Besides casting their ballot for a new mayor, District residents will have their first chance to vote for an attorney general for the city.
For years, holders of that office were appointed by the mayor. But in 2010, city residents voted in favor of electing the attorney general, making the officeholder directly accountable to residents. The winner of the race will be tasked with providing legal advice to the officials managing the city as well as overseeing the city’s legal affairs.
Five Democrats are vying for the office.
Lorie Masters, 59, has used her legal skills to support organizations including DC Vote, DC Appleseed and Legal Aid of the District of Columbia. Masters says that if she is elected she will fight for consumers and government transparency.
Karl Racine, 51, served as associate general counsel to the White House under President Clinton. Racine says he will use his experience as the first African American managing partner of a top 100 law firm to bring effectiveness to city government.
Paul Zukerberg, 56, says his victory in the DC Court of Appeals is the reason that city voters are now able to elect an attorney general. If he is elected to the post, he says he will pursue a “restorative justice agenda” to aid nonviolent criminals.
Lateefah Williams, 37, is a legislative attorney with more than a decade of experience. If elected, she says she will focus on “vulnerable constituencies” and will fight for “all Washingtonians.”
Edward Smith, 34, prides himself on working his way “from Anacostia to Harvard Law.” Smith was part of President Obama’s campaign. If elected he says he will protect consumers and defend the autonomy of the city budget and laws.
