Mayor Vince Gray has a new D.C. Council chairman to work with, or clash with, as the case may be.

And at an event touting the District’s new social media initiative this afternoon, Gray tried his best to get things off to a good start between his administration and new Wilson Building heavyweight Phil Mendelson, who was appointed by the council to the job Gray used to have. (Mendelson, of course, filled the vacancy left behind by former Chairman Kwame Brown, who resigned last week and pleaded guilty to bank fraud and campaign finance violations.)

Gray’s thoughts on Mendo and the council vote:

I give them high marks on selecting someone who I think will do an excellent job. I worked with Phil Mendelson my entire time on the council and I’ll tell you, you’re not going to find anybody more hard-working than Phil Mendelson. Many people know my work habits, which are, uh, late into the night. There were many nights when I left that building as a chief council member, as a council chair, and now as mayor, that Phil Mendelson is still in that building working, so they will get an earnest effort from him, from someone who is very experienced.

What Gray didn’t comment on, perhaps not surprisingly: Whether Mendelson would make a good mayor, which is what he’d be if Gray leaves office before his term ends in 2015.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery