D.C., Maryland and Virginia Politics

D.C., Maryland and Virginia Politics

What is the latest local political news? Who will emerge as the leading candidate in the D.C. mayor's race? What Virginia and Maryland races are heating up?

Today: Duncan, the impact of dropping out; Sims dropping in as attorney general candidate, the D.C. mayor's race and the Webb good poll numbers.

WTOP political commentator Mark Plotkin will be online Tuesday, June 27, at Noon ET to discuss local politics and whatever else is on your mind.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.

Plotkin joined WTOP after 10 years as a political analyst for WAMU radio. He has been active in D.C. and national politics since attending George Washington University in the late '60s.

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Mark Plotkin: I'm not going to let up on the emerging controversy that crack-WTOP reporter Mark Segraves will be following up on. Pierre L'Enfant has been selected by the DC Arts and Humanities commission to be honored in Statuary Hall as one of DC's illustrious departed luminaries. This is as I said before is an absolutely horrible choice and even the mayor agrees with me. Call your council member before the sculptor starts. In Maryland there will be plenty to talk about Ehrlich will be announcing tomorrow and I have the inside word on who he is going to pick as his running mate. In Virginia, what about that poll in the Wall Street Journal showing Jim Webb gaining on George Allen.

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Washington, D.C.: Who do you think will be the next mayor of Washington?

Mark Plotkin: Right now there are two front runners Linda Cropp and Adrian Fenty with I would say Marie Johns and Vincent Orange in third and Michael Brown trailing. But there is still a lot of time. Nobody is officially a candidate until their petitions are turned in. And the challenge period expires, which would be about July 17. The Democratic primary is September 12. Johns cuts in to Cropp. Fenty seems to have the best organization and the most dedicated following. Orange needs to connect outside his own ward. And Michael Brown is running sort of a "John Edwards" candidacy as he readily admits the people he's trying to appeal to are the least likely to vote. One cautionary note: In 1990, Sharon Pratt Dixon was running dead last late into the campaign. The Washington Post endorsed her repeatedly in the last two weeks, coupled with her impressive and passionate speaking style, she catapulted into first place. When she won there was literally dancing in the street.

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Anonymous: Mark,

Does anyone mistake you for Jay Leno? I seriously thought it was Jay's picture on the top of the washingtonpost.com page for your discussion.

Keep up the good work!

Mark Plotkin: No. I am not mistaken for Jay Leno. The picture of me needs to be changed. That will be rectified. In my younger days, the comparison was always Robert Redford at least that's what mother told me.

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Statue: I remember voting on the statue. Can you re-explain how this decision was made before I call my council member so I know who to be mad at? Thanks!

Mark Plotkin: There was a two step process by the DC Arts and Humanities commission. First names were requested from the DC citizenry. And then six names were the final nominees. I personally felt that Walter Washington and Joe Rauh or John Hechinger would have been great selections. The other finalists were Charles Houston, Mary Church Terrell, Sterling Brown and Fredrick Douglas was also selected. To me Pierre L'Enfant is a federal foreign contractor. Yes, he did design the city, but he is not of the city.

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NE, D.C.: What do you think that Mayor Williams will do after his term is over?

Mark Plotkin: That is really the question of the day. I have no inside information. He swears that he will not move out of town. I would not be surprised and you heard it here first, if he accepted a job in the Bush cabinet if he was asked. He could be the token Democrat. Although some feel he is not even a Democrat. I think he wanted to work at Fannie Mae, but his rabbi Frank Raines was involuntarily replaced. Now I hear he's interested in something at the World Bank or university presidency such as American University. But, I repeat I have no inside information. Nor does the mayor confide in me concerning his career plans.

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Arlington, Va.: Although I still think that he will win, it is hard for me to conjure up the senatorial achievements of George Allen, the bills he introduced and passed, the good fights fought, and the causes espoused. So, other than being a Republican, what reason would people have to vote for him -- to continue what?

Mark Plotkin: George Allen has over seven million dollars. He's never lost a state-wide race. And he is blessed with an outgoing and friendly personality. His term as governor is favorably viewed. But he beat Chuck Robb when Robb was vulnerable. And I think he realizes all too well that he can't run for president in 2008 unless he cleans Jim Webb's clock. The poll last week, which was printed in The Wall Street Journal shows Webb definitely gaining actually within five points of Allen. Virginia is still viewed as a Republican state. And that obviously helps Allen. But the entire national Democratic party establishment has targeted Allen and his bio is sufficiently strong to give Allen a race. What will be interesting to see is if the state is changing and that the victories of Warner and Kaine were not aberrations, but a trend.

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Falls Church, Va. : In 1990, Sharon Pratt Dixon was running dead last late into the campaign. The Washington Post endorsed her repeatedly in the last two weeks, coupled with her impressive and passionate speaking style, she catapulted into first place. When she won there was literally dancing in the street.

Is that really fair?

Mark Plotkin: I didn't mean in any way to diminish the victory of Sharon Pratt Dixon. That was just a description of what when on in 1990. She ran a terrific campaign. And I think should get more credit. She championed the cause of DC statehood and did the best she could with the cards we were dealt. The economic inequity is as great as our political inequity.

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Tenleytown, Washington, D.C.: What's the deal with Marie Johns and that billboard truck? It's everywhere I go, whether it's Tenleytown, Cleveland Park or Dupont.

