Out Hudson, In Houston: Clampitt makes a change

Council candidate Adam Clampitt is replacing campaign manager Lane Hudson, known for posting the sexually explicit e-mails that led to the resignation of Florida Republican congressman Mark Foley in 2006, with Chicago political operative Jarvis Houston.

Hudson "is scheduled to take a less active role in the campaign beginning in April," according to a news release that will be issued today. "Hudson has decided to take a more advisory role with the campaign due to the competing demands on his schedule."

The young, gay Ward 1 resident was fired from his job at the Human Rights Campaign, the gay rights political organization, after he was outed as the nameless blogger who outed Foley by allowing the Web to see Foley's e-mails to a 16-year-old Congressional page.

The incident may have gotten Hudson canned but also gave him about five minutes of fame and a boost on his resume.

Houston, a Chicago native who graduated from Howard University, has Hudson's blessing, according to the release. "I am glad the campaign has hired Jarvis Houston and I cannot wait to see the new phase of DC politics he will help Adam create."

Clampitt, who was on his way to Hudson's birthday party Saturday night, said, "He's still extremely involved in the campaign almost daily."

But he said Houston is a "field operator" with seven years experience. "This is a different kind of race," he said. "It's going to be won or lost in the field."

Houston, who has been traveling the country to raise money for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama as a volunteer, began his career in D.C. by running the unsuccessful campaign of ANC Commissioner Shelore Williams against incumbent Jim Graham in 2002.

Nikita Stewart

By Nikita R Stewart |  March 24, 2008; 7:00 AM ET  | Category:  2008 District Election
Previous: E-Chancellor? | Next: The Four Rs: Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic, Raising Money

Posted by: charliewoods | March 24, 2008 3:56 PM

Name:

Comments: