William Lightfoot

William Parker Lightfoot (born January 3, 1950) is an attorney and politician in Washington, D.C.

Early years and education Originally from Philadelphia, Lightfoot graduated from Howard University. He earned a juris doctor from the Washington University School of Law in 1978.

Political career Lightfoot began his political career as a staff member for District of Columbia Council member Wilhelmina Rolark from 1979 to 1981. Lightfoot successfully challenged the petitions as being collected by someone who was not a District resident, which made those signatures invalid. Without sufficient valid signatures, the referendum was not on the November ballot. The Council gave the Commission 90 days to write the request for proposal, but the Commission asked for another six months to complete it. The winning franchiser should set aside several of the channels for municipal and community use, provide studios to the public to produce programming, provide grants to support public-benefit television programs, provide service to all eight wards, and complete all work within five years.

Lightfoot held several public forums to hear from residents about the imminent cable television service. Lightfoot said that residents should be able to participate in the process of bringing cable television to the District and learn how it would increase employment and training. The first forum was held in Ward 7.

Council of the District of Columbia 1986 campaign In June 1986, Lightfoot announced he would run as a Democrat for at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, essentially challenging Betty Ann Kane's reelection. Lightfoot said that Kane had helped big businesses more than working residents. Gibson had been a commissioner of the District of Columbia Board of Parole; a community organizer for the United Planning Organization and the Washington Urban League; and a staff member for the District of Columbia Board of Education, the District of Columbia Office of Personnel, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. Lightfoot endorsed Gibson's campaign. and she won reelection in the general election, receiving 60 percent of the vote in the general election.

1988 campaign In 1988, Lightfoot ran again for an at-large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia, this time running as an independent.

After leaving the Council, Lightfoot changed his registration to the Democratic Party. Lightfoot's goal was to unseat Republican Carol Schwartz, who was expected to run for reelection. Schwartz later decided not to run for reelection, citing the recent deaths of her husband, mother, mother-in-law, and best friend as factors in her decision.

Other individuals who ran for an at-large seat on the Council included incumbent Democrat John L. Ray; Republican Jerry Moore, former Council member; Independent David Watson, former spokesperson for the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission; Independent R. Calvin Lockridge, D.C. school board member; Statehood Party Tom Chorlton, gay rights activist; Statehood Party David Watson; and Libertarian Dennis Sobin.

Washington Metropolitan Council AFL–CIO and Greater Washington chapter of Americans for Democratic Action endorsed Lightfoot's candidacy.

Lightfoot was elected to the Council with 27 percent of the vote. He was inaugurated on January 2, 1989.

First term In the District of Columbia, corporations and partnerships are allowed to donate to political campaigns. A person who owns several entities can have each entity donate separately in order to get around the maximum donation allowed by law. The Council unanimously passed the utility tax three months later. Lightfoot turned down two salary increases that members of the Council were given. Lightfoot was one of twelve council members who voted to end the employment of 2,000 mid-level managers because the government did not have the cash to pay them. When an arbitration panel decided that police officers must be given four-percent raises each year for three years, Lightfoot protested, saying the District did not have the cash. Lightfoot was also concerned that it would set precedent to also give raises to other governmental employees, which would require increases to income tax rates. Lightfoot proposed an amendment to the Charter of the District of Columbia to give the Council the authority to veto line-items from the education budget. When the District of Columbia Parole Board decided to use the money to move to larger space rather than hire new parole officers, Lightfoot criticized them, saying, "We're paying money for rent instead of hiring parole officers."

In May 1991, a police officer shot a Salvadoran man, Daniel Enrique Gomez, and arrested him on a charge of disorderly conduct. The shooting led to the looting, burning, and vandalizing of more than three dozen businesses in Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights.

1992 campaign Lightfoot ran for reelection in 1992. Lightfoot was on the general election ballot along with incumbent Democrat John Ray, Republican Philip Baten, D.C. Statehood Sam Jordan, and Independent Brian Moore.

Lightfoot was reelected to the Council with 30 percent of the vote.

Lightfoot introduced a resolution calling for the Washington Redskins to change its name. The resolution said in part, "'Redskins'...is a discredit to the many men who have played outstanding football for the team. Nicknames and mascots constitute an unauthentic representation of Native Americans, whether used for entertainment, commercial or symbolic purposes. This imagery degrades Native American people and culture and distorts Native American and non-American perceptions of self and community." He withdrew from the race a month later.

Along with Council member John Ray, Lightfoot introduced a bill to allow companies other than Bell Atlantic to offer local telephone service to customers in the District. Lightfoot said that competition would decrease customers' prices and while increasing the quality of service. Lightfoot said the legislation would improve the quality of life for children and help identify children who are likely to become victims of crime or may commit crime themselves. The following month, Lightfoot decided not to run for reelection.

Post-council membership (1997–present) Lightfoot currently works as counsel with the law firm Lightfoot Law, PLLC.

Lightfoot was a partner at the personal injury law firm of Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot in Washington, D.C. From 1981 to 2019. He has first began working for the law firm in 1981. After his two terms on the Council ended, Lightfoot returned to full-time work, and he became a partner at the firm. and Fenty's inaugural committee in 2007. Lightfoot was also the chair of Fenty's reelection campaign in 2010.

Lightfoot served as the chair of Muriel Bowser's campaigns for mayor of the District of Columbia in 2014 and 2018. After his two terms on the Council ended, Lightfoot returned to full-time work, and he became a partner at the firm. Black Enterprise Magazine America's Top Black Lawyer's- October 2003. Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Trial Lawyer of the Year 2003. Washingtonian 50 Best Lawyers. The Washington Post- Baltimore & Washington DC's Top Lawyers, 2012.

Electoral history 1988

1992