1986 campaign

In June 1986, Lightfoot announced he would run as a Democrat for at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, essentially challenging Betty Ann Kane's reelection.^[14] Lightfoot said that Kane had helped big businesses more than working residents.^[14]

The next week, John L. Gibson announced his candidacy for the same seat on the Council.^[15] Gibson had been a commissioner of the District of Columbia Board of Parole; a community organizer for the United Planning Organization and the Washington Urban League; and a staff member for the District of Columbia Board of Education, the District of Columbia Office of Personnel, and the Department of Housing and Community Development.^[15] Gibson said he was surprised that Lightfoot had decided to run because he was under the impression that Lightfood had said he would support his campaign.^[15] Gibson speculated that perhaps someone had mistakenly told Lightfoot that Gibson would not actually run for the office.^[15]

Lightfoot dropped out the following month, saying, "By remaining in the race, I would have split votes with Mr. Gibson, who shares my views on the issues. ... In the past, candidates with similar views would split the votes, allowing someone with another view to win. That is a mistake I did not want to repeat."^[16] Lightfoot endorsed Gibson's campaign.^[16]

Kane won the Democratic primary election with 69 percent of the vote,^[17] and she won reelection in the general election, receiving 60 percent of the vote in the general election.^[18]

1988 campaign

In 1988, Lightfoot ran again for an at-large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia, this time running as an independent.^[19]

After leaving the Council, Lightfoot changed his registration to the Democratic Party.^[20] Lightfoot's goal was to unseat Republican Carol Schwartz, who was expected to run for reelection.^[21][22] Schwartz later decided not to run for reelection, citing the recent deaths of her husband, mother, mother-in-law, and best friend as factors in her decision.^[23][24]

Other individuals who ran for an at-large seat on the Council included incumbent Democrat John L. Ray; Republican Jerry Moore, former Council member; Independent David Watson, former spokesperson for the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission; Independent R. Calvin Lockridge, D.C. school board member; Statehood Party Tom Chorlton, gay rights activist; Statehood Party David Watson; and Libertarian Dennis Sobin.^{[24][25][26][27]}

Washington Metropolitan Council AFL–CIO and Greater Washington chapter of Americans for Democratic Action endorsed Lightfoot's candidacy.^[28][29]

Lightfoot was elected to the Council with 27 percent of the vote.^[30] He was inaugurated on January 2, 1989.^[31]

First term

In the District of Columbia, corporations and partnerships are allowed to donate to political campaigns.^[32] A person who owns several entities can have each entity donate separately in order to get around the maximum donation allowed by law.^[32] Lightfoot introduced a bill that would eliminate that strategy by including donations by corporations and partnerships in each owner's total maximum donation.^[32]

During the Government of the District of Columbia's financial troubles in 1991, Lightfoot proposed increasing the utility tax in order to honor the Council's promise to give $36 million in raises to government employees.^[33] The Council unanimously passed the utility tax three months later.^[34] Lightfoot turned down two salary increases that members of the Council were given.^[35] Lightfoot was one of twelve council members who voted to end the employment of 2,000 mid-level managers because the government did not have the cash to pay them.^[36] When an arbitration panel decided that police officers must be given four-percent raises each year for three years, Lightfoot protested, saying the District did not have the cash.^[37] Lightfoot was also concerned that it would set precedent to also give raises to other governmental employees, which would require increases to income tax rates.^[37]

The District of Columbia Board of Education had full authority of its own budget.^[38] Lightfoot proposed an amendment to the Charter of the District of Columbia to give the Council the authority to veto line-items from the education budget.^[38]

The District of Columbia Parole Board successfully petitioned the Council to increase its budget in order to hire 22 new parole officers.^[39] When the District of Columbia Parole Board decided to use the money to move to larger space rather than hire new parole officers, Lightfoot criticized them, saying, "We're paying money for rent instead of hiring parole officers."^[39]

Lightfoot was also critical of a line-item in the District's budget to pay for an outside security firm to guard the Department of Administrative Services when the Bureau of Protective Services could perform the same job.^[40]

In May 1991, a police officer shot a Salvadoran man, Daniel Enrique Gomez, and arrested him on a charge of disorderly conduct.^[41] The shooting led to the looting, burning, and vandalizing of more than three dozen businesses in Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights.^[41] Lightfoot and Frank Smith introduced a bill to give tax breaks to businesses that had sustained damages.^[41]

Lightfoot served on the Council until 1997.^[42]

1992 campaign

Lightfoot ran for reelection in 1992.^[43] Lightfoot was on the general election ballot along with incumbent Democrat John Ray, Republican Philip Baten, D.C. Statehood Sam Jordan, and Independent Brian Moore.^[44]

Lightfoot was reelected to the Council with 30 percent of the vote.^[45][46]

Second term

In 1993, Lightfoot proposed merging the Council of the District of Columbia with the District of Columbia Board of Education, creating a larger, united government entity.^[47]

Lightfoot introduced a resolution calling for the Washington Redskins to change its name.^[48] The resolution said in part, "'Redskins'...is a discredit to the many men who have played outstanding football for the team. Nicknames and mascots constitute an unauthentic representation of Native Americans, whether used for entertainment, commercial or symbolic purposes. This imagery degrades Native American people and culture and distorts Native American and non-American perceptions of self and community."^[48]

Lightfoot filed paperwork to run for mayor as an independent in August 1994.^[49][50] He withdrew from the race a month later.^[50][51]

Along with Council member John Ray, Lightfoot introduced a bill to allow companies other than Bell Atlantic to offer local telephone service to customers in the District.^[52] Lightfoot said that competition would decrease customers' prices and while increasing the quality of service.^[52]

Lightfoot proposed legislation that prohibited anyone less than 17 years old from being out in public between the hours of from midnight to 6 a.m. on weekends and summers and between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on other days.^[53] Lightfoot said the legislation would improve the quality of life for children and help identify children who are likely to become victims of crime or may commit crime themselves.^[53]

On January 30, 1996, Lightfoot told the Washington Informer, "I probably wouldn't run for re-election this year. I have two small children and I would very much like to teach them various things, being a good father and nurturing them. But I think the key word here is that I probably wouldn't run. But I haven't made up my mind as yet."^[54] The following month, Lightfoot decided not to run for reelection.^[55]