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Updated 12:15 p.m. with D.C. Republican Party comments

On Wednesday, Democrat Muriel Bowser is set to debut a new radio ad touting her mayoral candidacy. After a few days on the air, Bowser might find herself with a new first name: Three times, the ad refers to Democrat Muriel Bowser.

The script: Washington, D.C., is making progress, but not for everyone. Democrat Muriel Bowser will give us all a fair shot. Thats why, as a council member, Muriel fought for kids ride free, thriving schools, affordable housing and ethics reform. As mayor, Democrat Muriel Bowser will fight for more jobs, invest over a hundred million dollars a year in affordable housing, and improve our schools. Muriel is the kind of leader we need. On Nov. 4, vote Democrat Muriel Bowser for mayor. Paid for by Muriel Bowser for Mayor.

The Bowser campaign provided the ad, which spokesman Joaquin McPeek said will air over the coming weeks on three radio stations reaching a mainly African American audience: gospel station WPRS-FM (Praise 104.1), and R&B stations WKYS-FM (93.9) and WMMJ-FM (Majic 102.3).

Another ad also appeared Wednesday morning, according to multiple radio listeners one that took a more aggressive approach. The D.C. Republican Partyput out a news release objecting to the spot, which, it said, referred to Republican dirty tricks in the mayoral race. While independents David A. Catania and Carol Schwartz are both former Republicans, there is no actual GOP candidate in the mayoral race. Party chairman Ron Phillips said he was infuriated by the accusation and is seeking an apology. The attack is ridiculous, and she should know better, he said.

McPeek did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday on the second ad, including questions about whether the adwas placed by the Bowser campaign or an independent political committee.

In any case, the ads come more than a week after Catania debuted a hard-hitting ad of his own:

The script: We need to talk. Muriel Bowsers cronies are at the center of a criminal investigation at the Park Southern Apartments in Ward 8. Rats, mold, and lots of missing money. The victims? Working folks. But Bowser, who chairs D.C.s housing committee, refuses to investigate. Maybe its because the people responsible for this scandal gave $20,000 to her campaign. Muriel Bowser: Shes not a fresh start, shes business as usual. Paid for by Catania for Mayor. Randall Kelly, treasurer.

Is the ad factual? There is indeed a scandal at the Park Southern Apartments involving rats, mold and missing money. And Bowser has declined to have her council committee investigate, referring the matter to the citys inspector general. The claim of a criminal investigation is rooted in the execution last month of an IRS summons for documents concerning Park Southern, though the IRS has not commented and it is unclear what precisely is being investigated. As for the reference to cronies, Bowser supporter Phinis Jones can indeed be traced to $20,000 in campaign donations; his role in the Park Southern scandal is in dispute, but his company briefly managed the property and has explored buying the property for a price that the D.C. attorney general has characterized as well under market value.

Ben Young, Catanias campaign manager, provided the ads but would not discuss details of the airtime buy. Besides the anti-Bowser spot, Catania has also prepared a more positive ad, highlighting his story of being raised by a single mother in Missouri:

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Muriel Bowser, David Catania do battle with radio ads