Endorsements for D.C. Primary Election
September 12, 2006
The following candidates have received Smokefree DC's endorsement in races for mayor and Council in the District of Columbia primary on September 12. These endorsements were based on recommendations of the Smokefree DC steering committee and were approved at a meeting of Smokefree DC's membership. The endorsements were based on the candidates' track records and their responses to a July 2006 questionnaire. Only candidates who returned a questionnaire were eligible for endorsement. Candidates who will appear on the November 7 general election ballot will be considered for endorsement at a later time.
Mayor of the District of Columbia
Nine Democrats, two Republicans, and one candidate from the Statehood Green party are competing for the position that Anthony Williams is vacating. The six candidates who returned Smokefree DC's questionnaire are eligible for endorsement.
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.
Read comments on other mayoral candidates.
As chair of the DC Council, Democrat Linda Cropp has had the opportunity, skill and power to be a strong leader in the fight for smokefree workplaces -- and chose not to play that role. In 2003, she co-sponsored a weak bill introduced by Carol Schwartz, the Smoke-Free Workplaces Incentive Amendment Act of 2003 (B15-605). The first time Mrs. Cropp expressed her support for a strong smokefree workplaces bill was in response to a September 2005 Smokefree DC questionnaire circulated to potential mayoral candidates. Ultimately she voted for the Department of Health Functions Clarification Amendment Act of 2006 (B16-293), which passed the DC Council by a 12-1 vote. Her answers to our July 2006 questionnaire were mildly positive toward most of Smokefree DC's positions, but she would allow tobacco bars to require minimum tobacco purchases and to transfer their licenses. She has been endorsed by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), a relentless opponent of every smokefree workplaces initiative. Assessing her record as whole, Mrs. Cropp's support for our issues has been lukewarm and we question how vigorous her implementation and enforcement of the new law would be should she be elected mayor.
Democrat Marie Johns has not served in DC government and therefore has no legislative track record. As President of Verizon in DC, she is not known to have supported corporate smokefree policies or tobacco cessation programs. She did not respond to Smokefree DC's September 2005 mayoral candidate questionnaire. Her responses to the July 2006 questionnaire are mildly positive in tone yet vague, non-committal, and trusting of the good intentions of business owners.
Republican write-in candidate Albert Ceccone provided only one-word answers to our questionnaire: 5 yes's (favorable to Smokefree DC's positions) and 3 no's (against Smokefree DC's positions). He does not have a legislative track record to assess.
Democrat Nestor Djonkam has no legislative track record. His answers to our questionnaire are positive and thoughtful, although he would allow tobacco bars to require minimum tobacco purchases.
Democrat Vincent Orange did not return Smokefree DC's questionnaire and his record as a sitting councilmember representing Ward 5 is mixed. He cosponsored Carol Schwartz's weak bill, the Smoke-Free Workplaces Incentive Amendment Act of 2003 (B15-605), and did not introduce or cosponsor any of the four strong bills. Soon after Smokefree DC circulated a mayoral candidate questionnaire in September 2005, he called a press conference in front of the Wilson Building to express his support for a strong smokefree workplaces bill. He eventually voted for the bill that passed the DC Council 12-1.
Democrat Artee (RT) Milligan has no legislative track record. His answers to our questionnaire are positive and thoughtful, although he would allow tobacco bars to require minimum tobacco purchases.
Democrat Artee (RT) Milligan has no legislative track record. His answers to our questionnaire are positive and thoughtful, although he would allow tobacco bars to require minimum tobacco purchases.
Democrat Michael A. Brown, Democratic write-in candidates Dennis Moore and Faith, Statehood Green candidate Chris Otten, and Republican David W. Kranich and did not return our questionnaire and do not have legislative track records.
Democrat Artee (RT) Milligan has no legislative track record. His answers to our questionnaire are positive and thoughtful, although he would allow tobacco bars to require minimum tobacco purchases.
Democrat Artee (RT) Milligan has no legislative track record. His answers to our questionnaire are positive and thoughtful, although he would allow tobacco bars to require minimum tobacco purchases.
Chairman-At-Large of the Council of the District of Columbia
Two Democrats are competing for the powerful, high profile position that Linda Cropp is vacating. Both candidates returned Smokefree DC's questionnaire and are eligible for endorsement. Both are sitting councilmembers who have been strong supporters of smokefree workplaces. Although we would prefer not to have to choose between them, the steering committee believes that one of the candidates is truly outstanding and has earned our enthusiastic support.
