Just received a newsletter from Tricia Duncan that she has dropped out of the race and is now supporting Matt Frumin.
Here is a copy of her statement:
Dear Supporters,
Today I am announcing that I am suspending my campaign to be elected the next Ward 3 Councilmember. I did not make this decision easily or lightly. But given the unprecedented amount of money being poured into the Ward 3 Council race by outside, special interests attempting, in my opinion, to manipulate Ward 3 voters – the Washington Post recently estimated an astounding $1 million of outside spending – I felt I needed to determine if I had a real shot of winning, and if I didn’t, I should step aside so that a candidate who shared my values can win.
That candidate is Matt Frumin. I want Ward 3 to be represented by a Council member who has longstanding ties to our community and who is responsive to us, not to out-of-state special interests. Like me, Matt has sent his children to our public schools. He’s been a civic leader and champion of our elementary schools, Hardy and Deal middle schools, and of course, the newly renamed Jackson-Reed high school. He’s been an ANC commissioner, and he’s got the scars to show it. He’s negotiated deals to bring affordable housing to Ward 3 and sensible development in character with our ward. He’s fought for safe streets and worked with DDOT to get those to happen. These are things I’ve also fought for and believe in. That’s why I want Matt Frumin representing me on the D.C. Council.
As I said, as a candidate – well, I guess now a former candidate – I think two people have a real shot to win. The candidate backed by a million dollars of outside, special interest money and Matt. That’s a clear decision for me: I want Matt to win. I’m encouraging fellow candidates in the race right now to look at what is going on with clear eyes: Do you want Ward 3 to be governed by someone who listens to you or to special interests, whether it be charter school lobbyists or other entities?
I entered this race to serve Ward 3 and represent my neighbors. And yes, I still think I’d be the best person to represent our ward. I care deeply about our neighborhoods, our schools, our rec centers, our residents. I believe it is imperative that our Ward Councilmember do so as well. Again, this is really a hard thing to do, to tell my supporters, to tell my family, my kids and husband, especially, but I also couldn’t wake up on June 22 knowing that I might have been the difference in Matt winning or losing.
We know from the Board of Elections data that a lot of Ward 3 voters haven’t mailed in or submitted their ballots yet. I’m encouraging all of those who have yet to vote to consider voting for Matt.
Matt and I do not agree on all policies or have the same approach to advocacy, but I have tremendous respect for his extensive work in the community and his decades of support to our public schools, housing needs, youth, and faith initiatives. Matt’s campaign is not supported by the outside groups pouring millions of dollars of independent expenditures to push their agenda onto an unsuspecting electorate. These groups are backing candidate Eric Goulet, and they have spent more than $1,460,000 on DC elections within just the last 90 days alone. We cannot risk electing a candidate propped up by special interests lacking ties to our fellow residents.
To all my supporters and those who have already voted for me, thank you. I am so grateful for your support, your donations, and your encouragement these past few months. If I believed this election was going to be decided on the candidates' values and records, I would remain in the race. I truly wish it were so, but right now it will not be. This election cycle has shown DC’s laudable Fair Elections Program is not robust enough to prevent outside interest groups from swaying the outcome of our elections. We are smart enough to see what is happening and we, as voters, have the power to combat this by ALL voting for Matt Frumin. I’m proud to be doing so, and I hope others will join in rising to the challenge of ensuring our elections are about our residents, our desires, and our needs.
Best,
<Signed by Tricia. Unable to copy her signature as it is an image>