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Nadeau claims victory in Ward 1 race against incumbent Graham 3 competitive D.C. Council races hold potential for change
(6 months later)
Community activist Brianne Nadeau, who accused incumbent Jim Graham of ethical lapses, led the D.C. Council Ward 1 race late Tuesday as she sought to end the council member’s 15 years of service to the rapidly changing ward in Northwest Washington. Community activist Brianne Nadeau has defeated incumbent Jim Graham in the D.C. Council Ward 1 race, ending his 15 years of service in a rapidly changing corner of the city after a nasty campaign that featured dueling accusations of ethical lapses.
With nearly all votes counted, Nadeau said she had claimed victory, although she had not spoken to Graham, and he had not conceded. “We are really excited about the opportunity to serve Ward 1,” she said. “It’s been a long campaign.” “We are really excited about the opportunity to serve Ward 1,” Nadeau said late Tuesday. “It’s been a long campaign.”
Two other competitive races also held the possibility of change for the D.C. Council, but an incomplete vote count kept many city residents waiting and wondering. In the at-large contest in the Democratic primary, incumbent Anita D. Bonds held onto her seat with a commanding victory. Although she has been in the post for only 15 months, Bonds won by a more than two-to-one margin over her nearest challenger, Nate Bennett-Fleming.
In the at-large contest in the Democratic primary, incumbent Anita D. Bonds had a seemingly insurmountable lead. Bonds, who has been in the post for 15 months, had a more than 2 to 1 lead over her nearest challenger, Nate Bennett-Fleming. And in the third competitive Council race of the reason, Charles Allen overwhelmingly defeated Darrel Thompson in the Ward 6 contest to replace Tommy Wells (D), who gave up a chance at re-election to run for mayor. Wells came in third place Tuesday, after Muriel Bowser and incumbent Vincent C. Gray.
David Meadows, a spokesman for Bonds, said she declared victory late Tuesday. "She's thankful for the strong showing of support, but she knows there's more work to be done," he said. All results are based on numbers posted by the D.C. Board of Elections, which shows 100 percent of precincts reported across the city.
With 74 percent of votes tallied in Ward 6, Charles Allen was leading Darrel Thompson, hoping to take the council seat of Tommy Wells, who was giving up his seat to run for mayor. Early Wednesday, Thompson said he had not conceded the race. In Ward 1, Graham, a four-term incumbent, struggled to weather the ethical issues that had dogged him for the past two years. In the end, Nadeau, a former Advisory Neighborhood Commission member, surged from a thicket of potential candidates.
In Ward 1, observers had questioned whether Graham, a four-term incumbent, would be resilient enough to weather the ethical issues that have dogged him for the past two years and what many observers considered a surprising surge by Nadeau, a former Advisory Neighborhood Commission member who emerged from a thicket of potential candidates. Questions about Graham’s conduct began circulating in 2012, when he was found to have improperly intervened in a Metro contract on behalf of a campaign contributor. In the case, an independent investigation found that Graham “acted in a manner contrary to Metro’s standard of conduct” when he tried to persuade a businessman to withdraw from a development project. In exchange, investigators found, Graham promised to support the businessman’s bid for a D.C. lottery contract.
Questions about Graham’s conduct began circulating in 2012, when an independent investigation found that the council member “acted in a manner contrary to Metro’s standard of conduct” when, while acting on behalf of the transit agency in 2008, he tried to persuade a businessman to withdraw from a development project. In exchange, investigators found, Graham promised to support the businessman’s bid for a D.C. lottery contract. In February 2013, a D.C. ethics board considered the same matter and found that Graham “engaged in conduct that adversely affected the public confidence in the integrity of government.” Even so, the board said it had no authority to sanction Graham because the contract was from 2008 — outside the board’s mandate to impose penalties.
In February 2013, a D.C. ethics board considered the same matter and found that Graham “engaged in conduct that adversely affected the public confidence in the integrity of government.” Even so, the board said it had no authority to sanction Graham because the contract occurred in 2008 — outside the board’s mandate to impose penalties.
The D.C. Council reprimanded Graham after the ethics board’s report; the council also revoked some of his powers over alcohol issues as head of a council committee. Graham became the second council member under home rule to be reprimanded by his colleagues; Marion Barry faced a censure from the council in 2010.The D.C. Council reprimanded Graham after the ethics board’s report; the council also revoked some of his powers over alcohol issues as head of a council committee. Graham became the second council member under home rule to be reprimanded by his colleagues; Marion Barry faced a censure from the council in 2010.
Graham, who maintained he had done nothing wrong, said he was “relieved” by the council’s action. “I can get on with the business of the city,” he said afterward. In the days leading up to the primary, Graham questioned the size of his opponent’s interest-free home loan. He alleged that Nadeau, a public relations consultant, solicited and received special consideration for a loan to buy her Northwest Washington condominium.
In December, when he announced he would seek a fifth term, Graham dismissed questions about how the lapses might affect his electoral prospects. “That’s old business,” he said. “It was before my last election.” Council members Wells and David Grosso (I-At Large) endorsed Nadeau’s candidacy, a rare move by council members, who usually stay out of competitive contests.
Before the primary, Graham questioned the size of his opponent’s interest-free home loan. He alleged that Nadeau, a public relations consultant, solicited and received special consideration for a loan to buy her Northwest Washington condominium.
Council members Wells and David Grosso (I-At Large) endorsed her candidacy, a rare move by council members, who usually stay out of competitive contests.
With Wells running for mayor, the race for the Ward 6 seat pitted Allen and Thompson, two relative newcomers.With Wells running for mayor, the race for the Ward 6 seat pitted Allen and Thompson, two relative newcomers.
Both brought previous experience in government: Allen is Wells’s former chief of staff and Thompson is a former deputy chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.).Both brought previous experience in government: Allen is Wells’s former chief of staff and Thompson is a former deputy chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.).
Both Allen and Thompson said they want to improve the condition of schools and provide more affordable housing for young families and older residents. Both Allen and Thompson promised to improve the condition of schools and provide more affordable housing for young families and older residents.
Allen’s supporters said Thompson’s national exposure is impressive but did not trump Allen’s knowledge of Ward 6 constituents. Thompson raised more than $196,000 for the contest.Allen’s supporters said Thompson’s national exposure is impressive but did not trump Allen’s knowledge of Ward 6 constituents. Thompson raised more than $196,000 for the contest.
In the race for the at-large seat, Bonds faced Bennett-Fleming as well as John F. Settles II and Pedro Rubio. Bonds, 68, held the seat vacated by Phil Mendelson when he became council chairman.In the race for the at-large seat, Bonds faced Bennett-Fleming as well as John F. Settles II and Pedro Rubio. Bonds, 68, held the seat vacated by Phil Mendelson when he became council chairman.
Bonds sponsored the Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2014, which Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) signed into law in March. But her detractors say she hasn’t done enough. Bonds sponsored the Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2014, which Gray (D) signed into law in March. But her detractors accused her of not doing enough beyond that measure.
A poll showed that one-third of voters were likely to back Bonds, followed by Bennett-Fleming with 16 percent. A third of likely voters were undecided. Both Settles and Rubio garnered support in the single digits. Mendelson, who was opposed by Calvin Gurley for chairman, handily won re-election Tuesday.
Mendelson, who was opposed by Calvin Gurley for chairman, was leading with a vote margin of more than 4 to 1.
In Ward 5, incumbent Kenyan McDuffie won nearly 80 percent of the vote in his race with Kathy Henderson and Carolyn C. Steptoe.In Ward 5, incumbent Kenyan McDuffie won nearly 80 percent of the vote in his race with Kathy Henderson and Carolyn C. Steptoe.
In Ward 3, Mary Cheh was unopposed. And in Ward 3, Mary Cheh was unopposed.