Since I am running for Shadow Representative, an unpaid position that advocates for DC voting rights, it makes sense that I layout my positions on the issue and what I will be fighting for. The following is an overview of my stances on the various components of DC voting rights. If you have more specific questions I encourage you to email me at mike@mikepanetta.com

Statehood: The ideal situation for the District of Columbia is for it become a state. There are rights that are inherently granted to, and reserved for, the states in the Constitution and anything short of statehood would deny the District these rights. Now, of course, getting statehood is a very, very long struggle and is not politically possible in the short-term, so I do not subscribe to a “statehood or nothing” mentality. However, I do think statehood is the best long-term solution to our lack of Congressional representation.

Davis-Norton Bill: While not ideal, as it lacks a Senate component and involves creating an extra at-large House seat for Utah, I do support this legislation and will work towards its passage. I am of the belief that something is better than nothing, and right now we have nothing. My biggest concern is that if we get a vote in the House, we’ll loose the drive and energy needed to get voting representation in the Senate. Only with full voting rights in both chambers will District residents stop becoming second-class citizens in their own country.

Retrocession to Maryland: I do not support this idea. One of the most insulting things to say to someone in the District when talking about voting rights is “why don’t you just move?” Any plans to turn the District into a city in Maryland is basicallly just that — moving everyone into another state and not addressing the real problem. Even if it was possible politically, which is a pipe dream, the District of Columbia has forged its own history over more than 200 years and should remain its own entity.

I hope this gives you an idea of what I stand for and I encourage you to contact me with any questions or use the blog to post your own thoughts.

There was a discussion over on DCist about Michael Brown’s Shadow Senator signs. They just realized that there are two Michael Browns running for office in DC. Political junkies in the District noticed that back in May when the one running for Shadow Senator picked up that ballots.

I saw the “Michaels” sign each other’s nominating petitions at a Ward 5 meeting back in June. I was wondering if, when they shook hands, they’d be sucked into some weird 4th dimension like Ron Silver’s character when he touched his alternative self in that time travel movie with Jean Claude Van Dam and the girlfriend from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - but nothing happened.

Anyway, there was a little discussion about the role of the Shadow delegation (Senators and Representative) and, as usual, there were the people who think the whole shadow delegation should be eliminated. I jumped in with a good comment (well, at least my wife said it was good). Here’s a link to the story:

http://www.dcist.com/archives/2006/08/30/another_michael.php

I’d also say vote often…but that’s not legal

Seriously, in DC you can vote NOW by walk-in absentee ballot if you’d like. You can get more information on how to do this by calling the DCBOEE at (202) 727-2525. You can also fill out a request for a mail-in absentee ballot by clicking here.

Why deal with the crowds on election day? Vote for me today and save time and frustration!

Be sure to tell your friends!

Now that it’s getting close to the election, the press is starting to pay some attention to the Shadow races. Which is nice, as we need all the help we can get raising awareness about these positions. In the past few days I’ve been interviewed or profiled by News Channel 8, The Washington Examiner, The Common Denominator, and The Washington Post.

The Post was pretty cool as they actually had a reporter out with me when I was campaigning at the Dupont Farmer’s Market on Sunday and stopped to talk to a few people who talked to me - so that should be a good little story. I am a bit annoyed at the paper as they are not doing any endorsements in the Shadow races. I know they have in the past - I guess there is just too much going on this year.

Here is a short run-down of the press or voter guides so far about my campaign. I’ll post more as they come online.

The Common Denominator

League of Women Voters

CityPaper (I’m quoted way at the end of the article.)

Big news about the Shadow Representative race! (And really, what news isn’t big when it comes to the campaign?)

I got a call yesterday afternoon from John Forster who was one of the two other people running for Shadow Representative in the Democratic Primary on September 12th. It turns out that his employer does not want him to run, so he has had to drop out of the race. Which now makes it a two man race between me and the one remaining candidate.

While I did not agree with Forster’s ideas to give DC voting rights by retrocession back to Maryland, I was sorry he had to give up his campaign. It was a lot of work to the 2,000 plus signatures to get on the ballot, and now with 2 weeks left to have to stop and give up must really suck.

It is good news for me however. One down, one to go