Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal kicked off his improbable run to be DC’s next mayor today, adding another prominent name to a Democratic field that still doesn’t include incumbent Mayor Vince Gray.
“This is the first step in a long journey,” Shallal said in front supporters who crammed into Ben’s Chili Bowl on U St., Northwest. The event had all the makings of an evening at one of Shallal’s restaurants—his speech was prececed by a performance from the Akoma Drummers, a West African percussion troupe.
Shallal was introduced by Rock Newman, a former boxing promoter-turned-local political operative who is serving as campaign manager. Newman told the crowd a DC political veteran told him he was “chickenshit” for supporting Shallal.
Given Busboys and Poets’ knack for hosting multicultural events and Shallal’s own advocacy for policies like raising the minimum wage, he could easily contend with other mayoral candidates vying for a slice of the city’s progressive voters, such as Council member Tommy Wells. But unlike Wells, who is only taking personal donations to fund his campaign, Shallal says he will accept all contributions, including those from corporations. The first four candidates to enter the race—Wells, Council members Jack Evans and Muriel Bowser, and former State Department official Reta Jo Lewis, have already raised a combined $2 million.
This is Shallal’s first time out as a candidate, but it is not his first entry into local politics. He served as the chairman of former Council member Michael A. Brown’s 2012 re-election campaign, but left that race after hearing about bribery allegations. (Brown pleaded guilty in June to accepting $55,000 in bribes.)
Shallal was one of the first candidates to arrive at the DC Board of Elections last Friday to pick up ballot petitions. He needs to submit at least 2,000 by the January 2 deadline in order to secure a spot in the April 1 election.
“We’re going to see the possibilities of the capital city,” Shallal said. Watch video of Shallal’s speech below, courtesy of WUSA.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Busboys and Poets Owner Andy Shallal Kicks Off Mayoral Campaign
Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal kicked off his improbable run to be DC’s next mayor today, adding another prominent name to a Democratic field that still doesn’t include incumbent Mayor Vince Gray.
“This is the first step in a long journey,” Shallal said in front supporters who crammed into Ben’s Chili Bowl on U St., Northwest. The event had all the makings of an evening at one of Shallal’s restaurants—his speech was prececed by a performance from the Akoma Drummers, a West African percussion troupe.
Shallal was introduced by Rock Newman, a former boxing promoter-turned-local political operative who is serving as campaign manager. Newman told the crowd a DC political veteran told him he was “chickenshit” for supporting Shallal.
Given Busboys and Poets’ knack for hosting multicultural events and Shallal’s own advocacy for policies like raising the minimum wage, he could easily contend with other mayoral candidates vying for a slice of the city’s progressive voters, such as Council member Tommy Wells. But unlike Wells, who is only taking personal donations to fund his campaign, Shallal says he will accept all contributions, including those from corporations. The first four candidates to enter the race—Wells, Council members Jack Evans and Muriel Bowser, and former State Department official Reta Jo Lewis, have already raised a combined $2 million.
This is Shallal’s first time out as a candidate, but it is not his first entry into local politics. He served as the chairman of former Council member Michael A. Brown’s 2012 re-election campaign, but left that race after hearing about bribery allegations. (Brown pleaded guilty in June to accepting $55,000 in bribes.)
Shallal was one of the first candidates to arrive at the DC Board of Elections last Friday to pick up ballot petitions. He needs to submit at least 2,000 by the January 2 deadline in order to secure a spot in the April 1 election.
“We’re going to see the possibilities of the capital city,” Shallal said. Watch video of Shallal’s speech below, courtesy of WUSA.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
Meet the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
Former Fiola GM Convicted of Murder Is Now in a Netflix Docuseries
These 5 DC Traffic Cams Are Issuing the Most Tickets Right Now
Farewell to Crystal City Underground, the DC Area’s Strangest Mall
Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2024
Inside the Urgent Effort to Preserve Black Newspapers
Maryland Has Renamed an Invasive Fish. Will It Matter?
Meet the 2024 Washington Women in Journalism Award Winners
In the Doghouse: Kristi Noem and 5 Other Canine Political Scandals