DC Council to vote on Mendelson as interim chair - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

The acting chairman of the D.C. Council has circulated a resolution that would make Councilmember Phil Mendelson the interim chairman.

Mendelson would ascend to the district's second-highest local elected office following last week's resignation of Kwame Brown, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud.

Acting Chairman Mary Cheh circulated the resolution Tuesday to councilmembers and staff. Cheh had already voiced her support for Mendelson, who appears to have more than the necessary votes from his 11 colleagues to become interim chairman. He also plans to run in a special election this fall to serve the remainder of Brown's term.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Vincent Orange has informed colleagues that he plans to introduce amendments to the resolution, presumably to install himself as interim chairman. Orange says he's a better fit for the job.

Press Release from Office of Councilmember Vincent Orange

Chairman Pro Tempore Mary Cheh has filed a resolution to elect the Acting-Chairman and the Acting-Chairman Pro tempore of the Council of the District of Columbia. She has proposed Councilmember Phil Mendelson as Acting-Chairman and Councilmember Michael Brown as Acting-Chairman Pro Tempore. I understand that Councilmember Mendelson supports this resolution.

I cannot in good conscience support this resolution. In my view, this resolution is not in the best interest of neither the Council of the District of Columbia nor the citizens we represent.

The reputation of the Council of the District of Columbia has been severely damaged. In light of Colbert King's June 9, 2012 article entitled "We're to blame for the D.C. Council mess", I cannot go forward with this resolution.

At the very least, the proposed resolution must be bifurcated and a roll call vote taken on the respective acting positions.

Is the Council ready to clean up this mess?

Statement from Sulaimon Brown: Council Chair Endorsement

I support and endorse Phil Mendelson to be the next council chair. I've known Mr. Mendelson over the years to be an outstanding role model to our young people in the district and a man of his word. I'm not in support of Vincent Orange, because he's not a man of his word. He lacks honesty and integrity and is directly tied to other dishonest people that are presently under federal investigation.We should not remove one crook and replace him with another.