Eydie Whittington | |
---|---|
Member of the
Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 8 | |
In office May 31, 1995 – January 2, 1997 | |
Preceded by | Marion Barry |
Succeeded by | Sandy Allen |
Personal details | |
Political party | Democratic |
Residence(s) | Douglas Gardens, Washington, D.C. |
Eydie D. Whittington is a Democratic politician in Washington, D.C.
While working as a legal secretary, [1] Whittington represented the neighborhood of Douglas Gardens on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. [2] [3]
Whittington campaigned for Marion Barry when he was running for mayor in 1994. [1] After Barry won the mayoral election, [4] his seat representing Ward 8 on the Council became vacant. [5] Whittington announced her candidacy for the seat on the Council. She was backed by Barry, and her campaign was chaired by Barry's wife, Cora Masters Barry. [6]
Initial results from the special election had Whittington in first place by two votes. [7]
Candidate Sandy Allen sued to have the election voided because she said individuals who were not residents of Ward 8 had voted in the special election. [8] After a recount, Whittington's lead was revised to one vote. [9]
Allen filed another lawsuit to prevent Whittington from taking office, saying that multiple votes for Whittington were cast by individuals who did not live in Ward 8. [10] The court allowed Whittington to be sworn into office, and she took the oath on May 31, 1995. [11] The court later rejected the residence challenge by Allen, saying that Allen had failed to prove that any of the people she named were not actually residents of Ward 8 at the time of the election. [12]
Allen filed another lawsuit to overturn the election's results because of alleged voting irregularities. [13] The court allowed the election to stand. [13]
Whittington ran for reelection in 1996, and her candidacy was endorsed by Mayor Barry. [14] Allen defeated Whittington in the Democratic party primary election, [15] receiving 1,746 votes to Whittington's 1,425. [16]