After a long, hard-fought battle, D.C. residents will get to vote for an elected attorney general for the first time this November — and barely anyone is paying attention.
A Washington Post-NBC4 poll conducted in September found that 57 percent of voters are undecided between Lorie Masters, Karl Racine, Edward “Smitty” Smith, Lateefah Williams and Paul Zukerberg. “I can’t even answer that question,” one respondent told the Post. “I can’t even pretend.”
As an introduction to the attorney general elections, we asked each candidate why people should pay attention to the race and vote for them. Their responses are below.
What would you say is the most compelling reason people should pay attention to the attorney general election, if they’re not already?
Lorie Masters: The new attorney general will represent the public interests of the residents of the District as charged by the attorney general statute. Since the attorney general will now be elected by the public rather than appointed, it will be an independent officeholder directly accountable to its electorate — not the mayor of the Council. The independence of the office will create a paradigm shift, where the attorney general can better function as a check and balance on the other branches of government. Although there will be times when the attorney general will need to state an independent position, if elected, I would do my best to establish a respectful working relationship with the mayor, the Council and government agencies.
What’s more, since the attorney general is now an elected position and answerable to the people, the public should also have full access to her. If elected, I intend to provide a welcoming and approachable atmosphere to that effect. I would work to be a presence in the community and develop a process for meeting with community leaders and residents so that they can express their thoughts and concerns.
Karl Racine: This race is a chance for voters to interview and hire the District’s lawyer. For the first time, the people, not politicians, will decide who should be responsible for defending our city and enforcing our laws fairly and equally for all. The first elected attorney general will have the opportunity to shape this office and set new priorities for the District, and I have the leadership experience to do just that. I want to increase the amount of affordable housing, protect consumers, root out corruption in city government, and do better for our kids.
Edward “Smitty” Smith: The people of D.C. voted overwhelmingly to make the attorney general’s office an elected position because they want an attorney general who will be independent from the mayor and D.C. Council, and represent the needs and concerns of everyday Washingtonians. I will work collaboratively with my counterparts throughout D.C. government while ensuring that serving the public interest is always the principal objective.
The attorney general’s office touches nearly every aspect of D.C. life and the attorney general’s priorities will have a significant impact on the future of the District; therefore, voters need to be aware of what is at stake in this election. My priorities will include working to reform the juvenile justice system and expanding, and more vigorously enforcing, our consumer protection laws. I will also be a vocal and active advocate for D.C. autonomy, representation, and statehood. These are issues that matter to the people of D.C., and that is why this election is so critical to the District.
Lateefah Williams: D.C. residents should pay attention to the attorney general race because the District needs an attorney general who understands that the attorney general’s main clients are the residents of the District of Columbia and who will fight vigorously to protect their interests. As attorney general, I will ensure that the needs of all District residents are the primary consideration of my office. I will host forums in all eight wards and will host additional forums with groups that are particularly vulnerable, such as seniors, returning citizens, and transgender individuals, to ensure that the legal needs of all Washingtonians are met. For far too long, our most vulnerable residents in the District have not had a voice. We need an independent attorney general who is not beholden to the mayor, the Council or the U.S. Attorney and who is accustomed to advocating for various interests before them, while still maintaining a productive and amicable working relationship. For the first time, we can make that happen!
Paul Zukerberg: For the first time in the history of the District of Columbia, D.C. voters will be electing their own attorney general. Voters, not K Street, will be selecting our highest legal official. The right choice on November 4th will bring greater democracy, transparency and accountability to D.C. Government.
What is the single most important fact about you that sets you apart and above from the rest of the candidates?
Lorie Masters: I’m running for attorney general, because I love D.C. and the rule of law. I’ve been a practicing attorney in the District for over 30 years and no other candidate has the range and depth of experience that I have working on issues that matter to D.C. and ordinary people. I’ve spent countless hours of volunteer time fighting for justice for D.C. and for D.C. residents. Serving as attorney general is a way for me to continue my commitment to public service and give back to the community. That’s what sets me apart. My practice and pro bono work give me more experience than anyone else in this race, period. This is especially important for the new attorney general, since this is a newly elected office and whomever wins will have the task of reframing the way the attorney general’s office operates to be more answerable to the people.
