In an election separated by a mere 35 votes, Annamaria Steward, a law school associate dean, won the District of Columbia Bar presidency over media lawyer Laura Possessky, the bar said Monday.

“It absolutely is the closest race in our history,” D.C. Bar spokeswoman Cynthia Kuhn said.

Steward received 3,193 votes to Possessky's 3,158. In previous elections, the D.C. Bar has had candidates separated by several hundred votes. The bar said in this election 9.6 percent, or 7,212, of its voting members cast ballots.

Steward, who teaches at University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, was surprised at the result when she learned it Friday, she said. Although she had sought and received endorsements from groups including the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of D.C. and the Washington Council of Lawyers, “You never know how it's going to turn out,” she said. “I was really grateful for all of my friends, colleagues and supporters for going out and urging people to vote.”

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“While some of my supporters have suggested an appeal to the Supreme Court, I congratulate Annamaria on her win and wish her the best,” said Possessky, who runs a small firm with Alan Gura, who specializes in constitutional law and appellate litigation.

Steward will serve for three years on the bar's executive committee, first as president-elect for one year beginning June 16. She will then spend a year as president, and one year as immediate past-president.

Bar president-elect Timothy Webster, a Sidley Austin partner, will become president on June 16.

Steward said she will focus most on finding ways to get law students involved in the bar and in legal services projects.

Other leaders elected last month include:

  • Shara Chang of BuckleySandler as secretary.
  • Christopher Zubowicz of the U.S. Department of Justice as treasurer.
  • Susan Low Bloch of Georgetown University Law Center as Board of Governors member.
  • Moses Cook of D.C. Law Students in Court as Board of Governors member.
  • Ann Ford of DLA Piper as Board of Governors member for a two-year term.
  • Arian June of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr as Board of Governors member.
  • Leah Quadrino of Steptoe & Johnson LLP as Board of Governors member.
  • Gregory Smith of the Law Offices of Gregory S. Smith as Board of Governors member.
  • Paul Smith of Jenner & Block, Jean Veta of Covington & Burling and Carter Coker of Hunton & Williams were elected to American Bar Association House of Delegates seats, including Coker for the under-36 seat.