Upset with the decline of her hometown , Pratt announced at the 1988 Democratic National Convention that she would challenge incumbent mayor Marion Barry in the 1990 election . Pratt was the only candidate to have officially announced her plans to run for mayor when Barry was arrested on drug charges and dropped out of the race in early 1990 . Shortly thereafter , the race was joined by longtime councilmembers John Ray , Charlene Drew Jarvis and David Clarke . Pratt criticized her three main opponents , referring to them as the " three blind mice " who " saw nothing , said nothing and did nothing as the city rapidly decayed . " She was the only candidate who called on Barry to resign from office , and ran specifically as an outsider to his political machine
1988 Democratic National Convention
1988 Democratic National Convention
Sharon Pratt