ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Vince Gray can put the hankie away.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that the former D.C. mayor does not face charges in the investigation of his dirty 2010 campaign.
While a dozen Gray campaign workers and associates pleaded guilty to charges directly related to his successful bid, Mr. Gray has always said publicly that he did nothing wrong. His attorney, Robert Bennett, said Wednesday that Mr. Gray is “very happy and pleased.”
Indeed, Gray supporters can put away the hankies and crying towels and pop the champagne corks now that federal prosecutors have closed one door — and another has opened.
There’s been talk around the city for months that Mr. Gray is itching to return to City Hall, and actually that’s no surprise.
SEE ALSO: Vincent Gray, former D.C. mayor, will face no charges after yearslong corruption probe
Ward 7 voters don’t actually sit around twiddling their thumbs, even in off-year elections. Mr. Gray knew as much as the longtime, hands-on chairman of the Ward 7 Democrats, saw a crystal-clear picture when he served as Ward 7 D.C. Council member and council chairman, his first citywide election, and for sure when he ran for mayor but lost as an incumbent.
Mr. Gray didn’t, however, play footsie with Republicans and independents, as he did with unions. So, by the time his 2014 re-election rolled around, his incestuous political games appeared more cocky and bullish than unifying and democratic.
Now that federal prosecutors have let him off the hook, Mr. Gray can hit the reset button:
1) Mr. Gray could run in the Ward 7 race to replace his “protege,” D.C. Council member Yvette Alexander.
2) He could play kingmaker and endorse his former Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbee in that race.
3) He could sign onto the 2017 race, where two seats are scheduled to be up for grabs and a field of candidates is emerging.
4) He could lay back for a cushy job, now that the feds are off his tail.
5) He could sit back and try to ease back into City Hall and the mayor’s office in 2018.
Scratch Number 5 because it just wouldn’t make sense for Mr. Gray, 73, to be in denial about time, which waits for no one.
Number 1 and Number 4? Nah. Number 1 is small potatoes for someone like Mr. Gray. As for Number 4, while successful politicians like cushy seats, those who also like revenge go all in.
So I’m going on the record very early: Number 2 or Number 3.
Number 3 means going mano a mano with incumbents David Grosso and Vincent Orange, and possible liberal Robert White, who also ran in 2014.
Signs touting Mr. Orange’s re-election have been popping up all around town — better to let voters know your intentions early than keep them guessing.
Meanwhile, regarding Number 2, Mr. Ellerbee is waffling, qualifying his entry in the Ward 7 race on what Mr. Gray does or does not do.
That doesn’t sound like the confident, decisive candidate I’ve spoken with.
At any rate, how far the door has reopened for Mr. Gray to re-enter elective politics will be known quite shortly.
After all, Mr. Gray, his family and friends are truly relieved that his name has been cleared in the political corruption network.
Chuck Theis, who ran the 2014 Gray campaign, didn’t have to search for the political comeback button: “It’s a great tragedy that the voters were duped.”
Mr. Gray, for his part, is checking to see how wide the door has been swung open. After conceding “I cannot change history,” he added, “I look forward to getting on with the next chapter of my life, which will no doubt be dedicated to service.”
⦁ Deborah Simmons can be reached at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.
• Deborah Simmons can be reached at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.
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