Vacant DC Council Seats Filled Amid Controversy
Washington, DC councilmembers previously arrested for suspected bribery have resecured their vacant seats in a special election held on Tuesday.
In August, the FBI took into custody Democrat Treyon White Sr. from District 8, following allegations that he accepted over $150,000 as part of a kickback scheme. Evidence reportedly includes a video showing an envelope filled with cash from a contractor who benefited from city contracts.
“We’re going to fight, but we shouldn’t let 12 individuals speak for 85,000,” White remarked.
Despite ongoing controversy, voters elected White again in November. However, the council expelled him in February, leading to this special election.
Several Democratic candidates, including White, sought to fill the empty seats.
During the campaign, White faced further scrutiny for failing to submit two required financial disclosures from his first year in office.
He stated, “I will get it done by July 23rd. I promise.”
Other candidates in the race included Salim Adfo, Mike Austin, and Sheila Van, with no Republicans running.
Frustration with White’s behavior was evident, especially from Austin, who stated that the previous actions of White had led to a lack of representation. “It’s a chance to correct past mistakes. We can’t overlook fraud anymore,” he expressed.
Adfo echoed this sentiment, asserting that electing White would hinder progress. “Moving ahead means creating opportunities to change direction,” he said.
In a similar vein, Bunn advocated for leadership free of ethical concerns. “Good people can make bad mistakes, but we can’t let those mistakes hurt our community,” she emphasized.
Ultimately, voters in District 8 chose White decisively, despite the other candidates’ presence, as he secured 29.7% of the vote. In comparison, Van and Austin garnered 24.3% and 23.7%, respectively, while Adfo received 22.3%.
White expressed his apprehension about potentially being expelled again despite voter support, vowing to strongly advocate for his position in the council. “We can’t let them silence our voices,” he stated in his victory address.
