Dennis Moore, a Brookland resident who ran unsuccessfully as a Republican write-in candidate for mayor, wants to create a new political party to represent the 65,321 District voters – 17 percent of the electorate – who consider themselves independents.
With his wife, Miriam, who lost an independent run for the Ward 5 D.C. Council seat, Moore filed papers last month with the Board of Elections and Ethics to create the D.C. Independent Party. It would be the 37th party approved in Washington, in addition to the Republicans and Democrats.
The couple have established an extensive platform and series of principles, bylaws and membership requirements, and are expected to have a hearing before the elections board during its meeting Tuesday .
“It’s about the people being the boss and the public officials being the employees, who we pay to effectively govern our assets,” Dennis Moore, 54, said Thursday. “We see ourselves as a conglomeration of what is best of the District of Columbia, whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Green or essentially apolitical.”
There are 35,000 more registered independents, known officially in the District as “No Party,” than Republicans. Both are dwarfed by the Democratic Party – with 285,486 voters.
Moore said many independents are “discontented and disgusted” with the establishment and looking for something more viable. Paul Herrnson, director of the Center for American Politics and Citizenship at the University of Maryland, disagreed.
“Most independents are not interested in politics, are not aware of politics and don’t participate in politics,” Herrnson said. “And the idea that they would become involved in politics all of a sudden is improbable.”
The mission of the D.C. Independent Party, according to Moore, is to “ensure fully open government and genuine accountability that enables and empowers full community control” by District residents. The party’s goals include organizing an effective political organization for independent voters, electing independent candidates and fundraising.
Moore expects the party to gain a strong following, if the elections board declares the party official. Independent voters would have to register with the party to be considered members. For more information, visit www.dcindependents.org.
