Fenty vs. Cropp?

WASHINGTON -- We're going to be seeing the 2006 campaign for mayor in a whole new light within a few days.

Mayor Anthony Williams would surprise nearly everyone, including himself, if he runs for mayor again (see item below). He'll soon let it be publicly known that he's not running again, folks say.

Over the past weekend, Council Chairman Linda Cropp did just the opposite. She announced that she's announcing for mayor on Sept. 7.

She told News4 on Monday that hers will be a campaign focused on the future for a "better and more inclusive government."

Cropp is a native of Atlanta who's made her home in Washington since she first came to Howard University as a student in 1965. Now she's a grandmother and a veteran of city politics, having served on the school board, the council as an at-large member and as chairman since 1997.

That's a lengthy resume that some opponents will surely seek to turn into a criticism. But Cropp has avoided even the hint of scandal in those years and has always been involved in controversial city issues, whether she wins or loses.

Ward Four D.C. City Councilman Adrian Fenty is energetically getting around town to establish himself as the future. He's garnered strong early support.

Ward 5 Council member Vincent Orange and former utility executive Marie Johns are also announced candidates. Observers say they have their work cut out to get on the Fenty-Cropp playing field.

What A Difference A Campaign Makes

Williams and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley both had school opening-day events on their schedules Monday.

But O'Malley is running for governor of Maryland and Williams is, well ... let's just say he's not running again unless he changes his mind.

The opening-day school schedule gives at least a little insight.

Baltimore's O'Malley had a schedule that had him traveling to four different schools from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The schedule showed him visiting both public schools and a charter school.

Here in the District, Williams visited one school, Peabody Elementary on Capitol Hill, at 8:45 a.m. After greeting teachers, parents and students, the mayor flew to St. Louis at 11:30 a.m. for a White House meeting on the environment.

Hmmmm

The Notebook just had a thought. Maybe this three-day White House conference is a chance for Mayor Williams to try out for a job in the Bush administration. Hmmmmm. No facts there, just idle speculation. But hey, it's not unreasonable, is it?

Applause, Please

For all the times the Notebook chides the mayor on his frequent travel plans, we don't want to leave out a little praise.

Last week at the U.S. Open, the United States Tennis Association honored the staff and students of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. The $5 million center was founded by Cora Masters Barry and was built mainly with taxpayer funds championed by Williams.

About two-dozen local young people got to travel with Barry and Williams to New York to participate in the honor last Saturday.

On Guard?

All the police forces around the White House last week missed the person who parked his car at 17th and F. It was in a crosswalk, blocking both the handicapped access and a fire hydrant. How much do you think you'd have to pay in tickets for those infractions?

But this car was a marked D.C. police cruiser. No lights flashing, no apparent crime in progress or other emergency as people walked by looking at the cruiser parked so poorly.

Life After Snowplows

How many folks run through their daily jobs hankering to get away and start a new life? Sure, you like the job you have, but it's not what you maybe dreamed of for many years.

Well, former Public Works Director Leslie Hotaling is living her dream.

Well-regarded and credited with restoring confidence and pride into DPW, Hotaling is now serving up meals with partner Patti Miller in their new West Virginia restaurant.

Some former colleagues are planning on a group trip soon so she can serve them. Sounds like fun. The restaurant is called Panorama at the Peak (the views are good), and it's located about nine miles west of Berkeley Springs, 1,000 feet above the Potomac River.

If you want to know more about Hotaling and her new venture (opening night was just last week), log on to Panoramaatthepeak.com.

Trash Talk Clarification

While we're on the subject of DPW, the folks in the Street and Alley Cleaning Division wanted to make sure the Notebook knew that calls to 727-1000 for bulk trash collection "are requests for a scheduled service, not complaints like graffiti."

The Notebook last week reported that there have been more than 240,000 calls for bulk trash pickups. We left the impression to some that there are so many calls because regular trash doesn't do an adequate job. That wasn't our intention and we apologize for the confusion.

As DPW spokeswoman Mary Myers said of the DPW staff, "They are very proud of their bulk collection record. It is, hands down, DPW's most successful and reliable program."

Agreed.