The Washington Post’s D.C. Wire blog reported yesterday that Gabe Klein, who recently resigned as director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), is considering running in the April 26 special election to fill the at-large D.C. Council seat recently vacated by Kwame Brown when he was sworn in as Council Chairman.  In a chaotic process on January 6, the D.C. Democratic State Committee (comprised of 80 Democratic insiders), selected Sekou Biddle, an education expert from Ward 4, to fill the at-large Council seat until D.C. voters have the opportunity to elect a replacement in the special election.

Klein was a very progressive DDOT director, who was responsible for reinvigorating D.C.’s lagging streetcar planning and implementation efforts.  He also focused on promoting a range of options to get around D.C. easily without a car such as expanding Circulator bus service, establishing the popular Capital Bikeshare program, and designating new bike lanes, including innovative approaches like the 15th Street bike lane that is separated from traffic by parked cars.

Klein’s entry into the Council race could excite and energize voters across the District who share his vision for a more livable city.