Like a wormhole based out of the D.C. Board of Elections’ Judiciary Square offices, the field of candidates running for a D.C. Council at-large seat continues to suck in new hopefuls. Someday, we’ll all be running for this single seat, but for now LL has only three more candidates to add.
First up: city contractor and recent failed mayoral candidate Christian Carter, who picked up petitions to enter the race last Friday. Carter entered the mayoral primary race last July under accusations that he’d stiffed some of his subcontractors, then distinguished himself by crashing a mayoral debate in Georgetown and getting rowdy. Before the race could even get going, though, Carter announced that he was dropping out at Ward 8 straw poll in January.
Can Carter make the ballot this time? LL’s not sure, given that Carter left the mayor’s race in the face of two petition challenges. There’s evidence that he’s planning a more substantial campaign this time, though—-reached this morning, Carter said he was too busy making fundraising plans to talk with LL.
If Carter keeps running for office, he could see his future across from him at debates in the form of frequent candidate Calvin Gurley. Gurley just finished up an unsuccessful primary challenge to Council chairman Phil Mendelson and, like Carter, picked up his petitions last week.
Along with Carter and Gurley—-two people who are always on the hunt for elected office—-the at-large field now includes someone who’s happy to give up an office after winning it. Ward 7 resident Courtney R. Snowden scored an alternate national committeewoman spot on the D.C. Democratic State Committee in April’s primary with nearly 60 percent of the vote. That puts her in an awkward spot for running for the at-large seat, which is reserved for non-Democrats.
No problem! In a press release today, Snowden announces that she’s giving up her new post to run for the Council seat. In a move that’s sure to cause agita for Statehood Greens and Republicans sick of Democrats changing, Snowden writes in a letter to Councilmember and State Committee boss Anita Bonds that, although she’s switched party registration, she’s still a Democrat at heart.
“I am committed to the Democratic principles on which I ran in April, and I have been honored to serve as the Alternate National Committeewoman, even if only briefly,” Snowden writes.
Photo courtesy Christian Carter