Gray called on to give specifics

In case you missed it, Washington Post editorial cartoonist Tom Toles wasn't too kind to Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) this morning.

Sketching an unflattering depiction of Gray, Toles picked apart Gray's brief speech when he declared his candidacy for mayor last Tuesday.

Despite the general decline in influence of newspaper editorial pages nationwide, local political observers say the Washington Post still has some pull in local elections in the District.

Although the Washington Post editorial board has generally been supportive of many of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's (D) priorities, it has raised some questions recently about whether the mayor gets into too many fights with his rivals. And, months ago, the board called on Gray to enter the race so residents could see a spirited debate about the city's future.

After he announced last week, the editorial board said it is now up to Gray to "articulate what he would do differently than Mr. Fenty."

-- Tim Craig