I Have Some News
Many Of You Have Asked, Here's The Answer
You deserve elected officials who speak clearly and honestly, so let me say this right from the start: I want to represent you again as an at-large member of the D.C. Council.
Here are four reasons why:
D.C. residents, workers, and civic institutions are under threat from the Trump administration. Our D.C. government needs to protect our neighbors and city from President Trump and his administration, not collaborate in their terror and lawlessness. I have experience standing up to hate and political intimidation.
With Trump costing tens of thousands of our residents their jobs and dragging down our economy, we need to use our resources efficiently and effectively. The D.C. Council needs to make sure our $22 billion budget delivers programs that work, make residents’ lives better, and make our local businesses stronger. I’ve made transparency, accountability, and getting results the foundation of my policymaking.
Our kids need trusted adults in their lives. And they need to be in school. We must be laser-focused on reducing truancy, which shows one-in-three students chronically absent. As a former Labor Committee chair, I know we also need our school day to work for our working families, which means expanding our existing free, universal pre-k to childcare, as well as to include quality, free aftercare.
Our residents should be represented by trusted leaders who have a track record of getting results, improving the lives of Washingtonians, and making our city more affordable. When I introduced the D.C. paid family leave bill a decade ago, people said it couldn’t be done. Now tens of thousands of workers have benefitted.
I’ve gotten calls and emails from many of you asking me to run again. Thank you! Your advocacy was persuasive! I am still a registered independent, as I have been for more than a decade, which means right now I am pursuing one of the two seats reserved for non-Democrats. Last week, one of those seats became vacant when Kenyan McDuffie resigned, prompting a special election that is scheduled for D.C. Primary Election Day, June 16. But in a quirk of D.C. law, the D.C. Council is selecting an interim council member to fill the seat until the special election results are certified.
An appointment like this by the Council has never happened before. Many members have expressed discomfort about choosing an interim colleague as it replaces the will of voters with their own. I spoke to Chairman Phil Mendelson and the remaining 11 council members, making the case that I have the experience and skill set that this appointment requires to deal with this upcoming and extremely challenging budget. I would start the appointment on Day 1 with a citywide understanding of our communities and immediately jump into oversight and appropriation, knowing what questions to ask of D.C. government agencies and how to make budget changes that make life better for Washingtonians.
I also bring two other qualities of tremendous value at this moment. I know what it’s like to face adversity in the political arena, be resilient, and fight for D.C. residents and local businesses. Plus, I have fresh eyes on the government and its operations since I’ve been out of the Wilson Building for a few years. For example, it took me two years and three permits to install a 12-foot-long wrought iron railing along the front steps of my house. That’s insane, our regulations need to make sense.
The Council will likely make a decision on the appointment at its meeting next week. I have gotten support from a number of members, but even if backroom politics keep me from being appointed, I’ll still need to be elected by the voters on June 16.
Hundreds of you came with me to Pennsylvania more than a year ago to knock on doors to save Home Rule and defend civility and democracy. Now I need your help here at home: If you want me to return to the Wilson Building to deliver a government that works and makes all of our lives better, I’m asking you to join me and support me again. In the coming days, I will form my campaign committee and officially announce my candidacy. Almost immediately, I’ll need you to help me collect D.C. voter signatures to make the ballot.
I love working with you to make this city we call home better. Thanks for reading and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or thoughts.
Elissa.
Fantastic announcement Elissa! You can count on my support. ❤️
There's nowhere on your campaign website to email you + your team directly with questions. By encouraging us to reach out with questions/thoughts, do you mean in the Comments section here?
The candidates I'm throwing my support behind this year have made themselves readily available by email, and frankly your campaign website is not especially detailed regarding your policy positions. I recognize you just announced, but given your past experience on the Council I have somewhat higher expectations as you announce your intent to run--especially as many candidates who've made themselves available announced last year.