D.C., Maryland and Virginia Politics

D.C., Maryland and Virginia Politics

WTOP political commentator Mark Plotkin was online Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss local politics and whatever else is on your mind.

The transcript follows.

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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Rockville, Md.: Wasn't Kristin Cox slated to appear on your radio show yesterday? Why was she a no-show? What should I as a potential voter take away from her apparent inability to keep a commitment?

Mark Plotkin: I'm very glad you asked this question. I got a official confirmation that Kristin Cox would be on the show on Monday. Then, when she did not appear at the appointed hour, we called the office and they said it was supposed to be the following Monday. I do not sincerely believe that. I believe something else came up and they decided to use this subterfuge. They will deny this, but I think this is the case. We have been told that she will be in this coming Monday on WTWP 107.7 FM, 1500 AM. She wanted to call in last Monday and we told her that was unacceptable. So she will be coming in person in studio this coming Monday. Thanks again for asking the question.

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Petworth, D.C.: Mark--For as much as D.C. residents rant and rave about not having congressional representation, we sure do put up with a lack of representation in our local executive branch. There is not a state in the Union that would put up with its governor being AWOL for two years like we've put up with Tony Williams' latch-key mayoralty. At this point, he's not just disengaged--he's not earning his $155,000 paycheck. No state would accept this from its governor. While the fight for congressional representation is a long slog, right now I'd be happy if my locally elected mayor showed up to work regularly.

Mark Plotkin: I couldn't agree with you more. The Mayor in the words of three council members has "checked out." He views these travels as being part of his official duties. The last few trips in no way fit into that description. He should have spent time traveling in this country, lining up votes for Congressional representation, but that's not exotic enough.

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Annandale, Va.: What are your thoughts on Mark Warner not running for president in 2008?

Mark Plotkin: I think Mark Warner will run for Governor again. He expressed to me that the Senate no longer interested him. He didn't want to be one of a hundred. I don't think he would mind being asked to be a running mate for a Democratic candidate.

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Catonsville, Md.: Now that you've had a chance to interview Kristen Cox, can you update your views on her candidacy? Specifically, am I wrong to think she is not at this time qualified to be lieutenant governor, and cast my vote accordingly? She acknowledged as much in the Sunday Wash. Post Style Section article. Or is that par for the course in these situations?

Mark Plotkin: I answered this before, Kristin Cox did not show up on Monday. She says she will show up this coming Monday. I will directly ask her to state her qualifications and inquire why Governor Ehrlich never used the word "qualified" to describe her. As far as I know, this will be the first in-depth in person interview in the Washington area for Cox.

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Arlington, Va.: The Post's poll numbers were amazing! Given the split in opinions and other issues between Northern VA and the rest of the state, do you see secession coming in the near future?

Mark Plotkin: Secession, that's a provocative concept. I'll have to give that some play. Northern Virginia is becoming less like the rest of Virginia. It casts one third of the state's votes. George Allen lives in Northern Virginia, as does Webb. It'll be interesting to see if Webb can really pile up huge margins here. By the way, I've given Allen an opportunity to appear and talk to residents of Northern Virginia on the Politics Program and I have not heard back from his campaign manager.

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Washington, D.C.: Mark,

Most of the current crop of candidates for the D.C. school board support Superintendent Clifford B. Janey's rigorous new academic standards and his plan to renovate more than 100 schools. Question: how long does Janey have to see his "rigorous new academic standards" applied? He's probably gone by early spring. Personally, I don't see what he has done to earn his annual quarter million dollars. Apparently the mayor elect agrees. Any chance at all he stays?

Mark Plotkin: I neglected to ask Fenty about Janey, but after the election I definitely will. Fenty's trip to New York surely signals his determination to take over the schools. Mark Segraves, in his excellent reports (he faithfully reads all these things, that's why I mentioned his name at least once) on WTOP, said that Fenty was going to bring up the entire council to New York to see for themselves their operation. I know there is widespread unease about Janey and the speed in which he has moved. But a new superintendent search would take time and lead to charges of instability. Fenty just wants him to report to him rather than the board, which would be reduced to the role of advisory.

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Baltimore, Md.: Where does Martin O'Malley stand on gay marriage? I can not find it anywhere on his Web site. Thank you for the help

Mark Plotkin: I don't know his position, but he'll be on WTWP 107.7 FM, 1500 AM on October 30 and I'll ask him.

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Fort Washington, Md.: Michael Steele's sister used to be married to Mike Tyson? Wow. I'm not sure I consider that much of a recommendation, though.

