Pro-Pot Candidate Stays on D.C. Ballot

Paul Zukerberg, an attorney who is campaigning on a platform that includes decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana possession, will appear on the April 23 special election ballot for At-Large D.C. Council.

Earlier this month a supporter of one of Zukerberg's opponents tried to have him thrown out of the contest.

Zukerberg, who has more than 30 years of courtroom experience, argued that the database used by the D.C. Board of Elections contained errors.

Today, the Board determined that Zukerberg had collected the 3,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.

Another candidate, John Settles, was deemed ineligible to compete in the contest.

The non-partisan special election for At-Large D.C. Council will fill the seat formerly held by Phil Mendelson, who won a special election in 2012 to replace Kwame Brown as Council chairman.  Brown resigned in June, pleaded guilty to a felony and is currently serving a sentence that includes home confinement.

Other candidates in the April 23 special election include: Anita Bonds, Michael Brown, Matthew Frumin, Patrick Mara, Perry Redd and Elissa Silverman.

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Bonds was appointed by the D.C. Democratic Party to fill the seat until the election is held.

UPDATE (6:27 p.m.): In a statement issued by his campaign, Zukerberg said, “This is an important day for democracy and open debate in the District [...] Nobody is going to stop me from advocating for the residents of the District, especially on the new issues I am discussing, such as decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana."

Zukerberg added, "President Obama has said we can't have good government without good elections. I will bring good elections to the District."

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