I refuse to even consider to vote for her because of this truck. It's an eyesore and a tremendous waste of fuel -- and the pollution!

Mark Plotkin: I don't know what you are talking about, but it's an interesting observation. I'll check it out.

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RE: Next Mayor: With all due respect, you didn't answer the question. Take a stab at the winner ... Who's it gonna be?

Mark Plotkin: OK, you goaded me into it. If the election were held today, Fenty would win narrowly over Cropp. But the election is not being held today. And my hunch is just a "snapshot" in time. You know that is a favorite expression of all pollsters. And do you know that the "hedge" is their national flower?

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Ward 1: Did you ever hear back From Adrian Fenty about his staffer, Sinclair Skinner and the Jim Graham posters?

Mark Plotkin: Mark Segraves, crack-investigated reporter, has reported on this issue this afternoon on WTOP. I know he was at least working on the story. And has gotten a comment from Fenty. So, I suggest you tune into WTOP, and you'll hear the story.

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Baltimore, Md.: Now that Doug Duncan has dropped out, what do you think that Governor Ehrlich has to do in order to defeat Mayor O'Malley? What odds do you give Ehrlich of pulling it off and winning reelection in blue-state Maryland?

Mark Plotkin: Right now, the polls show O'Malley leading Ehrlich, but you can't underestimate Ehrlich's fundraising advantage. And there are powers of incumbency. O'Malley is an attractive candidate. And his candidacy was definitely greatly aided by Duncan pulling out of the race and pledging his support. No candidate wants to face a bruising primary and then an even tougher general election. The state is a Democratic state. The last time a Republican won the governorship was 1966 when Spiro Agnew beat the Democratic George "your home is your castle" Mahoney. Mahoney was the Democratic nominee because he was against open housing and won in a four person primary. O'Malley has a lot of advantages, major among them is that he is a Democrat and that the party is united now behind him. Ehrlich very well on Thursday might make a very interesting choice for Lt. governor. There is a lot speculation that he might pick the secretary of disabilities in his cabinet. A woman named Chris Cox.

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Fairfax, Va.: Ben Cardin has a huge fundraising advantage over Kweisi Mfume, but Mfume gets all the ink (and sound bites). When is Cardin going to get off his wallet and start telling voters why they should vote for him?

Mark Plotkin: Democratic leaders are worried about Cardin. Somebody told me Cardin makes Sarbanes look charismatic. But he is well financed and well known. African American voters who make up 40 percent of the Democratic primary vote are a natural constituency for Mfume. And if Cardin should win will they stay at home or even worse for Democrats vote for Michael Steele? But I agree with you, Cardin is no dynamo. Just a hardworking, smart experienced pol.

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Arlington, Va.: What do you think of Erik Gaull (candidate for Ward 3 Council seat). I saw him speak today and seemed pleasant and articulate, with a good deal of relevant experience.

Mark Plotkin: Gaull is articulate and has experience in City government. But the last time he ran, he got clobbered by Kathy Patterson. Every election is different and in a 10 part field the individual who identifies the most voters and gets them to vote for him/her on election day is the winner. It's a triumph of organization. And you can win that race probably with 2,500 votes.

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Reston, Va.: Mark,

Now that Mayor Williams' tenure as Mayor is nearing an end. How would you characterize his term(s), and how would you rate your experience as a reporter/commentator?

Mark Plotkin: First of all, I don't know how to rate my experience as a reporter/commentator. It's up to you to rate me. I do try to stay knowledgeable and express my opinions with out fear or favor. As for the mayor, I've said this before he's reestablished credibility for the city, nationally and internationally. Nat Ghandi, the CFO, has told me that there is more commercial investment in DC then any where in the world. That is a significant and imposing accomplishment. My major beef with the mayor is that he was never sufficiently committed to changing or challenging our colonial status. He always had to be prompted to bring up this issue. And there were opportunities in a very public way in what could have been an effective way to challenge the Bush administration and the Republican Congress on this issue. I think history will view him as an important and substantive transition figure.

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Washington, D.C.: It seems that you know all about the Nats new stadium and the "goings on" there. What kind of guy is Stan Kasten and is his feud with current team president, Tony Tavares, over?

Mark Plotkin: I didn't know there was a "public" feud between Kasten and Taveres. I think very highly of both of them. I think Taveres has an impossible job and he performed magnificently. And as far as I know Kasten has paid tribute to this and never said a negative word about Tony. They are different personalities. And they, I am sure have different philosophies about running the Nats. I think Kasten will be a very entertaining and interesting person to watch. In the words of George Solomon, "He surely isn't shy." We all owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Tony Tavares.

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Silver Spring, Md.: In Maryland there are some very interesting races at the State Legislative District level. Here in Silver Spring and Takoma Park we have two new candidates, Jamie Raskin for State Senate and Aaron Klein for State Delegate who are mounting pretty effective campaigns. How do you see those races playing out and do you think that Maryland could be in for some changes in the make-up of their state legislature ?

Mark Plotkin: A personal disclosure, Jamie Raskin is a friend of mine. I knew he was a politician, but I can honestly say, there isn't anybody smarter and more committed to public service. His opponent has been in a long time Ida Ruben. She has built up a following and has done a lot of favors for her constituents. Klein, I spoke to briefly a few months back and he seemed bright and ready to serve. Running for delegate in Maryland is somewhat advantageous for a newcomer because you can finish third and still be elected since most of the districts have three seats.

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