Ward 8 Voters React To Latest Barry Dust Up

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- How are voters in Ward 8 reacting to the latest controversy involving their Councilman and former Mayor, Marion Barry?

He won his last election with 78 percent of the vote, and after talking to dozens of his constituents, it's not clear the on again off again charges over stalking have eroded any of his support.

"He's a good man. Marion Barry is a good man!" yelled one woman at our camera.

Marion Barry's been winning elections in Ward 8 since 1972, and his supporters are still passionate.

"How he built those playgrounds and helped out with the projects and how he gave, you know, black people get summer jobs," said Antoine Foster, reciting a list of Barry's accomplishments.

Around the Big Chair, the symbolic heart of Anacostia, it's tough to find any critics.

"He's always going to have my vote, because without him, I would never have got my first summer job," said voter Naomi Wallace.

"Especially for the senior citizens in the community. He's done a lot for the senior citizens," said Greta Giles, on her lunch hour.

Only a very few seem to have lost confidence.

"This chasing people around in cars... I just think he's an old man now, or an older man, and he should be somewhere relaxing. That's why I say, just go sit down," said Tanya Coachman.

One woman called the 73-year-old a sex addict. But she was afraid to show her face or use her name. "Until you address the addiction, the problem will never go away," she said.

Still, there is plenty of suspicion in Ward 8 of the motives of both the police and the media. "It's clear to me we have some people that really have some hatred of Marion Barry and they are going to stop at nothing until they believe they are going to get him," said Paul Trantham, idleing in his car at the Alabama Ave Safeway.

Some of his fiercest supporters say all the criticism of Barry only leads them to dig in -- and love him even more.