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Last year, when At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange won the special election, then-Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. showed up to make nice. Thomas had supported Orange’s opponent, Sekou Biddle, but came to Orange’s victory party to congratulate his fellow Ward 5-er and pose for pictures.
LL left that party relatively early, but heard Mayor Vince Gray, who had also backed Biddle, came late to the party to congratulate Orange, as well.
What a difference a year makes. Thomas is almost certainly headed to prison, and most pols are in everyman/everywoman-for-themselves mode as the Wilson Building nervously waits to see if (or is it when?) the other shoe drops in the federal investigations of Gray and Council Chairman Kwame “Fully Loaded” Brown.
This year, the only pol LL saw at Orange’s almost-victory party (he’s likely to beat Biddle again, but the votes are too close to make it official) was Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, who was the only sitting councilmember to give Orange a formal endorsement. Graham made a brief appearance at the shindig, leaving before Orange even showed up.
Meanwhile at Biddle’s party in Park View, LL’s bosses spied Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser, who made a quick pitstop before heading right back out the door. Ward 6 Councilmartyr Saint Tommy Wells, who endorsed Biddle, was also there.
As for Brown, LL’s heard he hit the parties of each of the winning incumbents who cakewalked to victory: Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, Bowser, Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander, and Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry.
LL didn’t see Brown at Orange’s party.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons