Biddle Tries to Knock Mara, Weaver and Patterson Off Ballot
Beginning fourth from left: Patrick Mara, Jacque Patterson, Sekou Biddle, Bryan Weaver. Photo by luisgomezphotos.
The challenges, which were filed by Biddle's campaign treasurer on the last day of a 10-day challenge period, seek to disqualify enough signatures on the nominating petitions turned in on February 16 by each campaign; candidates need at least 3,000 valid signatures to stay on the ballot. Both Weaver and Patterson turned in between 3,400 and 3,600 signatures, making them particularly vulnerable to challenges. Mara, on the other hand, submitted around 6,000 signatures, making it unlikely that the sole Republican in the At-Large race won't make the ballot.
Two other challenges were also filed: Lawrence Guyot, a supporter of At-Large hopeful Josh Lopez, also went after Mara's petitions, while Alonzo Edmondson challenged Patterson's petitions. Edmondson, who has been linked to Vincent Orange's campaign, successfully had Calvin Gurley knocked of the ballot in the race for D.C. Council Chair last year. Orange's petitions were almost challenged by Biddle, but in a last-minute reversal, the campaign chose not to pursue the challenges.
Challenges are part and parcel of the democratic process, but Biddle's decision to pursue them against three candidates who have less than half the money his campaign does set off a debate as to the wisdom of the move. By having his campaign treasurer file the challenges, Biddle loses the ability to claim any distance or plausible deniability. Moreover, if Weaver and Patterson get knocked off the ballot, Mara may well stand to pick up their core supporters -- further fueling a candidacy that has some potential to defeat Biddle.
Patterson wasn't happy with Biddle's move -- in a tweet that was subsequently deleted, Patterson wrote, "Biddle is a coward Challenge has nothing to do with integrity of petitions. He's scared to run against competent candidates." Weaver seemed more collected, saying in a statement, "I am confident that the incredibly hard work our volunteers did to collect signatures will withstand this challenge. In the meantime, I'll continue focusing my efforts on the real issues in this campaign; I'll fight for a city government that is about improving people's lives, not politics." In a conversation with DCist, Mara seemed nonplussed by the whole affair, noting that he submitted close to double the number of required signatures. (Guyot's challenge of Mara specifically focuses on 2,200 signatures, which, even if all of them were disqualified, wouldn't be enough to knock Mara off the ballot.)
The District's Board of Elections and Ethics has until March 15 to issue final rulings on the challenges, and candidates have until March 18 to file appeals with the D.C. courts.