Elissa Silverman (born 1972/1973)[1] is an American politician and reporter from Washington, D.C.. She served as an independent at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 2015 to 2023. Before 2015, she was a journalist at The Washington Post and Washington City Paper covering D.C. politics, and a policy analyst at the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute. She first ran for Council in 2013 and lost before running again in 2014. She won in 2014 and was re-elected in November 2018 for a four-year term, but lost her re-election bid in 2022.[2]

Early life and professional career

Elissa Silverman was born to parents Jack and Ruth Silverman in Baltimore, Maryland, where she attended public school.[3][4] She majored in economics and history at Brown University.[5] She has worked as a reporter for The Washington Post and, earlier, the Washington City Paper where she wrote the Loose Lips column.[6][7] She also helped the D.C. Public Trust in its attempt to prohibit direct corporate contributions in local politics.[6] In April 2009, she was hired as a policy analyst and communications director at the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute,[6] a position she held until resigning to run for public office in April 2014.[8] She attended the University of Maryland, pursuing a master's degree in urban studies and planning.[9]

Political career

2013 election

Als der Stadtrat Phil Mendelson 2012 zum Vorsitzenden des Stadtrats gewählt wurde, wurde sein vorheriger Sitz im Stadtrat für vakant erklärt. [ 6 ] Silverman kandidierte als Demokratin für den frei gewordenen Sitz bei der Sonderwahl im April . [ 6 ] Silverman trat gegen die Amtsinhaberin Anita Bonds [ 10 ] und das Mitglied des Schulvorstands, Patrick Mara, an . [ 11 ] Silverman erklärte, sie werde keine Wahlkampfspenden von Unternehmen annehmen. [ 12 ]

Silverman befürwortete eine Erhöhung der Mittel für staatliche Programme zur Förderung von bezahlbarem Wohnraum [ 13 ] [ 14 ] sowie eine Ausweitung des Mindestlohngesetzes auf Restaurantangestellte [ 15 ] . Er kritisierte, dass nur ein Viertel der Schüler im District of Columbia die für ihren Wohnort zuständige Schule besuchen, und forderte mehr staatliche Mittel zur Verbesserung der Schulen [ 16 ] .

Nach einem Haushaltsüberschuss von 440 Millionen Dollar im Jahr 2012 befürworteten Bonds und Mara Steuersenkungen, während Silverman erklärte, sie wolle der Bevölkerung vorrangig auf andere Weise helfen, bevor sie Steuern senke. [ 13 ] Ein politischer Aktionsausschuss kritisierte Silverman, als sie sagte, sie glaube nicht, dass die Einwohner etwas gegen die Zahlung von Steuern hätten, sondern vielmehr gegen mangelhafte städtische Dienstleistungen. [ 17 ]

Silverman und ihr Wahlkampfteam versuchten, mit dem Konkurrenten Matthew Frumin einen Deal auszuhandeln . Sie baten ihn, seine Kandidatur zurückzuziehen, im Gegenzug für ihre Unterstützung bei einer zukünftigen Wahl. [ 18 ] [ 19 ] Frumin lehnte das Angebot ab, da er sich weiterhin Chancen auf den Sieg ausrechnete. [ 18 ] Frumin erklärte, Silvermans Angebot widerspreche möglicherweise ihrem Anspruch, eine Reformerin zu sein. [ 18 ]

Silvermans Kandidatur wurde von Stadtratsmitglied David Grosso [ 20 ], der ehemaligen Stadtratsmitglied Sharon Ambrose [ 21 ] und der ehemaligen Stadtratsmitglied Kathy Patterson [ 14 ] unterstützt . Sie erhielt außerdem Unterstützung vom Redaktionsausschuss des Washington City Paper [ 22 ] , von Democracy for America und der Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2 [ 14 ].

Silverman finished second to Anita Bonds,[23] by a margin of 31% to 28%.[24]

2014 election

Ein rot-weißes Schild mit dem Namen "Elissa" in großen schwarzen Buchstaben.
Promotional sign for Silverman's 2014 campaign.

