William Lightfoot
| William Lightfoot | |
|---|---|
| At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia | |
|
In office 1989–1997 |
|
| Preceded by | Carol Schwartz |
| Succeeded by | Carol Schwartz |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 3, 1950 United States |
| Political party |
Democratic (since 1997), Independent (1988–1997), Democratic (until 1988) |
| Residence | Takoma, Washington, D.C. |
| Alma mater |
Howard University, Washington University School of Law J.D. |
| Occupation | Attorney, politician |
William P. Lightfoot (born January 3, 1950) is an attorney and politician in Washington, D.C.
Originally from Alabama, Lightfoot graduated from Howard University. He earned a juris doctor from Washington University School of Law in 1978.
Lightfoot began his political career as a staff member for District of Columbia Council member Wilhelmina Rolark from 1979 to 1981.
In 1981, a voter referendum was proposed that would allow taxpayers a $1,200 income tax credit for each dependent child attending school. Lightfoot successfully challenged the petitions as being collected by someone who was not a District resident, which made those signatures invalid. Without sufficient valid signatures, the referendum was not on the November ballot.
The Council appointed Lightfoot to chair the District of Columbia Cable Design Commission, a commission to write a request for proposal that would determine how cable television should operate in the District, in 1982. The Council gave the Commission 90 days to write the request for proposal, but the Commission asked for another six months to complete it. Lightfoot was opposed to the additional time, saying it unnecessarily delayed the awarding of a cable franchise. The Commission released the request for proposal in July 1983. The Commission determined that there should be minimum offering of 60 channels for residents and 25 channels for businesses and governmental agencies. The winning franchiser should set aside several of the channels for municipal and community use, provide studios to the public to produce programming, provide grants to support public-benefit television programs, provide service to all eight wards, and complete all work within five years.The Washington Post named Lightfoot one of "Five to Watch in 1984", calling him the "cable czar".
Lightfoot held several public forums to hear from residents about the imminent cable television service. Lightfoot said that residents should be able to participate in the process of bringing cable television to the District and learn how it would increase employment and training. The first forum was held in Ward 7.
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