The effort to recall D.C.’s mayor and council chairman is under way as Frederick Butler filed petitions for both seats at the Board of Elections and Ethics on Wednesday morning, he told The Washington Examiner.
“Everybody who’s betrayed the public trust while in office needs to go — this is ridiculous,” Butler said. “We don’t have to take this any more. People are frustrated and enough is enough.”
Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown, both of whom have campaigns under federal investigation, have 10 days to respond to the filing. After that a petition will be crafted stating both sides’ objectives.
Butler said he did not file last week, as he originally planned, because he wanted to wait for former councilman Harry Thomas Jr.’s guilty plea and resignation. Thomas was originally also on Butler’s list of politicians to try and recall. He added he plans to file petitions against Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham and Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, saying they both have acted in self interest rather than for their constituents.
The recall campaign treasurer, Debbie Smith-Steiner, said they would disclose fundraising totals on Jan. 31, the first date for filing financial information.
