Breakfast links: Bowser, Nadeau beat incumbents

Bowser is the nominee

Muriel Bowser won the Democratic nomination for mayor, beating out incumbent Vincent Gray by almost 12 points. Gray’s campaign said Ron Machen is the reason for his loss. (Post, City Paper)

Nadeau beats Graham

Brianne Nadeau unseated 4-term councilmember Jim Graham, and it wasn’t close: she got almost 59% of the vote to Graham’s 41%. (City Paper) … Charles Allen also beat Darrel Thompson in the open seat in Ward 6, while Anita Bonds won over 50% of the vote for the at-large seat against 3 challengers.

What took so long?

Election watchers wonder at the Board of Elections’ slow counting speed every election, but this year it was far worse. Elections officials said that some poll workers didn’t shut down new electronic voting machines properly. (Post)

Transit center in 2014?

Despite uncertainty around what repairs are needed, the star-

crossed Silver Spring Transit Center could open as in late summer or early fall. (Post)

Circulator extends hours

Starting April 1, the Circulator will extend hours and offer Saturday service on the Union Station-Navy Yard and Potomac Ave-Skyland routes until September 30. Those routes had shorter hours than other routes. (Post)

Transit partnership will save money

Howard and Anne Arundel counties will create a new transit agency, called RTA, mainly to save money (around $2 million). Howard, at least, will use its share to add service. (Baltimore Sun)

Congress discussing transit benefit again

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a package of tax extenders, including a provision to raise the maximum transit benefit back to to $250, the same as with the driving benefit. The finance committee will consider the package Thursday. (Streetsblog)

Too many tickets amid blossoms?

AAA decries the parking tickets some get during the Cherry Blossom Festival, and says there should be municipal garages. Ben Freed notes that people could park at Metro lots and ride to the Mall. (Washingtonian)

DC region is a flop for investors

The Washington region was recently named one of the worst areas for return on rental property investments, due to the high cost of residential property and the relatively low amount investors can collect in rent. (WBJ)

No snow day exception

Montgomery County Public Schools got turned down for a waiver from the requirement to make up snow days. There were 10 this year, and they may need to add 6, though they can still re-apply for the waiver. (WTOP)

And…

Is Walk Score’s food desert map lacking? (NextCity) … An Arlington County board candidate calls affordable housing sinful. (ArlNow) … The 11th Street Bridge Park competition has raised $800,000 of its $1 million pre-campaign goal. (ElevationDC)