings. Fenty denied that there was a problem, saying relations with the council are "going fantastic." Gray pointedly did not share that view: "There certainly have been challenges and difficulties in council-mayor relations."

Those relations will be tested in coming weeks as the two sides wrestle over how to eliminate the $340 million deficit that's opened up in the next two years' budgets. Fenty said it was premature to discuss specifics but that residents will see improved public services, despite any cuts, because the city has become more efficient.

On other recent controversies, Fenty has fired five corrections workers at the New Beginnings Youth Center in Laurel, saying they were negligent in allowing two escapes from the city-run facility. The city also terminated a contract with a job placement firm for mishandling assignments for youths in the city's summer jobs program.

Regarding the Metro crash, Fenty said he should have explained more clearly to the public that the city was in charge of rescue and recovery efforts immediately after the crash. He was faulted for being too visible at some early media conferences. He also said a city representative was present at all the victims' memorial services; critics, however, said that in some cases they didn't stay until the end.

Looking ahead to next year's reelection campaign, Fenty said he was preparing for a "crowded race," but that might be wishful thinking. Potential rivals -- including Gray and council members Michael A. Brown (I-At Large) and Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) -- are said to be planning that just one would oppose him.

Fenty will be hard to beat. He has plenty of money, and his political skills remain formidable. But in the run-up to the race, he's going to need to elevate his performance, especially on money issues, and end the missteps, however minor, that have hurt his reputation.

SAUCE FOR THE GANDER

Opponents of D.C. voting rights have cited the latest Barry incident as evidence that the District isn't ready for democracy. Now we learn that the wealthy parents of Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), one of the leading opponents of D.C. voting rights, gave $96,000 to a staffer, who was then his mistress, and to her family. It wasn't taxpayer funds, as in Barry's case, but hey, Barry doesn't have rich parents to help him out. Seems to me the critics ought to be consistent and urge taking away Nevada's senators and representatives.

E-mail me at robertmccartney@washpost.com.