When independent Council Member David Catania decided to run for mayor rather than reelection in 2014, Silverman decided to change her official political status to independent and leave her position at the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute to consider another candidacy.[25] Silverman publicly declared her candidacy for Council the next month.[26]

Silverman emphasized accountability of elected officials, accountability of public schools, quality education, affordable housing, and good public transportation.[26] Silverman said she would not accept campaign contributions from corporations.[26] She was proud of helping increase the District's minimum wage to $11.50 per hour and expand the mandatory paid sick leave law to restaurant employees.[27]

Silverman's candidacy was endorsed by Ward 8 Council Member Marion Barry,[28] Ward 6 Council candidate Charles Allen, the D.C. Chapter of the National Organization for Women, D.C. Working Families, Jews United for Justice,[29] and the D.C. Muslim Caucus,[30] Metro Washington Council AFL–CIO, Service Employees International Union 32BJ and 1199, DC for Democracy, the Sierra Club, the DC Police Union,[31] the United Food and Commercial Workers local,[32] and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 36.[33] She was also endorsed by the editorial board of the Washington City Paper.[34]

Silverman was elected to the at-large seat in the 2014 general election[35] with 12% of the total votes.[4][36]

2018 election

Silverman stood for re-election in the 2018 general election. Among her challengers were S. Kathryn Allen, a business-backed challenger who was a former insurance agent and banking commissioner. Allen, who was endorsed by former mayor Anthony Williams and former D.C. Councilmember David Catania, had specifically challenged Silverman over the latter's support of a comprehensive paid leave proposal which was passed into law by the council in 2016.[37] Allen and other opponents of the paid leave bill argued that it imposes a costly tax on DC businesses and that the benefits will primarily accrue to residents of Maryland and Virginia who commute into the city.[38] Allen was disqualified from the 2018 ballot as a result of signature fraud on her nominating petitions.[39] Dionne Reeder, a candidate backed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, entered the race to replace Silverman, though was not successful in the November 2018 general election.[40]

2022 election

Silverman lost her re-election bid in November 2022 to Anita Bonds and Kenyan McDuffie, where two seats were up for election.[41]

2026 election

After McDuffie announced in January 2026 he would resign his seat to run for mayor, Silverman launched a bid for the June special and November regular elections for her former seat.[42] Multiple local unions, including the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO and the Washington Teachers Union, endorsed Silverman's return bid.

Positions

Silverman was the lead champion for D.C.’s paid family leave program.[43] The program passed in 2016.

In 2016, Silverman introduced legislation to limit public spending on a proposed practice facility for the Washington Wizards. The law would cap public expenditures at $50 million and hold Ted Leonsis's company, which owns the team, responsible for any cost overruns.[44]

Committees

Silverman was appointed to the following committees for Council Period 21 (January 2015 to December 2016).[45]

  • Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
  • Committee on Housing and Community Development
  • Committee on Finance and Revenue

Personal life

Silverman lebt in Capitol Hill . [ 6 ] Sie ist Jüdin. [ 46 ] Derzeit ist sie Vorstandsmitglied von Seabury Resources for Aging, einer Organisation, die Senioren in Washington, D.C., und ihren Familien Wohnraum und andere Unterstützungsleistungen anbietet. [ 43 ]

Wahlergebnisse

Sonderwahl 2013, Stadtrat des District of Columbia , Wahlkreisübergreifender Sitz [ 24 ]
Party Kandidat Stimmen %
DemokratischAnita Bonds18.02731
DemokratischElissa Silverman 15.228 27
RepublikanerPatrick Mara13.698 24
DemokratischMatthew Frumin 6.307 11
DemokratischPaul Zuckerberg1.195 2
DemokratischMichael A. Brown1.100 2
DC Statehood GreenPerry Redd 1.090 2
  handschriftlich eintragen 187 0
Allgemeine Wahl 2014, Stadtrat des District of Columbia , Sitze ohne festen Wahlbezirk [ 36 ]
Party Kandidat Stimmen %
DemokratischAnita Bonds85.57524
UnabhängigElissa Silverman41.30012
UnabhängigMichael D. Brown28.614 8
UnabhängigRobert White22.198 6
UnabhängigCourtney R. Snowden 19.551 5
DC Statehood GreenEugene Puryear 12.525 4
UnabhängigGraylan Scott Hagler 10.539 3
UnabhängigKhalid Pitts 10.392 3
RepublikanerMarc Morgan 9.947 3
UnabhängigBrian Hart 8.933 3
UnabhängigKishan Putta 6.135 2
UnabhängigCalvin Gurley4.553 1
UnabhängigEric J. Jones 4.405 1
LibertärFrederick Steiner 3.766 1
UnabhängigWendell Felder 2.964 1
  handschriftlich eintragen 1.472 0

