“Running for office should not be about the candidates, but about the voters. Often these campaigns are portrayed as who has the most money, the most endorsements or the most yard signs, but with little media attention paid to this special election, the ideas of the candidates have been lost.” (Quote taken from Sloan’s website)
During the Washington City Paper Ward 4 debate on April 13, candidate Doug Sloan made the announcement in his opening remarks that he is dropping out of the race. His campaign office made an official statement on his website soon thereafter. But he made it clear that he did not quit because he is sick of his rivals. Instead, Sloan wants the fragmented candidate field to unite behind one opponent to Muriel Bowser favorite (and potential front runner) Brandon Todd. Stating that it was unfair for Bowser to hand pick her successor, Sloan publicized that he was dropping out, then proceeded to walk out of the debate. His abrupt exit in Ward 4 mirrors the Ward 8 race, where two candidates withdrew in a last-minute bid to combine opposition to Bowser pick LaRuby May. But while the former Ward 8 candidates decided to unite behind hopeful Trayon White, Sloan refused to say who, if anyone, that he will endorse. After the aftermath of the debate, candidate Dwayne Toliver verified that a Ward 8-style effort to persuade more candidates to drop out exists. Toliver added that he does not know who Sloan will be backing, but nevertheless is eager to have his full support.
