They just keep on coming. As of midnight on July 16th, a whopping eight candidates had filed petitions to run in the Democratic primary in the 45th Councilmanic District, including the incumbent Councilmember, Kendall Stewart.
The insurgent candidates recorded as filing petitions were Rodrick Daley, Ernest Emmanuel, Erlene King, Dexter MacKenzie, Samuel Taitt, Godwin Williams and Jumaane Williams.
In addition, a ninth candidate, John Williams — whose name did not appear on the Record of Designating Petitions Filed, dated 3;:25 a.m. on July 17th — said he had collected some 1,500 signatures and had sent them to the Board of Elections for filing.
Stewart said he had filed “a little over 4,500 signatures.” Jumaane Williams said he had filed about 4,000 signatures, and MacKenzie said he had filed “just under 5,000 signatures.”
Daley said he had filed about 2,200 signatures, eliminating 500 that he had collected but had deemed questionable. “I’m trying to avoid challenges,” Daley said.
The other candidates could not be reached by press time.
A total of 900 valid signatures is necessary to get on the ballot. Generally, to be safe from challenges, candidates try to amass approximately three times the amount that is considered necessary.
Those candidates who were available for comment all expressed optimism at their chances, despite the crowded field, which generally favors the incumbent, who has name recognition as well as the bully pulpit of elective office from which to broadcast his message.
Jumaane Williams pointed to the endorsements he has received so far, including ACORN, the Working Families Party and DC 37. “I think I have a great shot,” he noted. “Our campaign is emerging as the lead challenge.” The endorsements, he said, reflected the fact that his career has been as a community organizer, “A very stark contrast to who Kendall is.”
In fact, Williams added, his financial disclosure filing showed him behind only Stewart in terms of the amount of campaign contributes he had amassed. “I really have a grass roots campaign going, supported by grass roots people,” he told this paper. “He’s getting money from landlords. You are really starting to see a difference now.”
Jumaane Williams wasn’t the only person to express optimism. “I’m feeling very confident,” acknowledged Daley, who said that, besides Stewart, he felt that four of the insurgents had “a base” to draw on: MacKenzie, Taitt, Jumaane Williams and himself.
MacKenzie said that, for his part, he was “focused on getting my message out and getting the requisite number of votes to be victorious on the 15th. I’ve had very positive feedback from the community,” which, he said, had indicated, “A desire for change.”
As for John Williams, he promised to find out why his name had not appeared on the Board of Elections’ record. “I am the least of all candidates, no threat to anyone,” he pronounced. “I am running a poor man’s campaign, a people’s campaign with no endorsements, no money, no political clubs. I don’t know what’s going on but I will get into it and I assure you, whatever is happening, I will be on the ballot by God’s grace, and this poor man will win and will amaze everyone.”
One onlooker on the race said that he thought that Stewart could, indeed, come up a loser this time around, despite the crowded field. “He’s in trouble,” remarked Rock Hackshaw, who’s running for the City Council in the neighboring 40th C.D. “Does that mean he’s going to losei I don’t know, but in the streets, he’s taking a beating. I can’t predict that race anymore. I think Kendall could lose it, even in a crowd.”
But, Stewart himself sounded assured. “I’m not going to be filing any challenges against anybody unless they challenge me, because I don’t think it’s necessary,” he remarked. “Democracy is at play now, and I’d like to see it play out to the fullest.
“Their game plan is to attack me,” he added. “I love it when they all attack me because I have no intention of attacking them.”
And, yes, he is “confident.
“Because I’m running on my record, which is there for everyone to see,”Stewart confided.
General challenges are due at the Board of Elections by July 20th, with specific objections due by July 27th. Hearings on the objections will commence on August 3rd.
The Democratic primary will be held on September 15th.