Council watchers didn’t really expect Chairman Dave Clarke to champion difficult budget and personnel cuts—or to recuse himself from the vote on the D.C. School of Law. But they were hoping he’d show a little mettle in the fight against Mayor Marion Barry’s proposal to lease additional office space even though the city government is downsizing. After all, Clarke had advocated moving the council into the half-empty Reeves Municipal Center and unloading the dilapidated District/Wilson Building. He also mocked former Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly for the 1 Judiciary Square boondoggle. But so far, Clarke has been conflicted concerning the $48-million deal that would relocate city workers displaced by the Pollin/MCI arena in buildings owned by Barry supporter R. Donahue Peebles—a deal that will also net Barry cohort Fred Ezra a tidy $1.4 million in broker fees. At an Aug. 12 control board meeting, Clarke alternated between whining that he hadn’t received documents from Barry in time to review the leases, and belaboring the deal’s technicalities. Following the meeting, reporters began pushing him to “show some leadership” and confront the mayor on his latest sweetheart deal. At that, the chairman finally spoke his mind: “Fuck you, fuck you!” screamed Clarke. Having made himself clear, Clarke left town to vacation in the Philippines.