1997 Council of the District of Columbia special election

US election 1997 Council of the District of Columbia special elections District of Columbia legislative no 1996 Council of the District of Columbia election 1996 1998 Council of the District of Columbia election 1998 3 of the 13 seats in the Council of the District of Columbia 7 3x4.svg Vacant District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 11 10 1 Hilda Mason.jpg Hilda Mason D.C. Statehood Party 1 1 Carol Schwartz 2005 Pride Parade.png Carol Schwartz District of Columbia Republican Party 1 2 1 The 1997 Council of the District of Columbia special elections were held on April 29, July 22, and December 2 to elect new members to the then-vacated positions of Ward 6 Councilmember, Council Chairperson, and At-large Councilmember respectively. All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on one ballot for a special election in the District of Columbia. The individual who receives a plurality of votes is the winning candidate. Chairperson 1997 Council of the District of Columbia Chairperson special election Flag of the District of Columbia.svg presidential 1994 Council of the District of Columbia election#Chairperson 1994 1998 Council of the District of Columbia election#Chairperson 1998 July 22, 1997 Linda Cropp (cropped).jpg Linda Cropp District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 16,151 88.66% Socialist Workers Party of the District of Columbia 3x4.svg Mary Martin 1,459 8.01% Chairperson Linda Cropp(interim) Democratic Linda Cropp Democratic Incumbent chairman David A. Clarke had died on March 27 of Primary central nervous system lymphoma, and was replaced on an interim basis by incumbent At-large Councilmember Linda Cropp. She was contested in the July 22 special election by Socialist Workers Party candidate Mary Martin.D.C. CHAIRMAN CANDIDATES https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/05/15/dc-chairman-candidates/4da88a8c-ef21-44c2-92af-c59e11b4b3df/ 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 14 May 1997 Candidates Linda Cropp, interim Chairperson and elected Democratic At-large Councilmember Mary Martin, activist Endorsements Linda Cropp Publications The Washington PostEditorial Board LINDA CROPP FOR COUNCIL CHAIRMAN https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1997/07/21/linda-cropp-for-council-chairman/b83400e3-d0b4-4d7e-a7eb-c8444d6490eb/ 23 July 2026 The Washington Post 21 July 1997 Special Election 1997 Council of the District of Columbia Chairperson special electionJuly 22 Special Election for Chairman of the Council https://dcboe.org/getmedia/e200fbea-732d-4e35-9d85-c09d109744a3/1997_spec_elec_results.pdf 1 August 1997 DC Board of Elections 22 July 2026 District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Linda Cropp 16,151 88.66% Socialist Workers Party of the District of Columbia Mary Martin 1,459 9.01% 606 3.33% 18,16 100% At-large 1997 Council of the District of Columbia At-large special election Flag of the District of Columbia.svg presidential 1994 Council of the District of Columbia election#At-large 1994 1998 Council of the District of Columbia election#At-large 1998 December 2, 1997 Davidcatania.jpg David Catania District of Columbia Republican Party 10,818 42.54% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 3x4.svg Arrington Dixon 9,621 37.84% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 3x4.svg Philip Heinrich 4,240 16.67% Socialist Workers Party of the District of Columbia 3x4.svg Mary Martin 464 1.82% Councilmember Arrington Dixon(interim) Democratic David Catania Republican Incumbent At-large Coucncilmember Linda Cropp's victory in the July 22 special election for chairperson of the Council resulted in a vacancy in the seat, triggering another special election to be held on December 2. Former Council Chairman and Democrat Arrington Dixon was appointed to serve as the interim At-large councilmember.Arrington Dixon to Fill Vacancy Left by Cropp on D.C. Council The Washington Post 1997-08-16 D06 2008-07-22 https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/13510799.html?FMT=ABS https://web.archive.org/web/20110525020820/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/13510799.html?FMT=ABS dead May 25, 2011 He was challenged by 3 candidates. Candidates David Catania, lawyer and Ward 1 Advisory Neighborhood CommissionerSPECIAL ELECTION: DAVID CATANIA https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/11/27/special-election-david-catania/a9a68ee9-91ad-4f48-8a1a-c2779a7d3a4e/ 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 26 November 1997 Arrington Dixon, interim At-large Councilmember Philip Heinrich, reform activistSPECIAL ELECTION: PHIL HEINRICH https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/11/27/special-election-phil-heinrich/42b78e34-4bd2-42be-8fbe-c90309873d22/ 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 26 November 1997 Mary Martin, activistSPECIAL ELECTION: MARY MARTIN https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/11/27/special-election-mary-martin/73130ae2-931a-47e3-87e9-9b5aee1d6592/ 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 26 November 1997 Endorsements David Catania Publications The Washington PostTHE D.C. COUNCIL CHOICE https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1997/11/29/the-dc-council-choice/ad0a7f1f-60ac-4bc7-b171-aeeb764fb1a1/ 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 29 November 1997 Debates + Debates and forums for At-large candidates Date Place Host Participantsblack #99ff99  P  Participant. black #ccffcc  I  Invitee. black #ffffdd  A  Absent. black #ff9999  N  Confirmed non-invitee. grey #ececec  O  Out of race (exploring, suspended, or not yet entered) Catania Dixon Heinrich Martin11 November 1997Mooar Brian https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/11/12/dc-council-candidates-spar-at-forum/053b028b-1ff1-43b7-862a-54a48d72c835/ D.C. COUNCIL CANDIDATES SPAR AT FORUM 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 12 November 1997St. Thomas' Episcopal ChurchWashington BladePPPP Special Election 1997 Council of the District of Columbia At-large special electionDecember 2 Special Election for At-Large Member of the Council https://dcboe.org/elections/election-results-archives/december-2-special-election-for-at-large-member-of-the-council 12 December 1997 DC Board of Elections 22 July 2026 District of Columbia Republican Party David Catania 10,818 42.54% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Arrington Dixon 9,621 37.84% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Philip Heinrich 4,240 16.67% Socialist Workers Party of the District of Columbia Mary Martin 464 1.82% 285 1.12% 25,428 100% Ward 6 1997 Council of the District of Columbia Ward 6 special election Flag of the District of Columbia.svg presidential 1994 Council of the District of Columbia election#Ward 6 1994 1998 Council of the District of Columbia election#Ward 6 1998 April 29, 1997 Sharon Ambrose District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 2,888 25.05% Umoja Party George Augustus Stallings Jr in 1993.png George Augustus Stallings Jr. 2,080 18.04% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 3x4.svg Howard Croft 1,747 15.15% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 3x4.svg Sandy McCall 1,641 14.23% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Capozzi (cropped).jpg John Capozzi 1,436 12.46% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 3x4.svg Rob Robinson 764 6.63% Councilmember Vacant Sharon Ambrose Democratic Incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember Harold Brazil won election to an At-large seat on the Council in the 1996 election, vacating his Ward 6 seat and triggering a special election. 14 candidates filed for the special electionWilliams Vanessa 14 HOPEFULS FILE TO RUN IN WARD 6 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/02/27/14-hopefuls-file-to-run-in-ward-6/9745dc97-6882-4157-9d84-5ae7622b6d0e/ 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 26 February 1997 with 12 eventually reaching the ballot, as Democrat Sharon Ambrose eventually winning the seat. Candidates Sharon Ambrose, former Council staffer John Capozzi, former District of Columbia Shadow Representative Howard Croft, professor at the University of the District of Columbia Charles W. Day, retired federal employee Anthony Graham Sr., lawyer Bernard A. Gray, lawyer and candidate in the 1997 Ward 7 election Tom Hamilton, computer engineer and education activist Sandy McCall, businessman and anti-crime activist Patrick Merkle, lawyer Steve Michael, AIDS activist Rob Robinson, former Council staffer George Augustus Stallings Jr., founder of the African-American Catholic Congregation Withdrawn Ernest Postell Sr., former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Trista Tramposch, administrator Endorsements Sharon Ambrose Organizations District of Columbia Chamber of CommerceWilliams Vanessa WARD 6 COUNCIL SEAT UP FOR GRABS IN TIGHT RACE https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/04/24/ward-6-council-seat-up-for-grabs-in-tight-race/eff0be79-b584-4201-9f3d-611d8744ac31/ 22 July 2026 The Washington Post 23 April 1997 Publications The Washington PostEditorial Board Tuesday's Ward 6 Council Election https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/ward-6-voters-crime-is-crisis/docview/1458325211 23 July 2026 The Washington Post Howard Croft Organizations AFL-CIO Metropolitan Washington Council Sandy McCall Organizations Metropolitan Police Department Fraternal order of police Rob Robinson Organizations Greater Washington Board of Trade Special election 1997 Council of the District of Columbia Ward 6 special electionApril 29 Special Election for Ward 6 Member of the Council https://dcboe.org/elections/election-results-archives/april-29-special-election-for-ward-6-member-of-the-council 9 May 1997 DC Board of Elections 22 July 2026 District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Sharon Ambrose 2,888 25.05% Umoja Party George Augustus Stallings Jr. 2,080 18.04% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Howard Croft 1,747 15.15% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Sandy McCall 1,641 14.23% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee John Capozzi 1,436 12.46% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Rob Robinson 764 6.63% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Sandy McCall 1,641 14.23% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Bernard A. Gray 331 2.87% District of Columbia Republican Party Patrick Merkle 304 2.64% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Tom Hamilton 117 1.01% AIDS Cure Party Steve Michael 78 0.68% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Anthony Graham Sr. 59 0.51% District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Charles W. Day 58 0.50% 25 0.22% 11,528 100% References Category:1997 United States local elections Category:Council of the District of Columbia elections Category:Special elections in Washington, D.C.