Mark Plotkin: I really don't think who your sister married has anything to do with your fitness for office. Having Mike Tyson as your brother-in-law would have been interesting, to say the least. I just wish Michael Steele would come on WTWP for a hour as I have repeatedly invited him. You would think he would want that hour to make his views known to Montgomery and Prince George's County voters, but still no Steele.

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Springfield, Va.: If Davis runs to replace Sen. Warner in 2008, who is the likely Republican to try to follow him - Albo?

Mark Plotkin: There will be a whole host of candidates. Jerry Connelly being at the top of the list. I'm going to ask Tom Davis on Friday when he's on the show about his own Senatorial ambitions. Or you ask him.

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D.C. Agency: This is from a D.C. agency, where I've worked for 7 years.

Not only has the mayor "checked out," but more than a few of his agency directors have checked out as well, and I don't mean with official resignations (e.g. Atty. General Spagnoletti.)

I'm disappointed the media aren't exploring this story. We don't get to check out of paying our D.C. taxes.

Mark Plotkin: First of all I think the Mayor signaled his departure way too early. He was a lame duck before it was necessary and you can't blame the agency heads for leaving the ship, they have their own careers to think about.

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Anonymous: What do you think of Anthony Brown - Mayor O'Malley's running mate? Is he qualified for the job and has he stood you up and then fibbed about it like the Republican candidate? It seems hard to believe that she missed the day of the interview. I heard it mentioned several times on your radio station. Are she and her staff so out of touch or disorganized?

Mark Plotkin: I really think the Cox people just decided to fabricate their reasons for not showing and it made me very angry. Or as you pointed out, they are out of touch and disorganized. Anthony Brown I had on a few months ago, he was obviously chosen because he lives in Prince Georges County and that's where the most Democrats live. He has a military background, served in Iraq, is a Harvard trained lawyer, and a popular legislator. I wasn't blown away by the interview, he seemed a bit scripted and didn't say many things that were memorable. I think they motto for gubernatorial is to pick a Lieutenant Governor who will do no harm. They definitely wanted to pick a capable and attractive African American.

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Northern Va.: You want Allen or any other candidate on your show - why not just threaten to give their opponent an hour of free air time if they refuse to appear? Make the same deal for all candidates - including the green party - and I'll bet they all arrive with flowers!

Mark Plotkin: I have done that, but it has not moved the following candidates. Steele is the second worst offender. He did, in all fairness, offer to come on in April, but I thought that was too early. The worst offender and the most disrespectful of his constituents is Frank Wolf. Wolf told me that they didn't have any time, that they were "stressed" and my problem with Wolf too is that he is a champion of human rights in all spots throughout the world, except in his own backyard, D.C. Congressman Tom Davis has asked him to be a co-sponsor on the D.C. Voting Rights Bill, but Wolf refuses. He's running as a self-satisfied incumbent and I think Judy Feder is giving him a surprising race. I went out to see both candidates in Great Falls last week and I was stunned that Wolf never mentioned Iraq and what his thoughts were on that subject.

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Herndon, Va.: Social security and reform of other entitlement programs is the sleeping giant that no national politician wants to touch. We have some idea of Allen's position, but where does Webb stand? I'm sick of commissions and more "paralysis by analysis"

Mark Plotkin: These are big issues that politicians run for cover from. George Bush did put a proposal on Social Security and the public soundly rejected it. Allen never brings it up. Webb does bring up the economic disparity in the country. He sounds like a real populist, which might not go so well in the Old Dominion. Breaking story, crack investigative reporter Mark Segraves has the real low down on the D.C. parking stadium issue and you should tune into WTOP 103.5 FM to hear it. Segraves insists I interrupt my normally scheduled hour with you to promote his stories. Please excuse this interjection. But in this case, it is a valid interruption.

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Washington, D.C.: Mark,

Is developer Herb Miller's plan for mixed use development around the baseball stadium dead in the water? And, if so, do the Lerners appear to have any idea of making the stadium not look exactly like RFK transposed onto the Anacostia, surrounded by parking lots and zero development?

Mark Plotkin: Listen to Segraves report which I think Segraves himself wrote this question. He's shameless, but he has done some good reporting.

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Washington, D.C.: What do you have to say about the 5-6 School Board race--Marc Borbely, Lisa Raymond, and Stephanie Baldi. Is one ahead of the others? Does one seem like they would be a better SB member than the others?

Also--Is Will Cobb running as a write-in against Tommy Wells for the Ward 6 Council seat? Does he--or for that matter, Tony Williams (R)--have a chance?

