One Candidate Takes the Lead in Race for D.C. Mayor

WASHINGTON - D.C. mayoral candidate Adrian Fenty submitted more than 13,000 signatures to the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics on Monday morning, a campaign spokesperson says.

Bill O'Field, a spokesperson for the BOEE tells WTOP the Fenty campaign turned in a large number of signatures, but the BOEE staff will only count the first 2,000 signatures -- the number needed to appear on the Sept. 12 ballot.

Mayoral candidate Marie Johns also submitted her petitions on Monday. A Johns spokesperson says the campaign collected more than 8,000 signatures.

WTOP Political Analyst Mark Plotkin says Fenty is now the clear front runner in the race.

"He has the most cash on hand -- over a million dollars, and he's turned in the most signatures, and he has the most lawn signs. With three months to go, he is in very strong shape. I think it's fair to call him the front runner," Plotkin says.

The Fenty campaign reported having more than $1.2 million in cash on hand, while Council Chair Linda Cropp has about $900,000.

Cropp is running neck-in-neck with Fenty in the polls, but lags behind in fundraising, despite garnering Mayor Williams' endorsement.

Johns reported $130,122 on hand. Council Member Vincent Orange (Ward 5) has $40,804 and Michael Brown reported $2,933.

In 2002, Mayor Tony Williams turned in 10,000 signatures, but was kept off the primary ballot because most of them were deemed to be forged. Williams was fined a record $277,700 and ran as a write-in candidate.

(Copyright 2006 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)