One day after announcing his reelection bid, Mayor Vincent Gray fended off questions about the 2010 campaign scandal that has blurred his chances in next spring’s race, underscoring that his campaign would focus on the future of the city.
The alumnus said Tuesday that voters should tune into the progress his administration has made instead of speculating whether he had any knowledge of a $650,000 shadow campaign that helped him get elected three years ago. He specifically pointed to his administration’s role in creating jobs, reforming education, developing the economy and emphasizing sustainability.
“The issues from three-plus years ago, they eventually will been taken care of,” Gray said during a press conference at the City Market at O Street. “I want to talk about where I see this city going, and I hope the other candidates will do exactly the same thing.”
Five people have gone to court over Gray’s first mayoral campaign, including his closest advisers, but the 71-year-old has not been charged and has denied any personal wrongdoing. He declined to comment on whether he has cooperated with the federal investigators who launched a probe into his last campaign.
“I’ve said what I’ve said. I’ve said it repeatedly. And you know what? There’s no end to that. I want to talk about the future of the District of Columbia,” Gray told reporters. “This city is growing and developing. I know this administration is going to be part of making that happen, bringing people together in ways that they haven’t been brought together before, and I just want to have the opportunity to continue to do that.”
But the mayor did say he would take a different approach to his campaign this round. His reelection effort is led by a veteran D.C. politico Chuck Thies, who has pledged to pave a fresh start for Gray.
“One of the things that I am going to do is be very directly involved in my campaign myself. Period,” he said.
He called on his competitors – which includes Council members Jack Evans, Muriel Bowser, Tommy Wells and Vincent Orange, former State Department official Reta Jo Lewis and Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal – to “articulate a vision” for D.C.
Gray ended months of speculation after he filled out paperwork at the D.C. Board of Elections office Monday afternoon. He has until Jan. 2 to gather 2,000 signatures, which would put him on the Democratic primary ballot with at least 10 other candidates in April.
“It did take a long time. I’m a deliberative person,” Gray said. He told The Hatchet that he chose to pick up nominating petitions Monday because “it was a good day to go.”