Kathy Patterson
Serving as Councilmember for Ward 3, Kathy Patterson co-introduced all four strong bills: the Smokefree Workplaces Act of 2003 (B15-441), 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). She has served as a public champion for our cause and has consistently shown herself to be a smart leader with strategic vision. Her answers to our July 2006 questionnaire express emphatic support for our positions, communicated in terms that demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the political process. Her campaign manager formerly led the American Cancer Society's advocacy campaign for smokefree workplaces in DC.
Read comments on other Ward 3 candidates.
Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray ran for his current seat in 2004 on a smokefree platform. Once in office he co-introduced all three of the good 2005 bills, including the one that passed. He provided serious, thoughtful responses to our July questionnaire, but opposes outdoor no-smoking buffer zones around entrances, would allow tobacco bars to require minimum tobacco purchases, and is reluctant to invest in a major prevention campaign. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) has endorsed him and recently sponsored a fundraising event for him.
Note that Kathy Patterson is giving up her Council seat to run for Chairman, whereas Vincent Gray's current term still has two years to run. We cannot afford to lose her from the Council.
Member-At-Large of the Council of the District of Columbia (2 seats)
On November 7, voters will fill two District-wide "at-large" seats on the Council, currently occupied by Phil Mendelson and David Catania. One seat is reserved for someone not in the majority party (that is, someone who is not a Democrat). The September 12 primary will narrow the field to one Democrat, who will then compete with the Republican, Statehood Green and independent candidates on November 7. The steering committee recommends an endorsement only in the primary race at this time.
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 has been steadfast.
Read comments on other Member-At-Large candidates.
Democratic challenger A. Scott Bolden does not have a legislative track record and did not return our questionnaire. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) has endorsed him.
Republican Marcus W. Skelton and Statehood Green candidate Ann C. Wilcox do not have legislative track records and did not return Smokefree DC's questionnaire.
Member-Ward 1 of the Council of the District of Columbia
Two Democrats are competing in this race.
Jim Graham
After a long period of remaining consistently noncommittal and not signing on to any bill, in June 2005 incumbent 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.
Read comments on other Ward 1 candidates.
The other candidate in this race, Chad Williams, does not have legislative track records and did not return Smokefree DC's questionnaire.
Member-Ward 3 of the Council of the District of Columbia
Nine Democrats and one Republican are competing for the seat that Kathy Patterson is vacating, none of whom has a legislative track record. Eight candidates answered Smokefree DC's July 2006 questionnaire. The steering committee determined that we lacked enough information to choose among the top three candidates (Sam Brooks, Robert Gordon and Mary Cheh) and decided to forward their names to the membership for further consideration. After two rounds of voting, Sam Brooks received the endorsement.
Sam Brooks
Democrat Sam Brooks has been a friend of Smokefree DC, consistently supported our positions, and ran on a smokefree workplace platform in his unsuccessful 2004 Council race. As a staff member in Councilmember Graham's office, he helped to convert Graham to a strong smokefree workplaces supporter. Brooks answered "yes" in favor of all of Smokefree DC's positions on our questionnaire but did not elaborate.
Read comments on other Ward 3 candidates.
Democrat Mary M. Cheh returned her questionnaire with a cover note saying, "I vigorously support what you do." She advocates 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.
Democrat Robert Gordon highlights his support for smokefree workplaces in his campaign literature, the only candidate we are aware of who has done so this year. He answered our questionnaire with emphatic statements about strengthening the law and notes that the ANC he serves on was the first in Ward 3 to support smokefree workplace legislation and send a letter to the Council and Mayor about it.
Republican Theresa Conroy wrote on her questionnaire: "As a general statement, I am opposed to smoking and in favor of legislative, regulatory and budgetary actions that would prevent or discourage it. But I also believe that it is appropriate to consider the possible effects on the economy, tax revenues, jobs and personal freedom of such anti-smoking measures." Her answers to our individual questions indicate a desire to assess the implementation of the new law before working to strengthen it. She challenges the assumption that businesses will abuse the law and is skeptical of the value of increasing DC's tax on tobacco products.
Democrat Eric Goulet provided thoughtful, lengthy answers that reflect a good understanding of the legislative process. However, he challenges of importance of increasing DC's tax on tobacco products and would like to assess the implementation of the new law before working to strengthen it.
