Chairman Mendelson?

Both Wapo and the Huffington Post are reporting that the likely interim successor to Kwame Brown will be Phil Mendelson. With a vacant seat, council-members must select an interim chair from among the at-large members.

Last week, Brown resigned as Chairman and pleaded guilty to felony bank fraud and to a misdemeanor campaign finance violation charge.  Earlier this year, Harry Thomas Jr. was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars earmarked for the District's youth. 

Phil Mendelson was first elected to the Council in November 1998. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary and is a member of four other committees: Health; Housing and Urban Affairs; Human Services; and Libraries, Parks, and Recreation.

Described as "mild mannered and bookish" Councilman Mendelson could be the even keel the corruption-plagued Council needs to get through the months leading up to the special election.  Here's Mr. Mendelson introducing himself earlier this year: