Mayor Vows All-Out Effort 'To Crush' D.C. Recall Bid

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Craig Timberg
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 15, 2004; Page B01

A fledgling bid to recall Mayor Anthony A. Williams from office drew a fiery response yesterday, with the mayor vowing in unusually combative and personal terms "to crush" the effort.

Organizers of the recall campaign said they plan to launch it formally Tuesday with 600 volunteers. To have a recall appear on the ballot, organizers would have to submit legitimate signatures from 10 percent of the city electorate, about 38,000 voters.

Administration officials have played down the threat of the recall effort, the latest of several since Williams (D) became mayor in 1999. But in response to a question at the mayor's weekly news briefing yesterday, Williams said he was taking the matter seriously.

"I respect their right to bring the recall," he said. "But with every fiber in my being, I will use every means at my disposal, legal and ethical, to crush the recall. You can count on that. If you want to get me out of here, you're going to have to come through me."

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18106-2004Jan14.html

[yellowcanine]

1. Good for Tony

If Grey Davis had taken this approach he might still be the guv of California.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Gray Davis should have resigned before the petitions were certified

Williams is fairly popular, so he shouldn't have much to worry about.