Recommendations for Endorsement: D.C. General Election November 7, 2006
Following are Smokefree DC’s endorsements of candidates in races for mayor and Council who will appear on the District of Columbia general ballot on November 7. Recommendations were prepared by the Smokefree DC steering committee based on the candidates’ track records and their responses to a questionnaire. Only candidates who returned the questionnaire are eligible for endorsement.
Mayor of the District of Columbia
Three candidates will appear on the printed ballot.
Adrian Fenty
There is no question that Democrat Adrian Fenty is far and away the best candidate for mayor. As a Ward 4 councilmember, he has been a strong, early, and consistent proponent of 100 percent smokefree workplaces and has earned our enthusiastic support. He cointroduced three strong bills: the Smokefree Workplaces Act of 2003 (B15-441), the Smokefree Workplaces Act of 2005 (B16-0187), and the bill that was ultimately passed into law, the Department of Health Functions Clarification Amendment Act of 2006 (B16-293). Due to principled objection to some of its clauses, he did not sign onto one other smokefree workplace bill, the Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2005 (B16-0193). His answers to our July 2006 questionnaire emphatically favor most of Smokefree DC’s positions, except that he does not support increasing DC’s tax on tobacco products. We feel confident that as mayor, Mr. Fenty would faithfully implement and enforce the new law with steadfast conviction.
Chairman-At-Large of the Council of the District of Columbia
Only one candidate will appear on the printed ballot.
Vincent C. Gray
When Democratic Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray ran for office two years ago, his platform included strong support for comprehensive smokefree workplace legislation. Once in office he co-introduced all three of the good 2005 bills: the Smokefree Workplaces Act of 2005 (B16-0187), the Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2005 (16-0193), and the bill that was ultimately passed into law, the Department of Health Functions Clarification Amendment Act of 2006 (B16-293). Mr. Gray provided serious, thoughtful responses to our July questionnaire that demonstrate a continuing commitment to the issue. As Council Chair we can expect that he will work to preserve the integrity of the new smokefree workplace law.
Member-At-Large of the Council of the District of Columbia (2 seats)
On November 7 voters will be able to choose two District-wide "at-large" seats on the Council from among five candidates on the printed ballot. One seat is reserved for someone not in the majority party (that is, someone who is not a Democrat).
Phil Mendelson
Democratic incumbent Councilmember-At-Large Phil Mendelson has been a strong, early, and consistent supporter of 100 percent smokefree workplaces and a friend and ally of Smokefree DC. He co-sponsored the first strong bill that Adrian Fenty and Kathy Patterson introduced, the Smokefree Workplaces Act of 2003 (B15-441), and co-introduced all of the other three strong bills, the Smokefree Workplaces Act of 2005 (B16-0187), the Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2005 (16-0193), and the bill that was ultimately passed into law, the Department of Health Functions Clarification Amendment Act of 2006 (B16-293). His answers to our July questionnaire are thorough and uniformly supportive, except that does not support raising the DC tax on tobacco products. His support over the years has been steadfast.
David A. Catania
Independent incumbent Councilmember-At-Large David Catania was a late convert to the idea of smokefree workplace legislation but became a strong supporter after studying the issue. As chair of the Health Committee of Council, he was singlehandedly responsible for moving a successful smokefree bill, the Department of Health Functions Clarification Amendment Act of 2006 (B16-293), through the Council process after all previous bills had been bottled up. Although Smokefree DC is opposed to several specific provisions of the compromise he brokered, including the economic hardship waiver and the tobacco bar exemption, Mr. Catania is committed to defending the new law from attempts to weaken its implementation and enforcement. We heartily recommend that he be re-elected.
Member-Ward 1 of the Council of the District of Columbia
Only one candidate will appear on the printed ballot.
Jim Graham
After a long period of remaining consistently noncommittal and not signing on to any bill, in June 2005 incumbent Democratic Councilmember Jim Graham conducted a large, well-attended Ward 1 town hall meeting at the Lincoln Theater and at its conclusion dramatically announced his support for a smokefree workplaces law. This well-publicized forum provided an important political boost for us, and since then he has proven himself a friend and ally of Smokefree DC. As a member of the Committee on Health, he helped to move the Department of Health Functions Clarification Amendment Act of 2006 (B16-293), which went on to pass the full Council. His answers to Smokefree DC’s questionnaire indicate opposition to amending the new law until its implementation can be assessed. He expresses support for increasing DC’s tax on tobacco products and spending more on tobacco use prevention and cessation programs.
Member-Ward 3 of the Council of the District of Columbia
Two candidates will appear on the printed ballot for this open seat.
Mary M. Cheh
Although she does not have a legislative track record to assess, Democrat Mary M. Cheh returned her Smokefree DC questionnaire with a cover note saying, “I vigorously support what you do.” At the Smokefree DC membership meeting held to discuss endorsements in the primary, she addressed the group and laid out a strong case for her endorsement. She advocates for a complete phase out of tobacco bars, highlighting the harm done to their employees. She also supports increasing DC’s tax on tobacco products and spending more on effective tobacco use prevention and cessation programs.
Member-Ward 6 of the Council of the District of Columbia
Three candidates will appear on the printed ballot for this open seat.
Will Cobb
Although he does not have a legislative track record to assess, Independent candidate Will Cobb claims to have a personal understanding of the health hazards of secondhand smoke and aligns himself with the goals of Smokefree DC. The son of smokers, he recalls as a child feeling sick in the car when they lit up. In addition, a close family member is highly allergic to secondhand smoke and cannot enter any restaurant or bar where smoking is permitted. Mr. Cobb has indicated that he strongly supports strengthening the smokefree law if necessary and is keenly aware of the importance of tobacco cessation programs.