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Deborah Simmons

dsimmons@washingtontimes.com

Deborah Simmons was a senior correspondent who reported on City Hall and wrote about education, culture, sports and family-related topics.

Articles by Deborah Simmons

Kwame Brown

Audit finds funding questions in Brown campaign

The D.C. Office of Campaign Finance recommended Tuesday that the agency's general counsel take "whatever action deemed appropriate" against D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown's 2008 re-election committee after an audit uncovered substantial financial-reporting inconsistencies.

April 5, 2011

Source: No missing funds in Kwame Brown campaign

Funds from the 2008 Kwame Brown campaign have been accounted for, but the D.C. Council chairman could face fines because of filing irregularities in his finance report, according to a source involved in an audit expected to be released Tuesday by the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance (OCF).

April 5, 2011
**FILE** D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (Associated Press)

Gray tries to turn tide of negative publicity

D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray should have been more prepared for the waves of bad publicity that overtook his young administration and been able to turn the public's attention to his achievements and goals over the next four years, political analysts say.

April 4, 2011

School funding puts Gray under fire

As funding for D.C. students and schools hang in the balance on Capitol Hill and City Hall, school choice proponents are criticizing Mayor Vincent C. Gray for planning to renege on a promise to put charter school funding on par with traditional schools.

March 29, 2011
** FILE ** Commerce Secretary Ron Brown is shown in this May 1995 file photo. The special prosecutor investigating Brown is reviewing activities with an Oklahoma gas company that include a $160,000 payment to Brown's son and trips for a top Commerce aide, according to interviews and documents. (AP Photo/File, J. Scott Applewhite)

D.C. renames street for former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown

It has been nearly 15 years since Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and 34 other persons died in a plane crash in Croatia during a trade mission. On Friday, D.C. and federal officials dedicated a stretch of the street that runs alongside the Commerce Building in his honor.

March 25, 2011

D.C. to sue online firms for unpaid taxes

D.C. officials on Tuesday announced plans to sue popular online hotel-booking firms such as Travelocity, Expedia and Priceline in order to recoup millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.

March 22, 2011
**FILE** D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (Associated Press)

SIMMONS: Should Gray be looking for a new welcome mat?

Mayor Vincent C. Gray fired his gatekeeper, Gerri Mason Hall, last week and could announce her replacement by week's end. Before then, he needs to replace his front-door mat, too, which has been soiled by questionable footprints.

March 20, 2011

SIMMONS: Paying the cost of dropping out

When it comes to throwing resources at the dropout problem, the D.C. government, like most bureaucracies, is as splintered and resourceful as they come.

March 17, 2011
Gerri Mason Hall

Gray fires staff chief in debate on hiring

D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray fired his chief of staff on Wednesday — the first major ouster of his young administration, increasingly under fire for missteps in hiring political appointees.

March 16, 2011
**FILE** D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr., Ward 5 Democrat (The Washington Times)

Jobs coming to D.C.; now push is on to train workers

City Hall has a plan: Plug D.C. residents into jobs and careers that will be provided by major economic development projects, and money will again begin to flow into the city's shallow coffers.

March 13, 2011
Charlie Sheen

SIMMONS: Sheen watchers enable sick man

Through a glass, briefly, Charlie Sheen. I know, I know. Some of you aren't interested, and I can dig it. But here's a guy who is tossing his blessings into the toilet — and his illness is hiding that fact.

March 10, 2011
Kaya Henderson was named permanent chancellor of D.C. Schools, despite the absence of a national search to replace Michelle A. Rhee. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Special to The Washington Times)

Gray’s pick for D.C. schools chief upsets union

D.C. parents and students may never know whether interim schools chief Kaya Henderson faced stiff competition to permanently succeed Michelle A. Rhee as chancellor, but Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced Wednesday that she now holds the $275,000-per-year job and the title.

March 9, 2011

Gray responsible for filling 8 seats on UDC board

Mayor Vincent C. Gray, who has to fill eight seats on the 15-member University of the District of Columbia board, is expected to begin filling those vacancies Friday — a move that could redirect the spotlight off university system president Allen Sessoms, who is under fire for questionable travel expenses.

March 8, 2011
**FILE** D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (Associated Press)

Separate probes for Gray campaign allegations

Within hours of D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray's saying he takes full responsibility for any administration missteps, D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown said Sunday night that he is referring allegations of Gray campaign improprieties to the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.

March 6, 2011