Former mayor and current councilman of the District of Columbia, Marion Barry, has been released from a rehabilitation center after spending 16 days trying to regain his mobility. Having two lengthy hospitalizations already this year, Barry has been fighting infections and other complications from diabetes and was admitted into the Medstar National Rehabilitation Network after his second hospitalization stay. He told reporters Wednesday that his health problems weren’t as serious as some made them out to be and pledged to finish his term although he has not set a date for his return to work. Barry will celebrate his 78th birthday on Thursday. He serves as a D.C. councilman, representing the city’s poorest ward, Ward 8, and was elected to his third consecutive term in 2012. Barry has survived prostate cancer and kidney failure that required a transplant five years ago.
