The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics formally declared the Ward 5 seat on the D.C. Council once held by Harry Thomas Jr. empty and scheduled a special election for May 15. Deborah Nichols, the board’s chairwoman, said the special election to fill the rest of Thomas’ term will likely cost about $318,000. The board has already requested the necessary funding from the D.C. Council, Nichols said.
Thomas will be sentenced on May 3 after pleading guilty to filing false tax returns and stealing $353,000 in public funds. Federal prosecutors are seeking a sentence of up to four years for Thomas, whose late father also served on the D.C. Council. – Alan Blinder
