Zukerberg

Zukerberg

D.C got its first-ever candidate for Attorney General today as attorney Paul Zukerberg announced that he just filed a Declaration of Candidacy to run for the position.

His first major hurdle in the Attorney General election? To ensure that there will be one next year. Back in 2010, D.C. voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to have D.C.’s first Attorney General election on the ballot in 2014. But the D.C. Council voted to delay that election until 2018, because most Councilmembers feel that the city is “just not ready for this.”

Before Zukerberg can actually run for Attorney General, he’ll sue the Council to stop the bill that will delay the election until 2018.

The former At-Large Council candidate announced today via Twitter that there’s a hearing on Thursday in relation to his attempt to keep the AG race on the ballot for 2014.

You can read Zukerberg’s full release announcing his candidacy below:

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Paul Zukerberg, a trial lawyer with offices in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C., officially enters the race to become the District’s first elected attorney general. If the election goes forward, D.C. will join the 43 states in which voters elect an independent attorney general.

Zukerberg, a Democrat, will file his candidacy at the D.C. Board of Elections on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m.

The primary election for Attorney General is scheduled for April 1, 2014. However, legislation passed by the D.C. Council, and approved without signature by Mayor Vince Gray, will cancel the election – despite the fact that 76% of D.C. voters approved a ballot initiative calling for an elected attorney general beginning in 2014.

Zukerberg is challenging in federal court the government’s decision to cancel the attorney general election.

“For over a quarter century I have been fighting for equal justice under the law,” said Zukerberg. “In that time, I have seen a lot of injustice, but never did I believe that in America I would see our government cancel an election.”

“As attorney general, I will fight corruption, protect our citizens, and reform our broken juvenile justice system,” Zukerberg continued. “And I will never sit idly by, or bow to pressure, when the voting rights of District residents are threatened.”

“We are engaged in a court battle testing whether the people’s decision to elect their attorney general will be respected by the Council and the Mayor. This fight is about more than any single candidate, or any one election. It is about the fundamental right of the people to chose their own form of government,” said Zukerberg.

“An overwhelming majority of D.C. voters supported the referendum which created an elected attorney general. But, the D.C. Council and Mayor Gray are opposing the decision of the voters. Fortunately, we have a Constitution and courts where our voting rights can be vindicated,” concluded Zukerberg.

On Thursday, November 7th, at 10:00 a.m., federal judge James E. “Jeb” Boasberg will hear oral argument on Zukerberg’s motion for a preliminary injunction to prohibit the Board of Elections from removing the office of attorney general from the 2014 ballot. Current attorney general Irv Nathan is representing the defendants, the Board of Elections and Ethics, and the D.C. Council. Gary A. Thompson, a partner in the D.C. office of Reed Smith, is representing Mr. Zukerberg. A timely ruling is anticipated.

Filed Under: attorney general, attorney general race, City Council, dc council, dc elections, paul zukerberg,