Arrington Dixon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arrington Dixon
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| 2nd Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia | |
| In office 1979–1983 |
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| Preceded by | Sterling Tucker |
| Succeeded by | David A. Clarke |
| Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 4 |
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| In office 1975–1979 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Charlene Drew Jarvis |
| Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district |
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| In office August 1997 – December 15, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Linda Cropp |
| Succeeded by | David Catania |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Arrington Liggins Dixon
December 3, 1942 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Howard University, George Washington Law School |
| Occupation | Politician |
Arrington Liggins Dixon, born on December 3, 1942, is an American politician. He used to be the leader (called the Chair) and a member of the Council of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.. This council is like the city's local government.
Contents
Early Life
Arrington Dixon was born in Washington, D.C. on December 3, 1942. His parents were James and Sally Dixon. He grew up in a part of the city called Anacostia.
Serving Washington, D.C.
Becoming a Council Member (1975–1979)
In November 1974, Arrington Dixon was chosen by voters to represent Ward 4. This happened when the people of Washington, D.C., elected the first members of their new city government, the Council of the District of Columbia. This new government gave the city more control over its own affairs.
His first term as a council member was for two years. This shorter term helped to make sure that not all council members would be up for election at the same time in the future. In 1976, Dixon was re-elected for a full four-year term.
Leading the Council (1979–1983)
In 1978, the person who was then the Chair of the Council, Sterling Tucker, decided to run for mayor instead of seeking re-election. Arrington Dixon, who was already halfway through his term as a Ward 4 council member, decided to run for the position of Chair of the Council. He won the election and served as the Chair for four years.
In 1982, Dixon tried to be re-elected as Chair. However, he was defeated in the Democratic Party's primary election by David A. Clarke. A primary election is when members of a political party choose who they want to represent them in the main election.
After his time as Chair, Dixon was asked by Mayor Marion Barry to join the National Capital Planning Commission. This group helps plan how land is used in the Washington, D.C., area.
Returning to the Council (1997)
More than ten years later, Arrington Dixon returned to the Council for a short time in 1997. In August of that year, he was chosen by the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee to take over an "at-large" seat. An at-large seat means he represented the entire city, not just one specific ward. He took the place of Linda Cropp, who had left her at-large seat to become the new Chair of the Council.
This appointment lasted only a few months. In December, a special election was held for the at-large seat. Dixon was defeated in this election by David Catania, who was a member of the Republican Party at the time. David Catania officially became a council member on December 15, 1997.
Personal Life
In 1966, Arrington Dixon married Sharon Pratt Kelly. They had two daughters named Aimee and Drew, who were born in 1968 and 1970. After sixteen years of marriage, the couple divorced in 1982.
External Links
- Arrington Dixon Papers finding aid
- Old D.C. Council Campaign Posters - Ghosts of DC blog
