Last week brought revelations that ANC 5B Chair William Shelton is under investigation for misappropriating $27,000 in public ANC funds. Here's some of the coverage from WUSA9, and Loose Lips. Explanations were promised, but I have heard any. Now comes news that ANC 5B Vice Chair David Hooper (widely expected to replace embattled Chair William Shelton should he resign) has himself resigned. Twitter user @9NewsDelia (WUSA9 reporter Delia Gonçales) broke the story last night just after 10pm. According to Gonçales Hooper reportedly claimed that he was resigning due to his "busy and demanding schedule." [*Editor's note: it is unclear whether Hooper resigned from his ANC seat, or merely from his position as Vice Chair. As Vice Chair he would have been expected to take over in the event that Shelton resigns, and that would mean a lot more duties and responsibilities falling on Hooper's shoulders*] Wow, what's next? And is the $27,000 really all that's missing?
++++++++++++ UPDATE ++++++++++++
I have looked for a WUSA9 story on Hooper online, but not found one. I don't know if Hooper resigned from the ANC, or just the VC position. Just to be clear: no one has made any allegations of wrongdoing against Hooper. Important questions:
1. How much $ is missing, and how much remains in the 5B account?
2. Will Shelton make a statement?
3. Who will replace the Chair (if Shelton resigns) and VC?
4. How long will ANC funds remain frozen?
+++++++++++++UPDATE++++++++++++
Ok, @imgoph has verified that Commissioner David Hooper has stepped down as Vice Chair of ANC 5B, but has NOT resigned his ANC seat. I think he probably just didn't want to take on the Chair's responsibility if Shelton steps down.
Check out the video reporting the Shelton controversy.
++++++++++++ UPDATE ++++++++++++
I have looked for a WUSA9 story on Hooper online, but not found one. I don't know if Hooper resigned from the ANC, or just the VC position. Just to be clear: no one has made any allegations of wrongdoing against Hooper. Important questions:
1. How much $ is missing, and how much remains in the 5B account?
2. Will Shelton make a statement?
3. Who will replace the Chair (if Shelton resigns) and VC?
4. How long will ANC funds remain frozen?
+++++++++++++UPDATE++++++++++++
Ok, @imgoph has verified that Commissioner David Hooper has stepped down as Vice Chair of ANC 5B, but has NOT resigned his ANC seat. I think he probably just didn't want to take on the Chair's responsibility if Shelton steps down.
Check out the video reporting the Shelton controversy.
7 comments:
umm, how about the council member who stole $300,000 from poor kids to buy an Audi SUV, or the other council member who misappropriated $100,000 in tax payer money to buy himself lincoln navigators, or the mayor who handed out $100,000 taxpayer jobs for attacking the former mayor, and that doesnt even include our favorite council member who uses taxpayer money to woo girlfriends, doesnt pay his taxes, and constantly violates parole due to drug use.
DC will never be a world class city as long as its resident put up with such corruption among elected officials. You look across time in DC's history, or across geography in other places and countries. When the leadership at the top is rotten, the whole city/country spoils.
Anon:
Hold your horses. You're painting with quite a broad brush. These are allegations.
There are scandals in every administration, and the council has had scandals with almost every member. It's not so different than other cities, or other very young republics. We need to stop the DC bashing. Do what you can to work to make it better or get out.
yes, doing what I can to improve DC - is holding elected officials accountable. And please tell me the last time a politician was "alleged" to have committed some crime, and was then completely exonerated, let alone 3, all at once. I mean that would be some coincidence, or conspiracy.
Why do you think we get no respect in Congress or at the White House? It would be political malpractice for anyone in Congress (at least anyone from a swing district) to stick up for DC's political leadership given their level of ethical standards and competence. Given the public's view of Congress, that is not a high bar to set.
It is quite simply the bigotry of lowered expectations, which is what DC has been suffering from for a long time.
If you are a business, developer, etc. and you want to invest in this region, where are you going to do it? Arlington or Fairfax, which have good governance, or DC or PG county, where you may get hit up for a bribe.
DC has come a long way in the past few years, and I would hate to lose a generation of progress, because a few politicians can't keep their hands out of the cookie jar, and no one else has the courage to stand up to them.
Why do we need a Junior Varsity City Council?
Has anyone been able to find the 9 News story online? I can't find it. And I find no mention of it anywhere except from @9newsdelia. I suspect that is because...
I've been told that Hooper only resigned his position as vice chair, not as ANC.
My guess is that he doesn't want to take on chairmanship duties in wake of allegations against Shelton.
Djbays,
I looked, but couldn't find it. I don't know if Hooper resigned from the ANC, or just the VC position. Just to be clear: no one has made any allegations of wrongdoing against Hooper. Important questions:
1. How much $ is missing?
2. Will Shelton make a statement?
3. Who will replace the Chair (if Shelton resigns) and VC?
4. How long will ANC funds remain frozen?
here's mr. hooper's office website.
perhaps someone can call him, ask what has happened, and report back?
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