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