Not much to say about Mayor Fenty losing the election to Chairman Gray.  I kind of predicted that in my post a few months back.  A last minute apology tour was not going to cut it. DC residents -- especially River East residents -- are too smart for that.

I will have to admit that even I am a little shocked at the speed it took for the Mayor to lose support in such huge numbers, especially due to things that were completely avoidable. You can't put a price tag on being cordial and inclusive, it goes a long way in maintaining voter confidence and respect.

 In March I appeared in a Washington Post article about the perceived disconnect between Fenty and the Black community.  At the time I was supportive of the Mayor, I thought he was very capable. Despite his very "direct" approach (anyone who knows me will not find that surprising at all) he got the job done but in the end,  even I had a very hard time casting a ballot for him (still not saying who I voted for). Add Ron Moten  in the mix and at times I was wondering if the Mayor wanted to win at all.  Ron Moten definitely did NOT make it easy for a Fenty supporter to remain a Fenty supporter. I would even go so far as to say it pushed them right in the arms of the Gray camp. In the end I think it came down not just to Fenty's perceived shortcomings but the people that Fenty chose to use as his mouthpieces. It showed a lack of judgement or awareness that I am still not sure I understand.  The Mayor did a lot of good in DC.  I saw it in city services and in the talented people he hired for key positions;  however, rregardless how good of a job you may be doing people really do want to feel like there is a "we" and  not so much an "I".

In the end, according to what I heard on the River East streets, I don't think anyone was looking forward to an unofficial Deputy Mayor Moten in the next Fenty administration and the feeling was that a vote for Fenty was a vote for Moten and I don't think that was a ticket anyone (but the Peaceoholics) could support. I think one of the Fenty campaign's biggest mistakes was assuming that Ron Moten spoke for all black people or all black people living East of the River, he doesn't, not even close.  To be frank in many ways it was somewhat insulting and condescending  that go-gos  and "returned citizen" programs would distract River East voters from the issues at hand. That was proof positive to a lot of voters that I talked to that Mayor Fenty just did not get "us" and the inability to rectify that misplaced faith in Moten by distancing himself from him ASAP was a huge misstep. A misstep that just may have cost him the election.

Oh well, on to the next. Here's to hoping the next four years under a Gray administration will be filled with prosperity, progress, and participation.

Don't you just love DC politics?

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