WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jamal Holtz, now the youngest person serving on the District council in Washington, took the oath of office Monday, Nov. 9, inside the John A. Wilson Building chamber, filling the at-large seat Robert White vacated.
White gave up his at-large seat to keep his eligibility for election as the District’s delegate to the House, succeeding Eleanor Holmes Norton in the non-voting post. Under the Home Rule Charter, the council has five at-large members, and no more than three may come from the majority party, the Democrats.
That limit set off a week of maneuvering. Councilmember Christina Henderson announced she would switch from independent to Democrat, and the D.C. Democratic Party moved quickly to name Holtz to the vacancy on Tuesday. Henderson then reversed course and stayed independent, saying the party appointment made before her change took effect would be honored.
Chairman Phil Mendelson, who administered the oath, said the law leaves the choice of a successor to the party when a Democratic at-large member resigns, while calling the situation confusing and unprecedented.
Holtz, a District native who has led the DC Young Democrats for four years and works as chief of staff at LINK Strategic Partners, told reporters he has not applied for the permanent appointment and expects to hold the seat for only a few weeks. The party is expected to name another interim member, who would serve until a special election on April 6.
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