With ethics scandals swirling in city hall, members of the DC Council have been put on notice that they must give transparency their highest priority and disclose any ties they or their staff or close political associates might have to Walmart, which plans to flood the DC retail market with four store openings by the end of 2012.

DC residents have a right to know what a special interest of unparalleled economic and political power like Walmart is doing to try to influence the Council. Council members have a duty to fully and promptly disclose their relationships with Walmart, so their constituents can determine whether or not their elected representatives are acting in their best interests or Walmart’s. DC Council members are called upon you to disclose: 

• Whether any of your campaign officials, staff, advisors, volunteers or fundraisers has received any payment or donation from Walmart, from a public relations or lobbying firm acting on its behalf, or from a developer of any of Walmart’s planned stores over the past year.
• Whether your election committee or constituent services fund has accepted contributions from Walmart, companies acting on its behalf, or a developer of any of its planned stores over the past year.
• What meetings you have had, and when did they take place, with Walmart representatives, lobbyists acting on the company’s behalf, or a developer of any of its planned stores over the past year. This is to ensure that the decision-making process around Walmart’s efforts to open stores in DC is conducted in the light of day, so that everyone can be held accountable.