Eydie Whittington facts for kids
Eydie D. Whittington is a politician from the Democratic Party in Washington, D.C.. She served as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 8.
Quick facts for kids
Eydie Whittington
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| Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 8 |
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| In office May 31, 1995 – January 2, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Marion Barry |
| Succeeded by | Sandy Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Douglas Gardens, Washington, D.C. |
Contents
Helping Her Community
Before becoming a council member, Eydie Whittington helped her community in a different way. She was a member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. This group is made of local volunteers. They advise the D.C. government on neighborhood issues. Eydie represented the Douglas Gardens area. At the time, she worked as a legal secretary.
Running for the D.C. Council in 1995
In 1994, Eydie Whittington supported Marion Barry when he ran for mayor. After Barry won the mayoral election, his seat on the D.C. Council became empty. This seat represented Ward 8. Eydie Whittington decided to run for this important position.
Mayor Barry supported her campaign. His wife, Cora Masters Barry, even led Eydie's campaign team.
A Very Close Election
The special election for the Council seat was very close! At first, Eydie was ahead by just two votes.
Another candidate, Sandy Allen, thought some people who did not live in Ward 8 had voted. She asked the court to cancel the election. After a recount, Eydie Whittington's lead was changed to only one vote.
Sandy Allen filed another lawsuit. She wanted to stop Eydie Whittington from taking office. Allen claimed that many votes for Whittington came from people who did not live in Ward 8.
Taking Office
The court allowed Eydie Whittington to be sworn into office. She took her oath on May 31, 1995. This meant she officially became a Council member.
Later, the court rejected Sandy Allen's challenge. The court said Allen could not prove that the people she named were not living in Ward 8 during the election. Allen filed one more lawsuit to try and overturn the election results. However, the court decided to let the election results stand.
Running for Reelection in 1996
Eydie Whittington ran for reelection to the Council in 1996. Mayor Barry again supported her candidacy. However, in the Democratic party primary election, Sandy Allen defeated Eydie Whittington. Sandy Allen received 1,746 votes. Eydie Whittington received 1,425 votes.
