Hilda Mason
Encyclopedia
Hilda Howland M. Mason was a politician and statehood advocate in Washington, D.C.
She was a member of the D.C. Statehood Party and served as an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia
from 1977 to 1999, becoming the longest-serving elected official in the city's history.
In the mid-1990s, Mason's mental condition came into question, and her behavior was described as "sometimes-erratic and unpredictable". She began calling herself the "Grandmother to the world". Statehood Party officials tried to get her to retire, which she resisted, but eventually they succeeded, only to realize that they had nobody to replace her, at which point they worked to persuade her not to retire. By then, however, the electorate was tired of the issue and she finished third in an at-large race that elected two council members.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
She was a member of the D.C. Statehood Party and served as an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia
Council of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
from 1977 to 1999, becoming the longest-serving elected official in the city's history.
In the mid-1990s, Mason's mental condition came into question, and her behavior was described as "sometimes-erratic and unpredictable". She began calling herself the "Grandmother to the world". Statehood Party officials tried to get her to retire, which she resisted, but eventually they succeeded, only to realize that they had nobody to replace her, at which point they worked to persuade her not to retire. By then, however, the electorate was tired of the issue and she finished third in an at-large race that elected two council members.
Political career
- April 2, 1977 — appointed by the D.C. Statehood Party to fill the at-large council seat left vacant by the death of Julius HobsonJulius HobsonJulius W. Hobson was the People's Party Vice Presidential candidate in 1972. Benjamin Spock was the People's Party Presidential candidate. They polled 0.1014% of the popular vote and no electoral votes....
- July 19, 1977 – elected at-large council member in special election (narrow win over Barbara Sizemore)
- November 7, 1978 — reelected at-large council member
- November 2, 1982 — reelected at-large council member
- November 4, 1986 — reelected at-large council member
- November 6, 1990 — reelected at-large council member
- November 8, 1994 — reelected at-large council member
- November 3, 1998 — ran for reelection but was defeated in general by Phil MendelsonPhil MendelsonPhilip Heath Mendelson is a politician from Washington, D.C.-Political career:In 1998, Mendelson was elected as a Democrat to be an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, and he has been reelected twice....
and David CataniaDavid CataniaDavid A. Catania is an American politician and lawyer from Washington, D.C. He is currently a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, where he serves as an independent, elected at-large .-Biography:Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Catania is a graduate of Georgetown University's School...
(the at-large race has two winners)