Sharon Pratt

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Sharon Pratt (born January 30, 1944) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the mayor of the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1995. She was the first mayor born in Washington, DC since 1861 and the first woman to hold the job. She has been known as Sharon Pratt Dixon and Sharon Pratt Kelly due to her marriages.

Pratt grew up in Washington, DC, attended local public schools, and went on to Howard University, where she earned a BA in political science (1965) and a JD (1968). She was active in Democratic politics, serving on the Democratic National Committee from DC (1977–1990) and as DNC treasurer (1985–1989). She also held roles in public service and private sector work, including a position at Pepco in 1983.

In 1990, Pratt ran for mayor as an outsider to the incumbent Marion Barry’s political machine and won, taking office on January 2, 1991. As mayor, she pursued reform by firing many of Barry’s appointees and cutting city payroll, which included unpaid furloughs and wage freezes. Her efforts to reform the city sparked opposition from labor and other politicians. Her term saw internal clashes with the City Council, relocation debates about city offices, and a difficult battle over Washington, DC statehood.

The administration faced a sharp challenge when a recall campaign emerged and when the federal government scrutinized DC finances. A 1994 GAO report warned of a looming budget crisis and criticized mismanagement under her leadership, dealing a major blow to her bid for reelection. Pratt finished third in the Democratic primary in 1994, with Marion Barry winning the nomination and the general election.

After leaving office, Pratt continued to work in public affairs and consulting. In 2003, she received a DC contract to serve as the city’s main liaison with federal homeland security agencies, helping coordinate funding and communications. She runs Pratt Consulting, a management consulting firm that works with federal, state, and local agencies and non-profits. She has two daughters and has been married twice (Arrington Dixon, 1967–1982; James Kelly, 1991–1999).