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Old-style mayors since home rule

Jul 13, 2008 5:28 AM (92 days ago) by Michael Neibauer, The Examiner
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Related Topics: Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. (Map, News) - Walter E. Washington

Washington was elected by D.C. residents in 1975 following seven years as the District’s presidentially appointed mayor-commissioner. The 1948 Howard University Law School graduate, a tireless advocate for D.C. rights, was key to the development of the Home Rule structure of government the city knows today. Washington died in 2003.

Marion S. Barry Jr.

Barry defeated Washington in 1978 and went on to serve as mayor through 1991 and then again from 1995 to 1999, earning him the nickname “Mayor for Life.” A product of the Deep South and a civil rights activist, Barry first moved to D.C. in 1965 to open a chapter of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. His election brought hope, but his later years in office were marred by rising crime, failing finances, corruption scandals and his arrest on drug charges. He currently represents Ward 8 on the D.C. Council.

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Sharon Pratt

Pratt, ex-wife of D.C. Councilman Arrington Dixon, was elected mayor in 1990 by promising to clean house and reduce the size of government. She was a champion of D.C. voting rights, but her tenure was defined by financial failings, including the infamous “fifth quarter” that her administration invented to create an artificial surplus in 1993.

Anthony A. Williams

Williams, the District’s chief financial officer during the second Barry administration, was essentially drafted as a mayoral candidate by the upscale Hillcrest community in Ward 7. During his two terms, Williams emphasized economic development, cleaning up some of the most dysfunctional government agencies, and wresting D.C.’s finances from federal control. An intellectual and a world traveler, the Yale-educated Williams — who was advised at campaign time by Barack Obama’s chief strategist, David Axelrod — was often accused of ignoring the redevelopment of black neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River in favor of big money projects near downtown, such as the Washington Nationals ballpark. He vehemently disagreed.

Michael Neibauer

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Comments from Examiner Readers

4:58 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 17, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

fedupcitizen said:
Detroits council is the exactly like district, they won't do their job either. Fenty is a total jerk and he has a Michael Bloomberg fixation well guess what bald man you are not a rich white man.Get over it you 1 term mayor.

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4:42 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 17, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

fedupcitizen said:
I agree with everything my fellow citizens are saying.Fenty could not stand better yet shine Obama shoes. Fenty is an arrogant incompetent jerk and I wish his term was up now he has destroyed this city. When he place Nichols in has acting attorney general whose only words are I don't care if we get sued! !! First of all this old crypt keeper still lives in Virginia. How can he continue to respresent this city? I am very angry with the citizens of D.C. because you allowed this to happen first of all you elected him not the other way around it is our tax dollars that is paying him. Tell me what exactly is a body person? Is this is personal assistance? or what!!!! Remember this just because he your hand shakes your hand doesn't mean he doesn't have a knife ready to stab you with the other one. All I can say is Obama has to much class to allow this low-life in his cabinet. Also Vincent Gray would not get my vote for dog catcher. Can we say Kwame Kilpatrick and Detroits inept council.

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10:57 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 16, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Calvin H. Gurley said:
And Vincent [one city] Gray is just as incompetent when he leaves his OVERSIGHT responsibility at the door and allows Adrian Fenty to emulate a George Bush type of governance. How dare you brown nose fenty when Michelle Rhee refused to allow parent to have in early review of the D.C.Public school budget review! Michelle Rhee being "put in her place" by the students at Wilson HS. when Rhee put the entire school on lock-down at lunch time. When Rhee allowed young adults into the same classrooms with younger children at Wilson H.S. and bullying began to occur on the younger classroom students. Michael Neibrauer you will never win the Edward Murrow award by writing articles in an attempt to brown nose Adrian Fenty. INCOMPETENT Adrian fEnty is only similar to Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick that both men inexperience, immaturity and drunk on mayoral power have done them in. Calvin H. Gurley

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10:48 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 16, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Calvin H. Gurley said:
However, Fenty failed to fire CFO Ghandi for his lack of managing the Tax Office and has yet to fire Ms.BoBo director in charge of the troubled Child Care Services dept. Fenty and Vincent Gray signed off on a $90,000 salary increase for CFO Ghandi in the heart to Tax and revenue scandal ...JUST TO HAVE THE U.S.CONGRESS SLAMMING IT BACK IN THEIR FACES!!! Young, inexperienced and irresponsible and immatured Adrian Fenty childish behavior has him neglecting the repair of D.C. fire hydrants because he has no Man-ish responsibility or reasoning to repair hydrants to protect our children, people and property [even though the money spent to repair hydrantsis not immediately realized]. Michael Neibrauer…I will not forgive you for this deceptive article which you are trying to win favorite with Adrian Fenty.

