Dorothy Brizill: D.C.’s own watchdog

Dorothy Brizill tools around in her SmartCar. A copy of the District municipal code sits in the rear along with a listing of the city’s 143 precincts. Asterisks appear near some; those are the ones she intends to visit. I’m along for the ride.

Founder of DC Watch, a government watchdog organization, Brizill pushed the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics to establish a hot line. She developed a survey and posted it on her organization’s Web site. She wants firsthand information from citizens about what they see at the polling places: Are there sufficient ballots; are the electronic machines working; and is there sufficient staff.