The District of Columbia’s population has historically been characterized by an overwhelmingly Democratic following. That makes the upcoming Sep. 14 primary perhaps more important than the general election to be held Nov. 2.
“The Democratic primary is probably the most important election in D.C. at any time. Because the majority of D.C.’s residents are registered Democrats, the winner of the Democratic primary usually goes on to win.” Eric Lashner (CAS ‘05) chair of Campaign Georgetown,
Improvement of D.C. public schools, and better law enforcement are claimed as high priorities by all candidates.
COUNCIL-AT-LARGE
Three candidates are vying for the D.C. City Council At-Large Democratic ticket.
Incumbent Harold Brazil has held his seat for 14 years. According to Lashner, incumbents win in D.C. city elections over 90 percent of the time.
Although he has been criticized for his supposedly reduced interest towards local politics, especially the labor movement, Brazil asserted in an August 26 debate held on National Public Radio’s Kojo Nnamdi Show that “My concerns are the workers, the citizens, the families, and that’s who I’ll continue to help. I promise to fight for everyone in the district.” The Nnamdi Show is a Washington-based program that analyzes local and national politics.
Running against Brazil are new comers 24-year-old Sam Brooks, owner of an internet marketing business, and Kwame Brown. Brooks is unique among the candidates because of his advocacy for LGBT interests.
“This campaign has been run under the radical premise; people are working for substance, innovative thinking and comprehensive common sense solutions, and that is what I am offering them,” Brooks said on the Nnamdi show.
Brown comes from management positions at several large corporations including Wal-Mart, and is running under the slogan of “New Energy, New Ideas.”
Brown has achieved recognition for his work to provide opportunities for students, including encouraging the use of a national database of scholarships and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which pairs D.C. students with local business owners.
Avi Fechper, a volunteer on Brown’s campaign, said that Brown has an impressive list of endorsers, including D.C.’s chapter of AFL-CIO, which in the past has supported Councilman Brazil. “This is a big defection,” he said. “We’re on a roll. The city knows that this is the time for a change,” he said.
While candidates, Don Folden, Sr., Robert Pittman and incumbent Carol Schwartz, compete for the Republican spot on the ballot, Laurent Ross runs uncontested for the Green Party ticket. In the District, the Greens are associated with D.C. Statehood, and Ross prioritizes this issue along with the goal to defeat President Bush.
WARD 2 COUNCILMAN
First elected in 1991, Jack Evans is running uncontested for his fourth term as Ward Two Member of the Council, the region which includes Georgetown. His only competitor is Green representative Jay H. Marx.
According to Campaign Manager John Ralls, as Chair of the Council’s Committee on Finance and Revenue, Jack Evans has focused on tax reform and reduced rates. “Evans has earned a reputation as one of D.C.’s toughest budget and tax hawks,” Ralls said.
DELEGATE TO U.S. CONGRESS
Incumbent Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton is the sole Democratic contender for D.C. Delegate to the House of Representatives.
Since being elected to Congress in 1990, as a recognized civil rights leader and tenured Georgetown law professor, she has promoted Congressional voting representation for D.C.’s 600,000 residents. In 1993, she introduced a D.C. statehood bill in Congress with a two-day debate and vote, in which she won the support of almost two-thirds of Democrats and one Republican.
According to her campaign web site, as D.C.’s economy improves, she sees statehood as a possibility; the Constitution requires that all states assume all state costs in order to qualify for admission to the union.
Lashner emphasized the importance of Georgetown students exercising their right to vote.
“The seriousness of our locally elected government helps our case with the federal government in getting representation and eventual D.C. autonomy,” he said.
