WASHINGTON David Catania is trying to do something historic -- convince Washington, D.C., voters to elect a non-Democrat as mayor.
Catania, a District of Columbia council member, is a former Republican turned independent. This automatically makes his mayoral bid an uphill climb -- but as he tries to break Democrats hold on power, he's mounting an aggressive campaign promising to improve the citys struggling public school system and reform a City Hall racked with corruption.
I think the timing is perfect because voters tell me they are sick and tired of this political machine, Catania told FoxNews.com this week. They want a government that listens to them.
Catania claims to offer a fresh start for residents weary of the corruption and decades of ward politics. Over the past three years, three of Catanias fellow council members, all Democrats, and five people connected to Democratic Mayor Vincent Grays 2010 reelection effort have pleaded guilty to federal and other corruption or campaign-finance charges.
Catania, who is white, also is an openly gay candidate in a city considered one of the most liberal in the country. He touts a progressive agenda at a time of economic development in which commuter bike lanes and joints selling $14 Paloma cocktails are rapidly replacing corner liquor stores.Catania also has led efforts to legalize same-sex marriage and helped save the only hospital in the citys two poorest, mostly black, wards -- all of which could endear him to a wide range of voters.
However, the 46-year-old Catanias biggest challenge might just be political history.
The nations capital has elected only Democratic mayors since it started holding public elections in 1974.
In addition, the District never has elected a white or openly gay mayor. And Democrats still account for 76 percent of the citys 456,633 registered voters, according to most recent figures from the city election board.
With just six weeks remaining before Election Day, an NBC4/Washington Post/Marist poll shows Catania behind 17 percentage points against Democratic frontrunner Muriel Bowser, who is black and a fellow council member.
The Democrat label still carries a lot of weight, said Will Sommer, who covers D.C. politics for The City Paper, an alternative weekly.
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DC MAYORAL RACE Independent challenges Democrats' hold on power