December 2006

GW Law Professor Elected to D.C. Council

Professor Mary M. Cheh (center) was elected to the D.C. Council Nov. 7.

By Jamie L. Freedman

GW Law Professor Mary M. Cheh emerged victorious Nov. 7 in her bid to represent Washington’s Ward 3 on the D.C. Council, overwhelmingly defeating Republican challenger Theresa Conroy.

Cheh, who prevailed among a field of nine
Democratic candidates in the September primary, campaigned on pledges to work for stronger schools, better services, and smart development in Washington. A member of GW Law School’s faculty since 1979, she brings a wealth of experience to her four-year term on the council.
“My entire career has been about law reform,” says Cheh. “I’ve worked on reforming criminal codes for foreign countries, strengthened civil rights laws here and abroad, and been involved in environmental reform.” An expert on constitutional law and criminal procedure, she’s served as a consultant to the President’s Commission on Organized Crime and the National Institute of Justice, worked as a prosecutor, and served on various commissions and boards, including the board of the American Civil Liberties Union.

As special counsel to the D.C. Council’s judiciary committee, Cheh spearheaded a landmark investigation into the D.C. Police Department’s handling of political protests, resulting in model legislative reforms setting parameters for police conduct and protecting citizens’ rights.

“As a D.C. Council member, I’ll be involved in the same kind of problem-solving as an insider, with the added dimension of direct community involvement, which I find exhilarating,” says Cheh, who will scale back her GW teaching course load to one class next semester. “As a legislator, I’ll have a front row seat to the action. I’m looking forward to using all my skills and experience as a law professor and civic activist to serve the District of Columbia.”

A longtime resident of the District, Cheh believes that Washington is currently at a “delicate time” in its history. “With a new mayor and several new council members, we have the chance to move Washington in the right direction,” she says. “The city has a lot of needs and problems, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the new energy in town to tackle the problems that have been festering, especially with regard to education, efficient and effective delivery of services to the people of the District, and environmental reform.”

Cheh, who prides herself on the fact that she ran a positive, issue-oriented
campaign, also hopes to be part of the effort to acquire voting rights in Congress for the people of the District. As she moves to the frontline of the action, she says she is ready to start making a difference. “At the end of the day, if I can be part of some major initiatives that help to bring about change for the better, then I’ll count my term as a success,” she states. “It’s exciting and thrilling, and I can’t wait to get to work!”

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