On top of that, I’m the only candidate that has been involved with the attorney general election every step of the way and part of the statehood movement for the past ten years. I was part of the committee that produced the briefs, which eventually became the referendums on electing an attorney general and on budget autonomy, both of which were overwhelmingly passed by voters. I was part of the effort that secured pro bono attorneys to help fight to get the attorney general election on the ballot this election after the Council tried to delay it. While others may have taken up the mantle to get the attorney general election back on the ballot after it was challenged, I was still helping the efforts while simultaneously fighting to keep the Budget Autonomy Act on the books, filing two amicus briefs in support of the Act. I’m the only candidate who has been there from day one. No one has fought as hard as I have for D.C. statehood.
Karl Racine: I have a clear vision for the attorney general’s office and the future of our city, and the right kind of experience—in law, in leadership, and in the community—to get things done, which is why the Washington Post endorsed me.
I have 25 years practicing law and working for people across the District—from those who couldn’t afford their own lawyers as a Public Defender to President Bill Clinton as Associate White House Counsel. I was the first African-American managing partner of a top-100 law firm at Venable LLP, where I managed 600 Attorneys, a staff of 1,300, and a budget of $350 million. The attorney general will manage over 300 attorneys and a budget of about $100 million. I’m the only candidate in this race who has managed at this level.
Over the course of my career, I have fought hard for my clients and demonstrated my ability to lead and manage. Now I want to use everything I know to fight for D.C. and its people.
Edward “Smitty” Smith: The attorney general’s office is a large government agency, and I am the only candidate in this race with experience leading and managing in government. In my time serving in senior-level leadership positions in the Obama administration, I have tackled some of the toughest issues our country has faced and have led large teams of lawyers in managing multimillion and multibillion-dollar federal projects. The attorney general’s office exists for the explicit purpose of serving the public interest and I am the only candidate with extensive experience leading lawyers in the public interest. I have been an effective leader in government and would continue to be an effective leader as attorney general.
Furthermore, I am a native Washingtonian who grew up in some of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in the District and worked my way from Anacostia to Harvard Law. I have strong ties to communities across the city. Our first elected attorney general needs to be an advocate for all communities, including those that have long been left out of the conversation.
I have been endorsed by more organizations than any other candidate, ranging from labor groups like the D.C. Police Union and the AFL-CIO to social justice advocacy groups such as Jews United for Justice and the Working Families Party. These organizations believe that D.C. needs a leader with deep roots in its communities and experience leading in the public interest, and I am proud and honored to have their support.
Lateefah Williams: My commitment to public service and my grassroots community work with various D.C. constituencies sets me apart from the other candidates. My experience and background make me uniquely qualified to serve as the District’s chief legal advocate and a vocal champion for all Washingtonians. I have more than a decade of experience as a licensed attorney and I have dedicated my legal career and civic service to social justice causes, including fighting for workers rights, the LGBT community, community residents, and civic issues.
Professionally, I worked as a litigation attorney for several years (which included serving as an associate attorney for David C. Simmons, who is now the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the DC Commission on Human Rights). I have also served as the Legislative and Political Director for ATU Local 689, Counsel for the Prince George’s County State Senate Delegation, and nonprofit tax law policy analyst for OMB Watch/Center for Effective Government.
Civically, I have served as the National Committeewoman for the DC Young Democrats and President of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. Additionally, I am currently the Recording Secretary for the Ward 5 Democrats, Legislative Committee Chair for the DC Federation of Democratic Women, 2nd Vice President of the Metropolitan Women’s Democratic Club, a columnist for the Washington Blade, and a board member of the Wanda Alston Foundation, which provides housing to homeless LGBTQ youth. My diversified background in litigation, community advocacy, and public policy has given me an opportunity to familiarize myself with a wide array of legal and policy issues, as well as equipped me with knowledge about some of DC’s most vulnerable communities, which is critical for an attorney general.
Paul Zukerberg: After the D.C. Council cancelled the attorney general election, and ignored the will of the voters, I was the person who successfully sued to restore the attorney general election to the November 4th ballot. I was also a moving force behind marijuana decriminalization, which will result in 6,000 fewer arrests each year, and bring justice and fairness to D.C. youth. As attorney general, I will continue to fight on behalf of D.C. voters, and to use the law to improve peoples’ lives.