Mark Plotkin: Tommy Wells will win big in Ward 6. He won the Democratic nomination in September and that's all he needed. I've spoken to Marc Borbely and I understand he's done some good work in this field. Segraves is going to do some debates on school board races on WTWP. Tony Williams is a Republican and the Republican party cannot win a Ward seat. He is the son of Juan Williams and is young and bright, but suffers from a party label that just won't get him elected.

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Tenleytown, D.C.: So, how do you feel about the possibility of a Republican holding the Ward 3 Council seat?

Mark Plotkin: Won't happen. The Ward is overwhelmingly Democratic. Mary Cheh ran a strong race and beat all her Democratic opponents by over two to one. Conroy is a sign, I don't know anything else about her. For a Republican to win in a Ward race because of the registration figures, they need to be a household name with a great history, or spend hundred of thousands of dollars. The fact of life is that Republicans are seven percent of the registered voters in D.C. That's an enormous hill to climb. The Republican party is a social club, not a political party in this city. I wish it was more, it would help on the Hill. The only elected Republican Carol Schwartz won't even support the Republican running for Mayor. That says it all.

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Pentagon, Arlington, Va.: Webb has stated that he would try to solve Iraq diplomatically, even if that meant negotiating with Iran and Syria. Would he also negotiate with Hamas and Hezbollah to try to break the stalemate in the Middle East?

Mark Plotkin: I don't know, but I will ask him that question when he appears on WTWP Radio on Friday, October 27th. It's a good question.

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Washington, D.C.: Mark,

The probable mayor, Democratic nominee Adrian M. Fenty, wants to take over the school system and possibly turn the board into an entirely appointed one. And yet, we are now having debates by candidates for school board positions. Question: Will this be the last school board election?

By the way, nearly all candidates agreed that the school board should remain (what would you expect?) independent. Why does their opinion matter at this juncture. Fenty won heavily in all precincts and appears to know where he is headed, education-wise.

Mark Plotkin: The elections for school board wouldn't end, but the role of the board would be advisory in a Fenty administration. So you would have, I would think, far fewer candidates. For the board to assume that role, the Home Rule Charter would have to be amended and that would take Congressional approval. I think Fenty is very serious about this change and it will be the first thing he will be working on.

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Washington, D.C.: I know I'm going to regret asking this because we've disagreed on it in the past, but here goes...last week at the Hoya media day, JTIII seemed pretty open to playing Maryland or any other school in the area. And on Dave Sheinin's blog on The Post Web site, there's a lot of talk that some of the blame for a matchup never happening falls at the feet of John Feinstein, who more or less runs the BB&T, Gary Williams and others for issues over who would play when, etc. I know you're as passionate about GW as I am about G'town...what is the straight dope on this one?

Mark Plotkin: I really wish I had some inside information. John Thompson Junior engaged in outright dishonesty when he denied having a conversation with me at Cafe Deluxe last winter with Kojo Nmandi witnessing where he said that GW was afraid to play Georgetown. I know Council member Jack Evans has sent a letter to both Presidents of each university, but still no game. I know that Steve Tratchenberg has written the president of Georgetown University. Georgetown just doesn't want to play anybody out of conference who they think they might lose to. The old man John Thompson Senior who gets over $400,000 a year still at Georgetown is the prime nay-sayer for any game. For a guy who grew up in D.C. he still has a chip on his shoulder. And his son doesn't have the guts to take on his dad on this issue. I've been told this by a very high ranking official at Georgetown, so I'm just not making it up. As for Feinstein's role, I don't know. I do know that Feinstein wanted to get Georgetown in during the December Tournament from the very beginning and this city school refused to join. That's their community spirit. They should be ashamed of themselves. Gary Williams cares about this area and participated from the very beginning. The proceeds go to charity, but that didn't mean anything to Georgetown. They just thought of themselves. Shame on them.

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Montgomery County, Md.: Mark, what do you think of the races in Montgomery County? The County Council and the House of Delegates? Any surprises ahead on election day?

Mark Plotkin: No, I don't think there will be any surprises. The real race to watch on the county council is between Howie Dennis and Roger Berliner. I'm going to try to get them in before election day.

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Annandale, Va.: In response to Springfield, I hear that Mrs. Tom Davis, aka Senator Jeanmarie Devolities-Davis, is the likely candidate to replace him in the House.

Mark Plotkin: I'll ask Tom that on Friday. Thanks for the tip. See you all next Tuesday, same time same place.

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