‘DC and US Flags’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

This November, District residents will decide whether the city’s Attorney General should be an elected public office. Presently, the Attorney General is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. This would mark the first city-wide referendum since 2002, which supported the popular election of a District Attorney. The D.A. position remains a federal appointee. As of last November, there were still hold-ups in Congress to make this happen.

This new referendum  is the result of legislation passed by the Council yesterday. No one was willing to say it out loud, but this was clearly a shot at Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) and his Attorney General Peter Nickles. Many consider Nickles to be too close to the Mayor, often getting involved in issues that an independent Attorney General would have likely avoided. This measure, says Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), “makes the AG more independent.” Maybe. Provided that voters decide to make the AG spot an elected office. Passage is likely given previous polling on the subject.  This isn’t an outright attempt to oust Nickles, the first election would not happen until 2014.

Dave Stroup

Dave has been following DC news and politics for nearly eight years and previous authored the blog “Why I Hate DC.” Dave tries to give a voice to those frustrated by the “politics as usual” in the area. By day he works in the technology department of a non-profit, by night he writes about news and politics and works at a local hardware store. Dave is also a contributor for Greater Greater Washington. You can follow him on Twitter or read his personal blog.