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10:28 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 16, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Calvin H. Gurley said:
Michael…brown nosing Adrian Fenty is just what George demanded of our country’s media if you [media] wanted a press pass from the president. Has Fenty pushed you out of his press corp??? Duck Tape George when our nation is experiencing a code red with a threat of gas contamination is similar to Adrian Fenty /Chief Lanier invasion of homes by conducting home searches of citizens. Adrian Fenty Blockading neighborhood blocks…Nazi tactic is so much George. Adrian Fenty has no character he does not know who he is…put Adrian is good at plagiarism…stealing the South Carolina school system improvement plan…or was that his deputy Reinoso? Not racial…how dare you Michael and Walters even bring this into the article. Baby Doc Fenty attempting to woo and win favorite with Whites by immediately firing low income Black employees: Blumberg Georgetown street murder EMS employee, death of an infant due alleged social worker over load of cases, firing Office DCPS Central Office emplo

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10:24 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 16, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Calvin H. Gurley said:
Mr. Michael Neibauer you are a big disappointment and our trusting citizens know you are brown nosing Adrian Fenty. Neibauer…Adrian Fenty is no Barrack Obama; only that both are mulattoe. Fenty has no oratory skills and his charisma is based upon the writers of the Washington Post, Examiner and Washington Times newspaper. Adrian Fenty is emulating George Bush. And, you darn well know it. Neibauer you can not twist the minds of the people ONLY YOU CAN CORRECT D.C.’S PAST HISTORY. George Bush debt of the country is similar to Adrian Fenty paying $500,000 a month for a dilapidated building [$6 million a year] , that is not occupied but was slated to be the new D.C. Police headquarters. Little Caesar Fenty is building two useless Convention Center hotels when the Gaylord Resort and Harbor has stolen trade shows, conventions and associations bookings from the D.C. Convention Center. Even the National Baseball team is having their fundraiser for children at the Gaylord

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8:19 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 14, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Examiner Reader said:
Ready for vincent gray: that's an interesting statement because i too have respected Mr. Gray for all of his years of service. He has the knowledge as well. But I'm disappointed. His votes regarding education have been proven to be disaterous. The mayoral takeover was a mistake. At will employees was a mistake when there was a process in place to remove poor performing employees. Innocent people were affected. Now the spending for schools is out of control. Now that the damage has been done the coucil cannot work their way out of this one. i feel better if they admitted that they made a mistake.

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7:06 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 14, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Examiner Reader said:
Hopefully, Obama does not disappoint me as Fenty has within his tenure. Fenty should spend more time understanding the young, old and experienced. Fenty believes that the only way you are loyal is if you are apart of is fraternity or 22 years old. Barry was loyal to those that were loyal to the cause. I am ready for Vincent Gray.

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2:09 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 14, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Examiner Reader said:
There is no comparison. Fenty will never hold a candle to Obama and hopefully Obama will not bring him inot his adminsitration as I am sure fenty is SECRETLY hoping for.

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11:54 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 14, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Examiner Reader said:
I think it is deplorable to make a correlation to Fenty and Obama. Obama's character, integrity and vision for our country should stand on it's own. There is NO COMPARISON!

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6:24 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 14, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Examiner Reader said:
I resent this article. There is no comparison. If there wree any truth to this article and again I stress that there is no comparison, then Oh my God! we are in serious trouble. Let Obama stand out as he should. Adding Fenty to the mix is criminal.

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1:56 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 14, 2008 re: "Is Fenty our Obama?"

Examiner Reader said:
Fenty lacks substance unlke Obama. Their similarities are only surface.

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7:37 AM MST on Sun., Jul. 13, 2008 re: "Fenty a global citizen of Adams Morgan"

Examiner Reader said:
First time I saw Fenty in Adams Morgan, he parked his big honkin SUV illegally, stepped out dripping with electronic devices (blackberries and cel phones) and walked four steps to his parents' store. Now, as the wind blows, he has rejected his SUV ways and is advocating the two person max smart car. Let's see if he parks legally when he comes to Adams Morgan.

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