Guest: Elissa Silverman, DC Councilmember (Independent, At-Larg)

Councilmember Silverman joins us to discuss some recent developments in the DC election.

More information, including some links for further exploration

UPDATED 1:30 p.m. 11/2 with recording and resources
Additional note: The author of this post, and host of this conversation, endorses no one in this race; We Act Radio, however, has expressed support for both McDuffie and Silverman.

On the November 2 program, Councilmember Elissa Silverman (Independent, At-Large), joins us to discuss some recent developments in the DC election. Among the topics: Recent entry of Opportunity DC IEC (independent expenditure committee) into the race, endorsing Kenyan McDuffie, currently serving as Democrat in Ward 5 but running as independent at-large. Opportunity DC has been sending advertisements displaying some apples to oranges comparisons of the two council members’ records. We’ll also discuss the recent ruling from the Office of Campaign Finance regarding one of Silverman’s primary-season expenditures, for a survey of voters in Ward 3, and other issues in these last weeks of the campaign.

Details regarding Opportunity DC mailing. (See below)

Karim D. Marshall, independent candidate for DC Council At-Large, shares this article, “To Govern without Fear,” about the complaint he filed with the Office Campaign Finance and related future steps he plans to take.

Resources mentioned on-line

Council Votes and Legislation

To check a Councilmember’s record, visit Legislative Information Management System and click on “Councilmember Voting Search.” The same search link can be used to find information on individual pieces of legislation, committee actions, and more.

Safe and Free DC — Black, collaborative legislative agenda with updates as actions take place. (archived site)

History

Recognize our history and honor the dead: More than 50 Black voters killed by Klan and other white rioters on November 2, 1920 during Ocoee Election Massacre. For more visit Zinn Education Project

Image: “Late Season Election Issues” over image of DC Official Election ballot envelope

OPPORTUNITY DC MAILING

UPDATE: Please note that pointing out misleading comparisons in mailers supporting one candidate does not constitute an endorsement of anyone. [The author of this post endorses no one in this race; We Act Radio, however, has expressed support for both McDuffie and Silverman. — V. Spatz]

Above is copy of mailer sent by Opportunity DC purporting to show differences between CM McDuffie and CM Silverman in voting records. Full text of the detailed “Comparison” follows; more image alt text is below.

Here are the three main points of “comparison.”

“Comparison ONE”

1A) “McDuffie secured $100 million in emergency pandemic relief funding to help DC employers and small businesses keep jobs here.”

Cited source: The citation on this flyer is to McDuffie’s campaign website, not the DC Council records.

Fact: McDuffie and Silverman voted identically on all aspects of the emergency pandemic relief referenced. SOURCE DC Council Legislative Information Management Systems for 2021.

1B) Silverman voted to increase regulations and red tape on DC businesses even as the pandemic has made it harder to make ends meet.

Cited source: A Washington Post article “DC Council’s Business measures could be a factor….” by Julie Zauzmer Weil discusses business issues in a general way without mentioning any specific legislation.

Fact: One example: “Hotel Enhanced Cleaning and Notice of Service Disruption Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2022” earlier in 2022, McDuffie and Silverman again voted identically. If there is a difference in record, it doesn’t show up in the cited source.

“Comparison TWO”

2A) “McDuffie authored the NEAR Act to target the root causes of crime and created programs to improve community-police relations, support at-risk youth and make DC Safer.”

Cited source: The flyer again references McDuffie’s campaign website.

Fact: McDuffie did author the NEAR Act. Silverman, and fellow Councilmembers, supported it with every vote. McDuffie and Silverman’s votes are identical. SOURCE DC Council Legislative Information Management Systems for 2015.

More: The whole entire point of the NEAR Act is to fund alternatives to policing. Thus (2B) here is a complete non-sequitur.

2B) “Silverman voted against hiring more police officers to address violent crime in the city and keep our community safe.”

Cited source: PR22-0076  (this time the flyer mentions LIMS)

Fact: Silverman voted “yes” on the bill as did McDuffie, in fact McDuffie INTRODUCED THE BILL!

Image: Voting record for the policing bill, showing unanimous “yes” vote; thought-bubbles highlight McDuffie and Silverman “yes” votes.

“Comparison THREE”

3A) “McDuffie believes in our campaign finance system and has stood up against corruption.”

3B) “Silverman is under investigation for breaking campaign finance laws for allegedly sharing insider information with other campaigns.”

Additional alt text: flyer shows McDuffie smiling right at the camera, with caption “Common Sense Results.” Silverman is shown, with a grim expression, looking away from the camera, with caption “Politics Ahead of People.” Please contact Opportunity DC — opportunitydciec@gmail.com — for further electioneering text.