jonetta rose barras: Jack Evans tests the limits of forgiveness in DC politics

Let’s all calm down. The furor over former Ward 2 DC Council member Jack Evans’  attempt to mimic Houdini, escape political death and cast himself as brand-new shouldn’t surprise anyone — neither longtime District residents, nor local politicians, nor congressional Republicans who have the audacity to sling mud, asserting that DC is corrupt and therefore doesn’t deserve to become the country’s 51st state. Seriously? 

Didn’t the head of their party, President Donald J. Trump, just get impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives because he sought to cheat in the upcoming 2020 election? Didn’t the U.S. Senate, led by Mitch McConnell, engage in a massive cover-up of the president’s crimes, culminating in yesterday’s acquittal vote? 

Haven’t there been Republican congressional representatives forced to resign because of various federal crimes, like “insider trader” former New York Rep. Chris Collins and campaign finance thief Rep. Duncan Hunter? Even the mudslingers’ ringleader, Rep. Jim “No Jacket” Jordan, has his own skeletons related to allegations of covering up sexual abuse of members of the Ohio State wrestling team. With history like that, Republicans may want to step aside and press the mute button when it comes to discussing full rights for DC residents. 

Evans is only one DC resident; there are more than 700,000 others. The District deserves statehood because that is the fair and democratic thing to do. Its citizens have waited long enough for Congress to do the right thing.

Whatever people may think about the ethically challenged Evans making what amounts to a reelection bid and a play to fill the seat he left vacant when he resigned last month to avoid expulsion from the legislature, it’s his right to run for office. Undoubtedly it is audacious, but there is nothing in the Home Rule Charter, the DC Municipal Regulations or council rules that prohibit such actions. There also is nothing in the Fair Elections law that prevents Evans from tapping the public coffers, possibly securing as much as $241,055 to support his various campaigns, according to the Office of Campaign Finance website. 

The 12 remaining council members, who publicly expressed their distress over and disapproval of Evans’ plans last week, should have known they had not buried him. Being a member of the legislature had been a central focus of Evans’ life for nearly 30 years; breaking up is hard to do. 

Didn’t he demonstrate that he was reluctant to accept the looming divorce throughout the ethics scandal that seemed to swallow whole his decades of good deeds? An independent investigator for the council found that he had violated its codes of conduct and ethics rules at least 11 times. Evans disputed several of the findings while admitting that he made mistakes and partially apologizing. 

Evans is not the first politician in DC or in the country who has baffled constituents and others with a determined effort to return to politics, when people have suggested they stay home, read the newspaper or find some other form of employment. I remember back in the 1990s, within months following Marion Barry’s return from federal prison for drug possession, he was already plotting his political comeback. He decided to exploit the goodwill of Ward 8 residents and ultimately unseated the incumbent council member, Wilhelmina Rolark, who had been an ally.

Two years later, Barry broke a promise he made to Ward 8 residents that he would serve his full four-year term. Instead, he mounted a campaign for mayor against Sharon Pratt, a political rival but a personal friend. 

All’s fair in love and politics, which is a form of war, I guess.  

After Barry won the mayoral primary and general election, he told annoyed white residents and other folks (myself included) to “Get over it.” Later, when he decided not to seek a fifth term as mayor, he replowed the pain and hopes of Ward 8 residents into yet another successful council campaign to represent them; in office from 2005 to 2014, he provided lots of rhetoric but very few results that improved the quality of their lives. Early in his tenure as Ward 8 council member, Barry was charged with failing to pay his taxes from 1999 to 2005. He went on to accept cash, which he called a loan, from a businessman who had a contract with the DC government. His offenses were numerous. Still, there is a statue of Barry outside the John A. Wilson Building — a memorial to a corrupt and flawed politician, funded by DC taxpayers.

Sometimes voters get stuck on stupid. I used that same explanation one year when I went home to New Orleans and found an “Edwards for Governor” sign on the front lawn of our family home. I urged my grandfather to remove it, arguing that Edwin Edwards was corrupt. “That’s OK,” my grandfather said, “He’s our corrupt politician.” Edwards went on to win reelection. 

Edwards and Barry both anticipated and brazenly capitalized on the forgiving nature of their constituents. Evans undoubtedly will be using a similar template along with redemption propaganda. Will it work? 

Despite the criticism from the media, council members and some Ward 2 residents, it could. Evans has a solid base of supporters, several of whom raised money to cover attorney fees in his ethics fight with the council; they believe that he served their community and their interests well. There are others who could be susceptible to his appeal because they worry that the fading voice of moderates in the legislature spells future trouble for the District; they saw and see Evans as a bulwark against the damage that could be wrought by a predominantly progressive or far-left-leaning council.

As tangible evidence of support for Evans, consider, for example, that in the middle of last year’s scandal, activists hoping to recall him couldn’t muster the 5,000 valid signatures from Ward 2 voters to challenge his agency as Ward 2’s representative. His solid base is made more potent by the fact that six individuals, not counting Evans, are vying to fill the seat in the Democratic primary. Almost certainly, they will slice and dice the opposition to Evans’ return, making it quite possible for him to prevail on June 2.

But can Evans gather the votes in the special election for the Ward 2 seat that is scheduled for June 16? And would he be able to win again in November? Both remain in doubt, since all voters — not just Democrats — will have an opportunity to cast a ballot in those two contests.

A betting person might see favorable odds even there. When Barry sought to resurrect his political career in 1992, he had the choice of running for an at-large seat but may have perceived John Ray and William Lightfoot as formidable opponents. Barry also could have waited until the 1994 mayor’s race. He understood, smartly, that you eat the elephant one small bite at a time. 

In other words, a ward race is very different than a citywide campaign. It’s the hyperlocal of the hyperlocal. Steady attention and small deeds for needy constituents are often remembered. Evans’ critics may think he was only serving his private consulting clients, but many people in his ward — not just the rich and famous — speak about the help and support he provided them over the years.

A lot can happen between now and June, however. A candidate with name recognition could arrive on the scene, coalescing the opposition to Evans. Or one of the current candidates could create enough momentum to accomplish the task.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the daily prayer of Evans’ opponents and critics. Sometimes, prayers are answered.

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jonetta rose barras is an author and freelance journalist, covering national and local issues including politics, childhood trauma, public education, economic development and urban public policies. She can be reached at thebarrasreport@gmail.com.