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Council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large), chair of the health committee, said she expects the council to act on the legislation, which may still be amended, before the end of the year. “I can see how this can be demoralizing to physicians where you have another physician who may not even be in your same field of specialty or training, who is now questioning your prescription of care,” she said after the hearing.

Council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large), chair of the health committee, said she expects the council to act on the legislation, which may still be amended, before the end of the year. “I can see how this can be demoralizing to physicians where you have another physician who may not even be in your same field of specialty or training, who is now questioning your prescription of care,” she said after the hearing.

Taking this initiative directly to the people of D.C. became necessary after a few entrenched incumbents on the council, reflecting a crusty Democratic Party establishment trying to protect its power, deep-sixed a ranked-choice voting proposal by council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large). Her bill received a hearing in 2021 after a majority of members signed on as co-sponsors but never got a vote. (Ms. Henderson won her own seat in 2020 with 15 percent of the vote in a 23-way race for two spots on the council.)

Taking this initiative directly to the people of D.C. became necessary after a few entrenched incumbents on the council, reflecting a crusty Democratic Party establishment trying to protect its power, deep-sixed a ranked-choice voting proposal by council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large). Her bill received a hearing in 2021 after a majority of members signed on as co-sponsors but never got a vote. (Ms. Henderson won her own seat in 2020 with 15 percent of the vote in a 23-way race for two spots on the council.)

“In the existing code you actually have to be convicted of a DUI before your license is suspended,” said At Large Councilmember Christina Henderson. “I’m calling it a loophole because I think it is. You’re charged with a serious crime but then you’re able to continue to do that without a consequence.” Henderson said waiting to suspend a license opens the door to more reckless driving. “In the process of the time of your case being adjudicated who knows how many other laws you’ll break and how many other people might get hurt because of your reckless driving,” she said. Henderson is currently drafting legislation that would allow a driver’s license to be suspended after they are charged with a serious traffic crime, as opposed to waiting for a conviction. “So when you are charged with negligent homicide when you are charged with a DUI your license will be suspended and you can go through a process to have that appealed,” she explained.

“In the existing code you actually have to be convicted of a DUI before your license is suspended,” said At Large Councilmember Christina Henderson. “I’m calling it a loophole because I think it is. You’re charged with a serious crime but then you’re able to continue to do that without a consequence.” Henderson said waiting to suspend a license opens the door to more reckless driving. “In the process of the time of your case being adjudicated who knows how many other laws you’ll break and how many other people might get hurt because of your reckless driving,” she said. Henderson is currently drafting legislation that would allow a driver’s license to be suspended after they are charged with a serious traffic crime, as opposed to waiting for a conviction. “So when you are charged with negligent homicide when you are charged with a DUI your license will be suspended and you can go through a process to have that appealed,” she explained.

The initiative as currently written would take effect in time for the next mayoral election, which could well be a crowded field if Mayor Muriel Bowser opts against a try at a fourth term, in addition to a slew of Council races. That includes two at-large seats, which have most frequently been targeted as ripe for ranked-choice voting considering the large number of candidates who typically run for them. The 2020 at-large race, in particular, spurred such calls after Christina Henderson won with 15 percent of the vote, then turned around and introduced ranked-choice legislation to prevent outcomes like that.

Even At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson, who backed the legislation for more food stamp money, but so far has been unable to find funding for it, admitted she was in an “awkward position” as she felt compelled to speak against the proposal. “While it may seem like a big pot of money, relying on it to fund these programs opens the door to big problems in years to come,” Henderson said, echoing a concern from Mendelson and the real estate lobby about how the extra tax could stymie future land deals and end up driving revenues down in the long term.

The legislation, introduced in 2021 by Council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large), received a hearing but did not advance to a vote, thanks in part to opposition from D.C.'s Democratic Party and some lawmakers who said it could exacerbate existing problems with under-voting. Henderson, who emerged as one of the two victors in the 2020 at-large race, introduced her ranked-choice voting bill soon after taking office with support from other members — using the large field of candidates in her own race as evidence of why the change would be impactful. “Given the realities of the process, the advocates felt this was a better move,” Henderson said, noting that she’s supportive of the initiative as written. “If nothing else, I hope through this ballot initiative process, more people can be educated about what ranked-choice voting is and how it works.” Henderson recalled that during a hearing on her bill, the elections board indicated that there may be costs associated with the change.

The initiative as currently written would take effect in time for the next mayoral election, which could well be a crowded field if Mayor Muriel Bowser opts against a try at a fourth term, in addition to a slew of Council races. That includes two at-large seats, which have most frequently been targeted as ripe for ranked-choice voting considering the large number of candidates who typically run for them. The 2020 at-large race, in particular, spurred such calls after Christina Henderson won with 15 percent of the vote, then turned around and introduced ranked-choice legislation to prevent outcomes like that.

Even At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson, who backed the legislation for more food stamp money, but so far has been unable to find funding for it, admitted she was in an “awkward position” as she felt compelled to speak against the proposal. “While it may seem like a big pot of money, relying on it to fund these programs opens the door to big problems in years to come,” Henderson said, echoing a concern from Mendelson and the real estate lobby about how the extra tax could stymie future land deals and end up driving revenues down in the long term.

The legislation, introduced in 2021 by Council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large), received a hearing but did not advance to a vote, thanks in part to opposition from D.C.'s Democratic Party and some lawmakers who said it could exacerbate existing problems with under-voting. Henderson, who emerged as one of the two victors in the 2020 at-large race, introduced her ranked-choice voting bill soon after taking office with support from other members — using the large field of candidates in her own race as evidence of why the change would be impactful. “Given the realities of the process, the advocates felt this was a better move,” Henderson said, noting that she’s supportive of the initiative as written. “If nothing else, I hope through this ballot initiative process, more people can be educated about what ranked-choice voting is and how it works.” Henderson recalled that during a hearing on her bill, the elections board indicated that there may be costs associated with the change.