D.C. activists say write-in campaigns to replace Trayon White could benefit Republican challenger

Democrats in the District’s Ward 8 warned Wednesday that the write-in campaigns being floated by council hopefuls looking to replace struggling incumbent Trayon White, who was arrested last week on federal bribery charges, could end up putting a Republican in office. 

Anti-violence activist Sandra Seegars told The Washington Times that a growing field of new candidates could dilute Mr. White’s votes among Democrats and clear the way for Nate Derenge, a Republican, to secure a rare win for the party.

Ms. Seegars said she has not voted for Mr. White before in past primary or citywide elections, but she is concerned about Mr. Derenge’s opposition to certain social programs — he has called for restrictions on the use of food stamps for the purchase of sugary foods and withholding benefits from families with truant children.

“This is a political move, and in addition to being a political move and making sure we don’t get a Republican, I believe he deserves due process,” said Ms. Seegars, who runs the peacekeeping group Concerned Residents Against Violence. “If [White’s] on the ballot, I’m voting for him.”

Olivia Henderson, a longtime former Advisory Neighborhood Commission chair in the ward, and Markus Batchelor, a former D.C. school board representative for the ward, have both formally announced their plans to run in the wake of Mr. White’s federal bribery case.

The local lawmaker was arrested Aug. 18 and charged with agreeing to accept $156,000 in cash in exchange for pressuring D.C. government employees to award contracts to his preferred anti-violence organizations.

The FBI affidavit contained photos of Mr. White allegedly pocketing $35,000 while discussing the scheme with a co-conspirator, who took audio and video recordings of the meetings after deciding to cooperate with authorities.

Prosecutors said the unnamed conspirator pleaded guilty in the bribery case.

Mr. White had his initial court hearing last week and is scheduled to return Sept. 19. He could face up to 15 years behind bars.

“Over here in Ward 8, we’ve been abused by our public officials and our activists, and it leaves us with this Stockholm syndrome where we got the mentality of trusting the devil you know,” said Robbie Woodland, a local ANC commissioner. “And then when the public trust is broken, the residents here, including myself, have become so broken by everything that … you become hopeless.”

Ms. Seegars said leaders of the D.C. Democratic State Committee have pushed Sheila Bunn, the chief of staff for retiring Ward 7 Council member Vincent Gray, to join the race.

Ms. Bunn ran in Ward 8’s special election in 2015 following the death of then-Council member and former Mayor Marion Barry — often cited as a political mentor of Mr. White.

The Times reached out to Ms. Bunn, but did not hear back from her.

Ms. Seegars said she held an invite-only Zoom call Tuesday between residents and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson as well as at-large members Anita Bonds, Christina Henderson and Robert White to discuss how the legislative body will address the allegations against the 40-year-old council member.

Ms. Woodland, who also attended the meeting, said the council is giving him until Sept. 12 to step down. The council will then have 90 days to investigate Mr. White’s conduct and determine whether to reprimand, censure or expel the councilman.

Ms. Woodland and Ms. Seegars both said the strategic move for aspiring candidates is to let Mr. White remain on the ballot — where he is a heavy favorite — and then position themselves for a possible special election sometime next year.

By then, they said there will be more clarity about Mr. White’s fate either on the council or in the courts.

Mr. White’s staff said last week that they intend to “keep serving the public” despite the charges against their boss.

The councilman has not commented publicly on his case, but appeared to allude to his legal situation in an Instagram post Wednesday.

“Appreciate you guys — all the love and praise and support you’ve been giving me over the past couple of days,” Mr. White said. “It’s good energy … keep my heart and mind pure, and kinda figure this thing out.”