YESSS!!!!

The Mayor-for-Life is now Councilman-for-Life.

After a campaign beset by infighting, ethics problems and general weirdness, Marion Barry has made yet another comeback, defeating his former aide and sitting DC councilwoman Sandy Allen.

Although the former mayor reported paltry contributions to his campaign fund, he somehow managed to find a line of new minivans to take voters to the polls. There also were hundreds of Barry T-shirts, including one worn by his former wife Effie, who divorced him after his drug and perjury trial.

About 6 p.m., Barry arrived at Hendley Elementary School in the ward's biggest precinct. Over a loudspeaker, a campaign aide called out: "Help is on the way, brothers and sisters! He's back, folks. Marion Barry. He is back."

If nothing else, at least it's a reason to actually pick up the City Paper.

But there's more good news: At-large councilman Harold Brazil lost his seat to political newcomer Kwame Brown. I'm not sure how Brown is going to keep his obligations to the city while playing 82 games a season (and no more) for the Washington Wizards, but he's obviously a true renaissance man. If he proves as successful on the city council as he has been on the court, well, at least he probably won't be recalled. Wait a minute, didn't I already make lame joke?

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posted by WWB at 6:26 PM |