Young Washington Mayor Challenged by Fellow Democrat

The honeymoon ended a while back for Washington's young mayor, Adrian Fenty. But on Tuesday Fenty's relationship with voters took another turn as D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, a fellow Democrat, announced he would challenge Fenty in his bid for re-election to a second term.

Gray, 67, stressed his deep roots in Washington, calling himself "a dyed in the wool homie," born in the city and schooled there with a degree from George Washington University. He is former director of the city's Department of Human Services.

Fenty, 39, was also born in Washington -- although he graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio, as well as the Howard University College of Law. No one holds an Ohio connection against him. But since his early popularity following a convincing election victory in 2006, Fenty has turned off some Washingtonians with his taciturn manner, lack of openness, and frequent feuding with the Council, where he once served as a member.

Gray did not go into any depth on changes in policy, but said "the reality is we can do better in the District of Columbia," the Washington Post reported. So, in a city with plenty of urban problems, the substantive issues dividing the candidates are yet to be explored.

The mayor of Washington is in a unique position. Although his power is limited by the Congress, Fenty and his predecessors have had extraordinary access to the White House and other federal decision-makers. A Washington mayor can also attract national attention in positive and not-so-positive ways, as former Mayor Marion Barry demonstrated.

Fenty will not be easy to dislodge. He has collected $3.6 million in campaign money and Gray is just starting -- with hopes of raising competitive sums from organized labor and the civic leaders who urged him to run. It will almost certainly be decided on Sept. 14 when overwhelmingly-Democratic Washington holds its primary.