Funds Pour Into Races for D.C. Council
Evans, Brown Raise More Than $400,000
TOOLBOX   Resize Text
 Save/Share +
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
|
Thursday, June 12, 2008; Page B01
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.
