The 1995 Council of the District of Columbia special election was held on May 12, 1995, to elect the position of Ward 8 Councilmember to the District of Columbia. The election was called following the resignation of incumbent councilmember Marion Barry due to his election as Mayor in 1994.
Background Incumbent councilmember Marion Barry had served on Council since 1992 as the councilmember for Ward 8 in his return to city politics after his conviction for crack cocaine possession and usage. He had served on the Council previously as an at-large councilmember from 1974 to 1978 before his first election as mayor. Although he had stated that he was "not interested in being mayor" after being returned to office in 1992, he formally announced his candidacy for mayor on May 21, 1994. Upon his victory in the election, he resigned his position as Ward 8 Councilmember, leaving a vacancy to be filled by special election the following year.
The all-in nature of special elections in the District of Columbia, which have only a general election, led to a tidal wave of prospective candidates. The relative power vacuum created in Ward 8 local politics following Barry's resignation resulted in an eventual 22 candidates appearing on the final ballot, with 19 filing as Democrats. The campaign was seen as a referendum on Barry himself, as he endorsed eventual winner Eydie Whittington, whose campaign was chaired by Barry's wife.
Candidates Democratic Party Sandy Allen Lafayette A. Barnes James Bunn Charles Dixon Jr. Mel Edwards Don Folden Sr. F. D. R. Fox Bill Harris O. V. Johnson Absalom F. Jordan Jr. Jephunneh Lawrence William Lockridge Richard A. Miller Michael A. Sanders Cynthia Smith Gloria E. Thurman Gordon A. White Eydie Whittington
Endorsements
Republican Party W. Cardell Shelton
Umoja Party Rahim Jenkins
Independents Malik Z. Shabazz
General election
References