Harold Brazil

American attorney and politician
Harold Brazil
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia at-large
In office
January 2, 1997 – January 2, 2005
Preceded byJohn L. Ray
Succeeded byKwame R. Brown
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 6
In office
January 2, 1991 – January 2, 1997
Preceded byNadine Winter
Succeeded bySharon Ambrose
Personal details
Born
Harold Brazil

(1947-12-13) December 13, 1947 (age 76)
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseCrystal Palmer[1]
Alma materOhio State University B.A., J.D.,
Georgetown University Law Center L.L.M.
OccupationAttorney, politician

Harold Brazil (born December 13, 1947[2][3]) is a former attorney and Democratic politician in Washington, D.C.

Early years

Originally from Columbus, Ohio,[3] Brazil graduated from Bishop Hartley High School.[4] Brazil earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Juris Doctor from Ohio State University and an L.L.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Political career

Brazil moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a law clerk for Robert M. Duncan, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.[4][5] Brazil later served as a United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1978 to 1980.[6] Brazil worked in the office of Senator John Glenn between 1980 and 1984.[6][7] In 1984, Brazil began working as a lobbyist for Pepco.[8][9] Brazil was a member of the D.C. General Hospital Commission in 1989.[10]

After resigning from his position at Pepco, Brazil announced his candidacy to represent Ward 6 on the Council of the District of Columbia in April 1990.[8] Brazil ran against Nadine Winter, the four-term incumbent.[11] Brazil supported increasing penalties for repeat offenders and violent criminals and increasing funding for law enforcement officers.[12] The editorial board of The Washington Post endorsed Brazil's candidacy.[13]

Brazil won the Democratic primary election, with 43 percent of the vote.[14] Brazil advanced to the general election, where he was on the ballot with the D.C. Statehood Party's candidate, R. Bradford McMahon.[15][16] Brazil won the general election,[17] with 93 percent of the vote.[18] Brazil served from 1991 to 2005, first representing Ward 6 and then as an at-large member.[19][20]

In 2004, Kwame R. Brown challenged Brazil's reelection campaign. Brown criticized Brazil for treating his Council position as a part-time job and serving as a rubber stamp for the Mayor. [21] Brown won the Democratic Party primary election with 54 percent of the vote, compared to Brazil's 32 percent.[22]

Later years

In October 2008, Brazil and two women entered a tattoo shop in Georgetown.[23] One woman went to the back to get a tattoo, but the shopkeeper said that rules prohibited the other woman to go with her.[23] According to Brazil, Brazil objected, and the shopkeeper became rude, cursed Brazil, called him a racial slur, and beat him so much that he required medical treatment for his injuries.[23] The shopkeeper said Brazil was the one who became belligerent, cursed the shopkeeper, and then urinated on the floor.[23] In May 2009, Brazil was convicted of assault.[24] The judge sentenced Brazil to 90 days of imprisonment, but the judge suspended the sentence on the condition that Brazil completes six months of unsupervised probation.[24]

On July 1, 2014, the District of Columbia Bar admonished Brazil for improperly safeguarding clients' property, failure to represent a client diligently, and failure to act with reasonable promptness in representing a client.[25] On January 18, 2018, he was disbarred by consent.[26]

References

  1. ^ Simmons, Deborah. "D.C.'s Gray defends pace of transition: New aides named, but not top cop, schools chief". The Washington Times. December 10, 2010.
  2. ^ "Harold Brazil (D-Ward 6)". The Washington Post. 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Greene, Marcia Slacum. "Seeds of Activism Grow to Aspiration: Mayoral Candidate Brazil's Roots Anchor His Political Views". The Washington Post. August 31, 1998. p. B1.
  4. ^ a b Carmen, Barbara. "Mr. Brazil Takes His Columbus Common Sense to Washington". The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio). July 24, 1998.
  5. ^ "First Washington Political Try Goes Well for Columbus Native". The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio). October 28, 1990.
  6. ^ a b "Voter's Guide: D.C. Council". The Washington Post. September 6, 1990. p. VGDC4.
  7. ^ Pianin, Eric. "Glenn Criticizes Reagan in D.C. Campaign Stop". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  8. ^ a b Abromowitz, Michael. "Brazil Seeks Council Seat in Ward 6". The Washington Post. April 5, 1990. p. DC11.
  9. ^ Sherwood, Tom. "Officials Take Road Trip in Quest for Baseball: Barry, Smith Explore Minority Ownership of D.C. Team During Visit to West Coast". The Washington Post. July 16, 1987. p. C5.
  10. ^ Abramowitz, Michael. "Gunshot Victims Strain Hospital: D.C. General, Also Citing Budget Cuts, May Shut Trauma Unit". The Washington Post. February 17, 1989. p. D1.
  11. ^ McCall, Nathan. "Council Contests Shape Up: Contenders Crowd At-Large Seat Race". The Washington Post. June 7, 1990. p. J1.
  12. ^ McCall, Nathan. "Winter Is Facing A Stiff Challenge: Votes on Homeless, Parking Fees Criticized". The Washington Post. July 5, 1990. p. DC1.
  13. ^ "The Next D.C. Council" (editorial). The Washington Post. September 9, 1990. p. D6.
  14. ^ Sanchez, Rene. "Winter Loses Ward 6 Seat: Wilson, Cropp Triumph". The Washington Post. September 12, 1990. p. A21.
  15. ^ Walsh, Elsa. "Campaign Competition, From Intense to Relaxed: Council Candidate Brazil Walking Tall in Ward 6". The Washington Post. November 1, 1990. p. DC1.
  16. ^ "Voter's Guide: D.C. Council". The Washington Post. November 1, 1990. p. VGD4.
  17. ^ Sanchez, Rene. "Wilson Elevated to Chairman: Cropp, Mason Beat Barry". The Washington Post. November 7, 1990. p. A31.
  18. ^ "Election Results". The Washington Post. November 8, 1990. p. D10.
  19. ^ "Historical Elected Officials: Ward 6 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. July 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008.
  20. ^ "Historical Elected Officials: At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. July 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008.
  21. ^ Montgomery, Lori. "Brazil Faces Energetic Foe in At-Large Race: Challenger Brown Captures Some Key Endorsements". The Washington Post. September 9, 2004. p. B1. [1]
  22. ^ Montgomery, Lori; Woodlee, Yolanda. "Barry In, 3 D.C. Council Incumbents Out; Ex-Mayor Ousts Allen; Chavous, Brazil Also Lose". The Washington Post. September 15, 2004. p. A1.
  23. ^ a b c d "Harold Brazil Alleges Racist Epithet Preceded His Pissing on Shop Floor". Washington City Paper. April 15, 2009.
  24. ^ a b Alexander, Keith L. "Ex-D.C. Council Member Harold Brazil Convicted of Assaulting Tattoo Shop Manager". The Washington Post. May 2, 2009.
  25. ^ Shipp, Jr., Wallace E. "In re Harold Brazil. Esquire D.C. Bar No. 190124 Bar Docket No. 2013-D123". District of Columbia Bar. July 1, 2014.
  26. ^ In re: Harold E. Brazil, No. 18-BS-3 (D.C. 2018)

External links

Council of the District of Columbia
Preceded by Ward 6 Member, Council of the District of Columbia
1991–1997 		Succeeded by
Preceded by At-Large Member, Council of the District of Columbia
1997–2005 		Succeeded by