Linda Washington Cropp is an American politician from Washington, District of Columbia, the capital of the United States.
Education
In 1971, she received a Master of Education degree in guidance and counseling from Howard University. In 2002, Cropp received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of the District of Columbia and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the George Washington University in 2007.
Career
On September 12, 2006, she lost the Democratic Primary for Mayor (57%-31%) to Adrian Fenty. This loss came in spite of the fact that Cropp had been endorsed by outgoing mayor Anthony A. Williams. She was succeeded as Council Chairman by Vincent C. Gray.
Cropp received a bachelor"s degree in government from Howard University in 1969.
From 1970 to 1978, Cropp worked as a teacher and a counselor with the District of Columbia Public Schools. In 1979, she ran for the District of Columbia Board of Education to represent Ward 4.
At the time, she was a guidance counselor at Roosevelt Senior High School. Her candidacy was supported by then-Mayor Marion Barry.
Cropp started her first term representing Ward 4 on the District of Columbia Board of Education in 1980.
She was elected vice president of the Board of Education in December 1984, and then president in January 1989. In 1988, Cropp ran to represent Ward 4 on the Council of the District of Columbia. Cropp criticized incumbent Charlene Drew Jarvis, saying Jarvis had too much allegiance to big businesses because they were the source of the great majority of her campaign contributions.
Cropp also said that Jarvis had not done enough to help small businesses along Georgia Avenue.
Jarvis criticized Cropp for the disappointing results of public schools under Cropp"s leadership of the Board of Education. The editorial board of The Washington Post endorsed Jarvis" reelection.
Cropp was defeated by Jarvis in the Democratic Party Primary Election, 47% to 52%. When Council Member Betty Ann Kane decided not to run for reelection to her at-large seat in 1990, Cropp ran to replace her.
1992 elected as chair of the Councilors Committee on Human Services
Council
1997 named acting Chairman of District of Columbia Council, following the death of David Clarke
1997 elected District of Columbia Council Chairman in a special election
1998 re-elected District of Columbia Council Chairman
2002 re-elected District of Columbia Council Chairman
2006 entered race for Mayor.
Membership
She was a Democratic member of the Council of the District of Columbia, where she was the first woman to serve as the elected Council Chairman. 1994 re-elected at-large member of District of Columbia