Democrat Bill Rice did not provide individual answers to our questions, but wrote in a cover note: "I support all of the items mentioned in the questionnaire and would vote for [them]..."
Democrat Paul Strauss supports the goal of the new smokefree workplaces law but is reluctant to strengthen it until its implementation can be evaluated. He supports an outdoor smokefree buffer zone in front of entrances, increasing DC's tax on tobacco products, and spending more on tobacco use prevention and cessation programs.
Democrat Cathy Wiss provided thoughtful answers, but avoided taking a stand on anything except that she supports increasing DC's tax on tobacco products and funding prevention and cessation programs.
The campaign of Democrat Erik S. Gaull wrote that the candidate supports Smokefree DC but has been too busy to complete our questionnaire.
Democrat Jonathan Rees declined to participate in this exercise.
Member-Ward 5 of the Council of the District of Columbia
Eleven Democrats and two Statehood Green candidates are competing in the primary for the seat that Vincent Orange is vacating. None of the candidates has a legislative track record. Four candidates responded to our questionnaire:
Kathy Henderson
Democrat Kathy Henderson has earned our support by testifying before the DC Council in support of comprehensive smokefree workplace legislation. On her questionnaire she declares that she would eliminate all exemptions and waivers that limit full compliance with the new law, and would phase out the economic hardship waiver even sooner than Smokefree DC advocates.
Read comments on other Ward 5 candidates.
Democrat Deborah "Debbie" Smith answered positively to most of Smokefree DC's proposals, except that instead of prohibiting the sale or transfer of tobacco bar licenses she would cap the number of such establishments and allow residents to petition for "tobacco free zones" that would exclude tobacco bars. She supports spending double what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for a comprehensive prevention and cessation program.
Democrat Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr. provided mildly positive yet generally noncommittal answers with a ‘wait and see' theme regarding implementation of the new law and a cautious ‘more information is needed' theme on expanding its provisions. One firm answer is that he expresses support for a well-funded tobacco use prevention and cessation program.
Democrat Rae Zapata provided only "yes" or "no" responses to our positions. She would not prohibit tobacco bars from requiring minimum tobacco purchases.
Democrats Joe Harris, Regina James, Ron L. Magnus, Bruce A. Marshall, Audrey M. Ray, Frank Wilds, and Vera Winfield, and Statehood Green candidates Philip Blair, Jr. and Carolyn C. Steptoe, did not return Smokefree DC's questionnaire.
Member-Ward 6 of the Council of the District of Columbia
Three Democrats and one Republican are competing for the seat that Sharon Ambrose is retiring from. None of the candidates has a legislative track record. All responded to our questionnaire:
Curtis L. Etherly, Jr.
Democrat Curtis L. Etherly, Jr. indicated strong support for most of Smokefree DC's positions in his questionnaire. He said he would support tightening rules under which waivers are granted, phasing out the economic hardship waiver, and raising to 25 percent the amount of tobacco required to be sold to qualify as a tobacco bar. He would prohibit the sale or transfer of tobacco bar licenses and would support 25-foot smokefree setback zones outside buildings. He supports a higher tax on cigarettes and allocating $7.5 million in tobacco settlement funds for tobacco prevention. However, he does not support prohibiting tobacco bars from requiring minimum tobacco purchases, stating that "I would be concerned about so closely regulating the business practices of lawfully operating businesses." He did, however, not that he is "open to being better educated" about the matter. Should he win, Smokefree DC looks forward to the opportunity to discuss this further with him.
Read comments on other Ward 6 candidates.
Democrat Leo Pinson's answers on our questionnaire were mixed. While he supported a phase out of the hardship waiver and the tightening of rules under which waivers may be granted, other answers concerned us. For instance, he wrote that "legitimate and illegitimate businesses would likely be hurt" by requiring tobacco bars to have 25 percent of sales, rather than 10 percent of sales, in tobacco. He also said that "as much as I detest smoking, I believe in a person's right to build a business and sell it if they wish."
Democrat Tommy Wells indicated general, but conditional, support for smokefree issues. On many questions, he indicated that he would need further study before reaching a definite conclusion.
Republican Tony Williams expressed general support of most of the areas of concern to Smokefree DC, but would not support phasing out economic hardship waivers and was non-committal on the matter of smokefree setbacks outside buildings.