Referenzen

  1. ^ DeBonis, Mike. „Lernen Sie die Kandidatin für den Stadtrat von Washington, D.C., kennen: Elissa Silverman“ . The Washington Post . Abgerufen am 3. Juni 2020 .
  2. ^ Zauzmer, Julie (9. November 2022). „Die Zusammensetzung des Stadtrats von Washington, D.C., nimmt Gestalt an, nachdem das langjährige Mitglied Silverman abgesetzt wurde . “ The Washington Post . Abgerufen am 3. Februar 2023 .
  3. ^ DeBonis, Mike (23. Oktober 2014). „Lernen Sie die Kandidatin für den Stadtrat von Washington, D.C., kennen: Elissa Silverman“ . The Washington Post . Archiviert vom Original am 8. Januar 2019.
  4. ^ a b Rausnitz, Zach (5. November 2014). „Ex-Reporterin Elissa Silverman wechselt in den Stadtrat von Washington, D.C.“ . Washington City Paper .
  5. ^ „Stadträtin Elissa Silverman • Stadtrat des District of Columbia“ . Stadtrat des District of Columbia . Abgerufen am 4. März 2019 .
  6. ^ a b c d e f Haines, Errin (20. Dezember 2012). „Ehemalige Reporterin kandidiert für einen Sitz im Stadtrat von Washington, D.C.: Elissa Silverman berichtete über die Regierung und Politik von Washington, D.C.“ The Washington Post .
  7. ^ Haslam, Maggie (24. Januar 2005). „Notizen machen ... : Stille Lippen“ . The Common Denominator .
  8. ^Sommer, Will (April 4, 2014). "Hagler Declares for At-Large Seat, Silverman Almost Does". Washington City Paper.
  9. ^Haslam, Maggie (February 6, 2015). "URSP Student Elissa Silverman Elected to At-Large Seat of Washington, D.C. City Council". School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. University of Maryland.
  10. ^Craig, Tim (January 16, 2013). "A.J. Cooper drops council bid, endorses Silverman: A.J. Cooper cites fears of splitting the vote in a crowded Democratic field and helping Republican Patrick Mara". The Washington Post.
  11. ^Craig, Tim (January 23, 2013). "Eight candidates remain in D.C. Council race: At-large contest features six Democrats, a Republican and a Statehood Green Party candidate". The Washington Post.
  12. ^Craig, Tim (February 1, 2013). "Matthew Frumin has big fundraising lead in race for at-large seat: The Ward 3 advisory neighborhood commissioner reported raising $82,000 for his campaign". The Washington Post.
  13. ^ abCraig, Tim (April 9, 2013). "Candidates' debate touches on city's racial divisions". The Washington Post. p. B5.
  14. ^ abcWright, James (April 18, 2013). "D.C. Political Roundup". Washington Informer: 2013 Sustainable Living Supplement. p. 5.
  15. ^Craig, Tim (April 17, 2013). "D.C. Council candidate Mara opposes mandatory restaurant sick leave, minimum wage hike: Republican council candidate is viewed as leading contender in April 23 election". The Washington Post.
  16. ^Craig, Tim (April 20, 2013). "D.C. Council candidates answer questions on schools, bikes, and more: Six people running in special election for an at-large council seat offer opinions on city's major issues". The Washington Post.
  17. ^Craig, Tim; DeBonis, Mike (April 19, 2013). "Challenges abound for 6 D.C. Council candidates". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  18. ^ abcCraig, Tim (April 22, 2013). "Hopeful asked rival to quit race". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  19. ^Craig, Tim (April 23, 2013). "D.C. Council candidate Silverman releases e-mails to Frumin: E-mails show she asked fellow candidate to drop out of the race". The Washington Post.
  20. ^Craig, Tim (April 12, 2013). "Kenyan McDuffie endorses Anita Bonds: This may help solidify support in Ward 5 behind Bonds ahead of the Sept. 23 special election". The Washington Post.
  21. ^Craig, Tim (April 17, 2013). "Ambrose endorses Silverman; Bonds wins straw poll as D.C. council race heats up: The seven candidates in the April 23 council race are increasing efforts to line up support". The Washington Post.
  22. ^DeBonis, Mike (April 18, 2013). "D.C. test cheating: Time to move on?". The Washington Post.
  23. ^Craig, Tim; DeBonis, Mike (April 24, 2013). "Bonds retains D.C. Council seat". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  24. ^ ab"Special Election Certified Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections. May 10, 2013. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  25. ^DeBonis, Mike (April 10, 2014). "Democrats consider independent runs for council". The Washington Post. p. B2.
  26. ^ abcDeBonis, Mike (May 20, 2014). "Elissa Silverman in, Tommy Wells out of D.C. Council at-large race". The Washington Post.
  27. ^DeBonis, Mike (October 27, 2014). "Large and varied slate scrambles for Catania's seat". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  28. ^Brown, Stacy M. (October 30, 2014). "Silverman Confident of Election Night Victory". Washington Informer. p. 5.
  29. ^Wright, James (September 20, 2014). "Silverman, White Loom as Top Council At-Large Candidates". Afro-American Red Star. p. A5.
  30. ^DeBonis, Mike (October 30, 2014). "Muslims are 'obligated' to vote for Bowser and other endorsees, D.C. caucus says". The Washington Post.
  31. ^Brown, Stacy M. (November 6, 2014). "Bonds, Silverman Claim At-large Council Seats". Washington Informer. p. 20.
  32. ^Sommer, Will (September 24, 2014). "Silverman, Hagler Land Union Endorsements in At-Large Race". Washington City Paper.
  33. ^Sommer, Will (October 13, 2014). "Firefighters Stay Out of Attorney General Race, Back Silverman for At-Large". Washington City Paper.
  34. ^"Vote Like This: Washington City Paper's 2014 General Election Endorsements"(editorial). Washington City Paper. October 29, 2014.
  35. ^DeBonis, Mike (November 5, 2014). "3 to replace veteran members: Silverman to succeed Catania". The Washington Post. p. A29.
  36. ^ ab"General Election Certified Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  37. ^Nirappel, Fenit (August 13, 2016). "Progressive D.C. lawmaker outraised by business-backed challenger, reports show". The Washington Post.
  38. ^Schwartzman, Paul (June 29, 2018). "Why a progressive D.C. lawmaker is suddenly facing opposition". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  39. ^Howell, Melissa (September 18, 2018). "Fraud findings derail S. Kathryn Allen's bid for DC Council/". WTOP.
  40. ^"D.C. mayor rallies for Reeder in effort to oust Silverman". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  41. ^"Elissa Silverman". Ballotpedia.
  42. ^"Former Councilmember Elissa Siverman "I want to represent you again as an at-large member of the D.C. Council."". PoPville. January 16, 2026.
  43. ^ abhttps://www.elissafordc.com/about
  44. ^O'Connell, Jonathan (March 1, 2016). "D.C. Council member proposes spending cap for Wizards facility". The Washington Post.
  45. ^"Elissa Silverman". Council of the District of Columbia. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  46. ^ Marks, Josh (7. Oktober 2015). „Silverman und Nadeau bringen ‚frische Energie‘ in den Stadtrat von Washington, D.C.“ Washington Jewish Week .