Hon. Benjamin F. Wilson, Chainnan
District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics
441 Fourth Street, N.W., Ste. 250-North
Washington, D.C. 20001

Dear Chairman Wilson:

I write to opt out of the District of Columbia non-binding presidential primary to be held on January 13,2004.  AccordingJy, I request that my name not be included on the presidential primary ballot or in any announcement of candidates made by the Board pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.05(b )(2), as amended by the Presidential Primary Petition and Filing Waiver Emergency Act of 2003 ("Emergency Act").  In the event this letter reaches you after the Board has already announced a list of candidates, please consider this letter to be my request to withdraw from the primary, pursuant to paragraph (C) of the Emergency Act.
 
I make this request in order to comply with Rules 10A and 12H of the Delegate Selection Rules of the Democratic National Committee.  Rule 10A provides that "[n]o meetings., caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in the presidential nomination process [except for the Iowa precinct caucuses and the New Hampshire primary] may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February."  Rule 12H states that "'presidential candidates should take all steps possible not to participate" in non- binding primaries.  I am, of course, deeply committed to the needs of D.C. voters (I will fight, for example, to restore to the District's delegate to the House of Representatives the right to vote on the House floor she enjoyed during the 1O3rd Congress), and I will compete for their support in the February 14 Democratic presidential caucuses.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.  If, for whatever reason, you believe you are unable to comply with my request not to be listed on the January 13 primary ballot, please calI my campaign at 501-537-2004 and ask for Eli Segal.

Sincerely,
 

Wesley K. Clark
General (ret.)
U.S. Army