Indicted Trayon White to return to DC Council seat after winning special election – Washington Examiner
Trayon White has won a special election to return to his seat on the District of Columbia Council after being expelled earlier due to an indictment on corruption charges. Despite facing allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for influence over contracts-charges he has pleaded not guilty to-White defeated several opponents, including Salim Adofo, Mike Austin, and Sheila Bunn. If convicted in his upcoming trial, he risks removal from office again and a ban from running. Nevertheless, his victory, with nearly 30% of the vote and a strong turnout in Ward 8, reflects voter support and a message of resilience from his constituents, who cheered his return and expressed confidence in his leadership.
Indicted Trayon White to return to DC Council seat after winning special election
Trayon White won his special election, sending him back to his District of Columbia Council seat after being expelled over an indictment for corruption charges.
White defeated Salim Adofo, an Advisory Neighborhood Commission chairman in Congress Heights; attorney Mike Austin, also a former ANC chairman; and Sheila Bunn, who worked for former Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray, to retake his seat that he lost in February. His victory was despite being indicted over charges that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for a promise to use his influence to steer contracts, a charge he has pleaded not guilty to.
If he’s convicted after his trial in January, he could be removed from office a second time and banned from running again. Despite this, voters decided to give him another chance.
His supporters greeted him with uproarious cheers after learning of his victory Tuesday night. White said Washingtonians “had sent a message loud and clear to the council that Trayon White is here to stay.”
“It’s a testament that if you fall down — because we’re all going to fall down — can you get back up?” he said. “Because today Ward 8 stood up!”
White won handily with nearly 30% of the vote, almost 5% more than his nearest contender, Bunn, with over 80% of the vote counted.
EXPELLED DC COUNCIL MEMBER TRAYON WHITE FACES VOTERS’ JUDGMENT IN SPECIAL ELECTION
His victory came as a surprise to many, especially given that he raised almost no money and spent none.
Ward 8 has a population of about 73,000 people, with around 87% of them black. Turnout was low, as is the historic norm in the city, with 8,000-9,000 turning out.
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