Photo by Elvert Barnes.
Carol Schwartz, the former Councilmember and only Republican nominee to cross the 30 percent mark in a D.C. mayoral election since Home Rule, is launching an Independent bid to become the next mayor of the city.
In a lengthy statement, Schwartz says she’s “grown increasingly concerned about the ethics in our city, or lack thereof, and its effect on us and our reputation,” as well as the growing inequality in the city and lack of a needed leader in the general election.
“Because of a combination of these reasons and having many friends and strangers asking me to come back and run for Mayor, plus having the knowledge, the long-term experience, the commitment, a real record of proven results, and a love for this city and all its people, I could no longer stand aside,” she said.
If she’s able to collect enough signatures by the September deadline, Schwartz will join fellow ex-Republican, Councilmember David Catania in a race to defeat Democratic primary winner Muriel Bowser. Catania backed Patrick Mara over Schwartz during the 2008 Republican primary.
There is no mention of either Catania or Bowser in her announcement.
Schwartz says she switched her registration from Republican to Independent in 2013: “When I switched last year, I had not decided to run for office. But now that I am running, I am glad that I did so earlier, because I can say to the Democrats who have supported me even when I was a Republican, and those who have wanted to support me, that at least now I am meeting you halfway.”
She served on the Council from 1985 to 1989 and again from 1997 to 2008, and ran for mayor in 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2002.
