D.C.’s Democrats held a party yesterday, and guess who wasn’t there?
Mayor Adrian Fenty is not the official chair of the District’s Democratic Party. That post is held by Anita Bonds. But as the city’s mayor, he is the titular party head, and when he didn’t attend a rally held on the plaza of Judiciary Square on Monday, he opened himself up to criticism from one of his opponents in the mayor’s race.
“He has no loyalty to the D.C. Democratic State Committee,” said Leo Alexander, who is running a very distant third to Mr. Fenty and D.C. City Council Chairman Vincent Gray.
Sporting a Washington Redskins jersey with the number “5” on the front and the name “Fenty” on the back, the mayor spent about two hours prior to the noontime rally chatting up supporters and passers-by on the plaza. By the time his fellow Dems had gathered, the mayor had left to continue his final pre-primary push for votes.
Practically every Democrat on Tuesday’s ballot spoke, including D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who faces no substantial challenge, and Mr. Gray.
With Mr. Gray running strongly in the polls, Mr. Alexander said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Mr. Fenty loses the mayor’s race and runs as an independent in the general election.
When told Mr. Fenty has already rejected that possibility, Mr. Alexander said, “Actions speak louder than words.”
• Deborah Simmons can be reached at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.
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