DC Councilmember Brianne Nadeau prepared to fight recall effort
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau said Friday she’s gearing up for a fight to keep her Ward 1 seat that has been challenged by a recall effort.
Nadeau told DC News Now that she has filed paperwork for a campaign committee to raise money to fend off the recall.
“I’m confident that we’re going to be able to build a war chest quickly so that I can do whatever I need to defend the seat,” she said. “So that may be a field operation. That may be some mail, probably all the traditional campaign things.”
Crime leads to recall efforts against two DC councilmembers
Nadeau, who was re-elected to her third term in 2022, is the second councilmember to be challenged with a recall petition campaign. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen was also targeted by an organized effort to push him out of office.
Nadeau said that these efforts are a result of Republicans in Congress criticizing the liberal-leaning city council and its policies on tackling crime.
Those who have filed challenges, though, said that this is about crime problems in the nation’s capital. Last year, violent crime was 39% higher than the previous year with spikes in homicides and carjackings, according to statistics from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Diana Alvarez, who is chair of the Committee to Recall Brianne Nadeau, could not be reached. The group started the process of recalling her on Tuesday.
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Nadeau said she’s all about promoting police and protecting residents of the District.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a shock because we are starting to see a pattern,” she said of the recall effort. “But I think that anyone who believes in the autonomy of the District of Columbia should be worried about this pattern and not allow ourselves to be surprised that it keeps happening.”
The councilwoman said she responded to the rising crime last year with bills that would help recruit more cops, bolster the 911 emergency response system and help close homicide cases with more resources.
“Public safety is a top priority for me and my colleagues,” she said.
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The recall committee has 180 days to collect signatures from roughly 10 percent of the ward’s registered voters. If the recall is successful, Nadeau’s seat will remain vacant until a special election is held.
No councilmember has ever been recalled in 50 years of DC home rule.
“I see everything as a serious threat and I take nothing for granted because I want to be able to do the job that the people of Ward 1 sent me here to do,” she said.
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