The 2006 Council of the District of Columbia election was held on November 7, with primaries taking place on September 12. There was considerable change in the composition of the Council following the general election, with new members elected to the Chair and in Wards 3, 5, and 6. Additionally, while not directly up for election this cycle, the seats for Ward 4 and Ward 7 were vacated due to Adrian Fenty winning election to Mayor of the District of Columbia and Vincent Gray winning election to Council Chair respectively.
Summary Democrats remained the largest party on the Council, as they kept their 11 total seats. David Catania won re-election in his first election as an independent rather than a Republican, remaining the only independent on Council.
At-large PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirstelectedStatusChairpersonLinda Cropp 1997 (special)Incumbent ran for other office.New member elected.Democratic hold. Vincent Gray 97.8%At-largeDavid Catania 1997 (special)Incumbent re-elected. Phil Mendelson 50.6% David Catania 32.5% Ann C. Wilcox 6.9% Tony Dominguez 4.9% Marcus Skelton 4.6%Phil Mendelson1998Incumbent re-elected.
Wards PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirst electedStatusWard 1Jim Graham 1998Incumbent re-elected. Jim Graham 97.2%Ward 3Kathleen Patterson 1994Incumbent ran for other office.New member elected.Democratic hold. Mary Cheh 71.5% Theresa Conroy 27.8%Ward 5Vincent Orange 1998Incumbent ran for other office.New member elected.Democratic hold. Harry Thomas Jr. 85.2% Carolyn C. Steptoe 7.9% Miriam Moore 4.1% Tontalya T. Wright 1.7%Ward 6Sharon Ambrose 1997 (special)Incumbent retired.New member elected.Democratic hold. Tommy Wells 61.2% Will Cobb 27.5% 10.9%
Chairperson
Incumbent chairwoman Linda Cropp declined to run for office again in favor of pursuing a mayoral bid, finishing second in the Democratic primary. Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray beat Ward 3 Councilmember Kathleen Patterson in the Democratic primary for Chair, winning an uncontested general election easily.
Democratic primary Candidates Vincent Gray, incumbent Ward 7 Councilmember Kathleen Patterson, incumbent Ward 3 Councilmember
Endorsements
General election
At-large
Republican David Catania and Democrat Phil Mendelson each won election to their third full term.
Democratic primary Candidates A. Scott Bolden, lawyer Phil Mendelson, incumbent At-large Councilmember
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates Marcus Skelton
Statehood Green primary Candidates Ann C. Wilcox, lawyer
Independents Candidates David Catania, incumbent At-large Councilmember Tony Dominguez, local government employee
General election
Ward 1
Incumbent Councilmember Jim Graham won re-election to his third full term.
Democratic primary Candidates Jim Graham, incumbent Ward 1 Councilmember Chad Williams, real estate developer
Endorsements
General Election
Ward 3
Incumbent Ward 3 Councilmember Kathleen Patterson declined to run for re-election in order to campaign for Chair of the Council, for which she ultimately lost in the Democratic primary. Mary Cheh won a crowded primary field, handily beating Republican challenger Theresa Conroy in the general election.
Democratic primary Candidates Sam Brooks, political consultant Mary Cheh, George Washington University law professor Erik Gaull, DC government staffer Robert Gordon, international development consultant Eric Goulet, former Council finance committee staffer Jonathan Rees, healthcare business administrator Bill Rice, former District Department of Transportation spokesperson Paul Strauss, incumbent District of Columbia Shadow Senator Cathy Wiss, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F chair
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates Theresa Conroy, medical worker
General election
Ward 5
Two-term incumbent Councilmember Vincent Orange declined to run for re-election in order to pursue a bid for Mayor, winning a mere 2.9% in the Democratic primary. Harry Thomas Jr., the son of former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Sr., emerged victorious from a crowded field of 11 in the Democratic primary and cleaned up against 3 challengers in the November general election.
Democratic primary Candidates Joe Harris, executive of the Friendship House association Kathy Henderson, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Regina James, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ron L. Magnus, former District of Columbia Assistant Attorney General Bruce A. Marshall, lawyer Audrey M. Ray, administrative assistant Deborah Smith, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Harry Thomas Jr., son of former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Sr. Frank Wilds, advertising executive Vera Winfield, barbershop owner Rae Zapata, former rent administrator
Endorsements
Statehood Green primary Candidates Philip Blair Jr., consultant Carolyn C. Steptoe, paralegal
Independents Candidates Miriam Moore Tontalya T. Wright
General election
Ward 6
Incumbent Councilmember Sharon Ambrose declined to run for re-election for a third term, instead opting to resign at the end of her term due to her ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis.
Democratic primary Candidates Curtis L. Etherly Jr., government relations executive Leo Pinson, former neighborhood services coordinator Tommy Wells, member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates Tony Williams, former staffer for Senator Norm Coleman
Independents Candidates Will Cobb, academic administrator
General Election
References