Schwartz Officially In

Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), who has been the sole representative of the GOP on the council since 2004, announced her re-election bid today.

Backed by the local Republican Committee, Schwartz will seek a fifth term as a council member.

"Councilmember Schwartz has a strong record and long history advocating the interests of all DC residents and her announcement is great news for Republicans, Democrats and all DC voters alike," DC Republican Committee Chair Robert J. Kabel said in a statement.

In her statement announcing her decision to run for re-election, Schwartz said: "A lot of people have told me, 'Carol, you don't need this job. Why do you want to continue to work this hard?' And the best answer I can give them is that I am very protective of and, in fact, passionate about this city. I often say that I have gotten over every love affair I've ever had except for the one I've had with DC for nearly 43 years. I wake up in the morning, usually in the early morning, thinking, 'Which problem, which issue, can I tackle today?' If there is such a thing as a calling, this is mine."

Republican Patrick Mara, a D.C. alternate delegate to John McCain at the Republican National Convention, is hoping to unseat the longtime incumbent. He is a manager of government relations at ML Strategies