D.C. Council To Vote On Mendelson As Interim Chair

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The acting chairman of the D.C. Council has circulated a resolution that would make Councilmember Phil Mendelson the interim chairman.

Mendelson would ascend to the district's second-highest local elected office following last week's resignation of Kwame Brown, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud.

Acting Chairman Mary Cheh circulated the resolution Tuesday to councilmembers and staff. Cheh had already voiced her support for Mendelson, who appears to have more than the necessary votes from his 11 colleagues to become interim chairman. He also plans to run in a special election this fall to serve the remainder of Brown's term.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Vincent Orange has informed colleagues that he plans to introduce amendments to the resolution, presumably to install himself as interim chairman. Orange says he's a better fit for the job.

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