John Klenert: Our government needs reforms such as more voices on DC Council

Fellow citizens of the nation’s capital city, does Dec. 24, 1973, mean anything to you? It was on that day that Congress bestowed on us tax-paying DC residents what is euphemistically called “home rule.” An elected mayor and city council were established while preserving the congressional veto sword of Damocles, which is waved all too often.

The District has certainly changed since 1973. It now has more people than either Wyoming or Vermont, and it’s getting close to the population of Alaska and some others. We are now demanding statehood. Whatever the prospects for statehood, this is an appropriate time to consider the shape of our government and potential improvements.

Both states with fewer people than Washington have bicameral legislatures responsible for their citizens. Vermont has a House of Representatives with 150 members and a Senate with 30. Wyoming’s legislature has 60 House seats and 30 Senate seats. The District of Columbia has an elected junta of 13 council members seeing to our needs. With more people. it is obvious that there is a need for more voices on the council and for additional elected officials.

Here are a few ideas and questions:

1. Consider having each ward get three council members, each with a four-year term up for election on a staggered basis. Should term limits be implemented also? They were passed years ago through a voter initiative but rapidly overturned by the council (led by Ward 2’s Jack Evans).
2. Is there a need for a bicameral legislature with one house composed of at-large members, or should the number of citywide positions be increased while otherwise preserving the existing council structure?
3. Should we end the facade of describing council members as “part-time employees”? Earning a six-figure salary (as well as getting the chance to raise money for “constituent services” that really amount to slush funds) ought to be enough for DC Council seats to constitute full-time positions. A change would finally eliminate legislators’ ability to double-dip with various companies and firms.
4. The DC Council chairman should no longer be the designated replacement in the case of a mayoral vacancy. Instead, put an elected vice mayor on the ballot as either a running mate of the mayor or an independent position. A vacancy for council chairman simply starts an expensive electoral game of musical chairs. This is no way to manage a company or government.
5. Having a winner-takes-all primary is insane. Institute a runoff between the top two vote-getters if no one has received a simple majority. This way political parties select the best nominee. This should apply to all elected positions, including congressional delegate.
6. Coming up soon (after the 2020 U.S. Census) will be the required ward redistricting based on the District’s new population. It might seem obvious, but no ward council member should chair a committee involved in the redistricting process. Of course their wishes must be considered, but so must those of local residents. Several states have set up independent commissions to make recommendations to the legislature for approval. The District should consider doing so as well.
7. The District should consider establishing new electoral positions similar to those that exist in other states, such as chief financial officer, state treasurer, public utilities commissioner, and insurance commissioner. Is it too crazy to suggest that there be two elected citizens on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s board of directors?
8. Along related lines, most states have an elected secretary of state. It’s time to add the District of Columbia to that list — and to make oversight of the DC Board of Elections part of his or her portfolio.
9. Should our local judges receive an advisory vote of approval or disapproval after a certain number of years into their lifelong positions? Is it also time to have a serious discussion about the value of elected advisory neighborhood commissioners? And should the elected DC State Board of Education regain additional responsibilities after having been stripped of oversight of the school system under the Fenty administration?

I don’t know whether the DC Council and the mayor would support any of these ideas. Would they at least be willing to discuss them? We should ask. Remember that the idea of an elected attorney general was opposed by the mayor and many on the council at the time.

John Klenert is a longtime DC resident and a Gertrude Stein Democratic Club member. An AT&T retiree, he has served on many boards of directors, including those for DC Vote, GLAAD, and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Originally from New York City, he is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.