It’s not a good thing when a leader becomes so focused on his future he ignores his legal obligation to ensure fair elections. That’s what happened last week when the D.C. Council, led by mayoral candidate Vincent C. Gray, failed to address the appointment of a minority political party representative to the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.
The council met for a special session to approve Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s nomination of Togo D. West, a democrat. The vote was necessary because Board Chairman Errol Arthur had announced his resignation, effective Aug. 2. A former secretary of the army, West is eminently qualified for the post.
But the elections board remains incomplete. By law it must have three members — one of whom must be a minority party representative. In April, Fenty nominated Mital Gandhi to fill that position. A Republican, he is not related to the city chief financial officer, Natwar Gandhi.
The council could have voted on Gandhi’s nomination during the same meeting they approved West’s nomination. Instead, the chairman declined to take up the nomination, which was tabled prior to the legislature’s summer recess. At-large Councilman David Catania, an independent, specifically asked whether there would be a vote on Gandhi. It was not on the agenda and therefore could not be considered, he was told.
When Catania requested it be placed on the agenda for a special meeting expected to be held today on the summer jobs program, Gray said only that he would “take it under advisement.”
Ward 6 Councilman Wells then went one step further; he asked Gray to poll the members before deciding on Catania’s request. That was Wells’ way of suggesting the decision to schedule the vote wasn’t just the chairman’s to make. Ward 4’s Muriel Bowser reminded everyone of the possible danger of having only two members; what happens if another member decides to leave or becomes ill before the September primary?
Ward 8’s Marion “Mr. Ethics” Barry said the board doesn’t need three members to function. Two members are enough. He doesn’t get it.
Apparently Gray doesn’t get it, either. He’s putting mayoral politics above the law.
Gray seems to have aligned himself with Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas, who is antagonistic toward Gandhi’s nomination. Who knows what Thomas has against Gandhi? One thing is certain: Gray wants Thomas’ help in winning Ward 5 and he’s willing to do what it takes to get that assistance.
But Gray doesn’t understand that residents see the legislature setting a double standard: It demands the mayor follow local laws — but the council is free to break any law it wishes with impunity. A representative from a minority political party is a legal requirement that ensures there is a check and balance between the parties running the election and certifying that it was held fairly. This is crucial for the upcoming election, which everyone expects to be fraught with voting irregularities and allegations of vote tampering or outright fraud.
As mayoral candidate, the chairman has said he believes in transparency and inclusiveness. If he fails to place Gandhi’s nomination on the agenda for Monday’s session, ensuring all types of political voices are present on the elections board, then Gray would have made it clear that his all-us-together philosophy is nothing more than talk.
Jonetta Rose Barras can be reached at mailto:[email protected] “>[email protected].
