Council Chair Questions Barry Contract

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray said Thursday he will investigate the circumstances behind the employment contract awarded to Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, the women at the center of stalking allegations against Marion Barry.

The contract called for Watts-Brighthaupt to work as an independent contractor on "poverty reduction strategies." But was it awarded fair and square? That's what Vincent Gray says he intends to find out.

The central question now swirling around Barry is an ethical one. Was it right for the Ward 8 councilmember to hire his girlfriend-- using his power to employ to reward Donna Watts-Brighthaupt-- then punish her?

It's a question Barry refused to answer Thursday at a news conference on the steps of the Wilsons Building. In an exchange with reporters, Barry's spokesperson Natalie Williams refused to answer questions about the contract.

"Are there any more questions to do with…" Natalie Williams tried to ask but was shouted down by reporters who said, "Yes, these are public dollars..."

Williams replied, "We are not here to discuss the contract." But reporters responded, "Why won't you discuss the contract these are public tax dollars?"

Williams was having none of it, asking, "Are there any other questions?"

Yes, from the Council Chairman. In a one-on-one interview in his office Thursday, Vincent Gray said he wants to know more about how the contract was awarded.

"Questions have been raised and we want to look at that of course," said Gray in an interview with FOX 5. "There are questions about the contract she was involved with here in Mr. Barry's office so certainly yes, those are questions we would want to address."

According to records provided by the council, Donna Watts-Brighthaupt was hired as an independent contractor last October. She would be paid $5,000 a month for work on "poverty reduction strategies."

But in December, Barry terminated the deal without explanation. It was later reinstated.

Vincent Gray says he not only wants to know more about the contract. He wants a code of conduct established for all members of the council.

"The current members of the council have to embrace this and no doubt they will have ideas and suggestions themselves," said Gray. "But no doubt it will be put before the body is my expectation, and my hope would be at the end of the day we have a 13 to 0 vote adopting this."

As it stands now, there is no code of ethics guiding council members through their daily public lives.

Vincent Gray says he is awaiting a paper that is due Friday on the framework of ethical best practices. It is his hope to have a code of conduct in place by September-- a code that contains solid policy on what's proper, guiding council members on hiring and other matters that may be ethically challenging.