Carol Schwartz
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Carol Schwartz (born January 20, 1944 in Greenville, Mississippi) is a politician from Washington, D.C., serving as an at-large councilmember on the Council of the District of Columbia.
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[edit] Early life
Schwartz grew up in Midland, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas in 1965 with a degree in elementary and special education.
[edit] Political career
Schwartz is a Republican, who entered D.C. politics in 1974 as a member of the Board of Education. In 1984 she was elected to the D.C. city council and served one term. Following the 1988 suicide of her husband, David H. Schwartz, she decided not to run for reelection that year. In 1996, she returned to city council, where she continues to serve. Schwartz has also unsuccessfully run for mayor, in 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Schwartz is known for her brash and flashy style. She frequently dons costume jewelry and drives a yellow sports car with black racing stripes. Schwartz's panache isn’t limited to her attire and automobile choice. In 2005, to mock supporters of the proposed smoking ban in D.C. bars, she introduced legislation to “ban the sale of alcohol in all bars, restaurants and nightclubs,” arguing that booze, like cigarettes, is unhealthy. Schwartz, a 40-year smoker who kicked the habit in 2001, explained her position by telling The Washington Post: "I like freedom of choice about abortion and nude dancing — consenting adults should have choices."
[edit] Ideology
On some issues, especially economic ones, Schwartz usually has libertarian leanings. She generally supports low taxes, opposes redirecting public money toward private and religious school through school vouchers and is supportive of allowing smoking and nude dancing in bars.
On social issues, Schwartz is generally a liberal, with the exception of the death penalty, which she supports. Schwartz supports abortion rights. She is popular among the sizable gay community in Washington and has been very supportive of gay rights causes. She opposes instituting same-sex marriage in Washington, though she says her opposition stems not from her opposition to same-sex marriage, but her belief that it would engender a backlash from Congress. She believes that Congress would quickly repeal the law and seek to overturn pro-gay initiatives in the District, such as the domestic partnership registry and gay adoption law.
