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The CurrenT Nov. 4, 2014 ■ GENERAL ELEctioN MAyor
About the voters Guide The Current’s Voters Guide for the Nov. 4 general election appears in The Current and The Washington Informer. The section is also available online at issuu.com/currentnewspapers. The Current’s staff interviewed the major candidates in the contests for mayor, attorney general, D.C. Council chairman, two at-large D.C. Council seats, and the Ward 1 and Ward 3 seats on the State Board of Education. The section also includes background information on Initiative Measure No. 71, “Legalization of Possession of Minimal Amounts of Marijuana for Personal Use Act of 2014.” In the mayoral race, independent Nestor Djonkam, Statehood Green nominee Faith and Libertarian nominee Bruce Majors were not interviewed because they had not raised at least $25,000 in campaign funds. In the chairman’s race, Libertarian nominee Kyle Walker and Statehood Green nominee G. Lee Aikin were not interviewed for the same reason. In the at-large race, Libertarian nominee Frederick Steiner, independent Wendell Felder, Statehood Green nominee Eugene Puryear, independent Calvin Gurley and Republican nominee Marc Morgan were not interviewed because they had not raised at least $25,000. Due to space limitations, we were unable to include the Ward 1 and Ward 3 D.C. Council races, in which only the Democratic nominees have raised more than $10,000 in campaign funds. In the Ward 3 race, Democratic incumbent Mary M. Cheh faces Libertarian Ryan Sabot; in the Ward 1 race, Democratic nominee Brianne K. Nadeau faces Libertarian John Vaught LaBeaume and independent Ernest E. Johnson. In the congressonal election for D.C. delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, each of the challengers to Democratic incumbent Eleanor Holmes Norton — Statehood Green nominee Natale Lino Stracuzzi, Republican nominee Nelson F. Rimensnyder and independent Timothy J. Krepp — raised less than $25,000. We were also unable to include the statehood senate seat (in which Democratic incumbent Paul Strauss is facing Statehood Green nominee David Schwartzman, Libertarian John Daniel and independent Glenda J. Richmond) or the statehood representative post (in which Democrat Franklin Garcia is running against Libertarian Martin Moulton and Statehood Green nominee Joyce Robinson-Paul). The Nov. 4 ballot will also include advisory neighborhood commission seats.
About the election The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. Voters will be able to use either paper ballots or touch-screen voting equipment at their assigned polling place. You may also request an absentee ballot by mail through Oct. 28. Early voting began Oct. 20 at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St. NW, and will continue daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 1 except Sunday, Oct. 26. Satellite early-voting locations — including the Chevy Chase, Columbia Heights and Takoma community centers — will be open Oct. 25 through Nov. 1, except on Sunday. For details, visit dcboee.org or call 202727-2525.
VoTers Guide Muriel Bowser Democratic Nominee
David Catania independent
Carol Schwartz independent
Muriel Bowser
David Catania
Carol Schwartz
Democratic candidate Muriel Bowser lives in Riggs Park and serves as Ward 4’s representative on the D.C. Council. She chairs the council’s Economic Development Committee and sits on the board of directors for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Bowser discussed her three mayoral priorities with The Current in an interview before she won the Democratic primary this spring. She said if elected, she would focus on accelerating school reform across all eight wards; growing the District’s middle class, with a focus on affordable housing and jobs; and building an open, transparent and efficient government. Reforming the District’s middle schools is Bowser’s top interest in education. “I think confidence and quality in our lower grades has improved dramatically,” she said, but “parents lose confidence as their children approach the middle grades.” The council member is pitching a citywide reform initiative — “Alice Deal for All” — named for Ward 3’s successful Deal Middle School. She said it’s important to identify schools on the cusp of success, and provide them “the resources they need to push them to tier-one status.” The candidate has pledged to retain D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “She demonstrated to me that she has the urgency and vision,” Bowser said at a forum this summer. At the high school level, Bowser would focus on curriculum in science, technology, engineering and math, and increase technical skills education such as computer training. Furthermore, she added, “With upcoming high school renovations, we have the opportunity to replicate programs like Benjamin Banneker Academic High School and the School Without Walls in other parts of the city.” To preserve and grow D.C.’s middle class, Bowser’s first concern is affordable housing. She pledged to continue to invest $100 million annually and to seek a steady funding See Bowser/Page V12
David Catania, an at-large D.C. Council member since 1997, is running for mayor as an independent. If elected, he would focus on education, housing and economic development. Catania touts his accomplishments as chair of the council’s Education Committee. He has visited more than 140 of the District’s public schools, meeting with principals, teachers, students and parents. Through legislation, he secured $80 million in new funding for at-risk students and ended social promotion, the practice of passing students along from grade to grade regardless of their academic performance. Moving forward, Catania would seek to strengthen special education programs and fund college and career training scholarships for D.C. students of modest means. He would also aim to invest capital funds in the University of the District of Columbia to improve the school’s facilities, as well as integrate D.C.’s workforce development and job training program with the school’s community college. Summarizing the importance of sound education policy, Catania said, “We need a high-quality public school system to create the workforce for tomorrow.” On housing, Catania described the District’s current homelessness crisis as “the worst in a generation.” He also criticized Democratic mayoral nominee Muriel Bowser, the Ward 4 Council member, for failing to proactively address housing issues in her capacity as chair of the housing committee. Catania said D.C. needs an annual housing strategy and “an annual rendezvous with accountability.” His strategy would include finding a designated funding source for the Housing Production Trust Fund and emulating affordable housing programs like New York City’s, wherein local and federal incentives are paired to create more low-cost units. Catania also said his previous legislative work on HIV/AIDS should serve as a model for the kind of action See Catania/Page V10
Carol Schwartz formerly served as an at-large D.C. Council member for a total of 16 years. If elected mayor, she would focus on education, affordable housing and creating “a fiscally sound government that works.” On education, Schwartz hopes to expand pre-kindergarten programs as well as vocational and technical learning. She would ask D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson to stay on for at least another year in an effort to maintain stability in education reform. “I think stability is important,” Schwartz said. “We don’t need to be doing another search [for a new chancellor] and going through that commotion.” Schwartz said the District is probably putting too much emphasis on standardized testing as a means of assessing students and teachers, but she believes that type of testing is necessary to some degree. She recalled how former D.C. Schools Superintendent Barbara Sizemore once argued that standardized test questions had a racial bias, but Schwartz was unfazed: “I said, you know what, it’s a racist world out there, and our kids are going to have to learn how to compete in that world, and I want to give them the tools they need.” Schwartz would also push for more coordination between charter schools and traditional public schools as well as an increased focus on adult illiteracy. In addition, she said, “I think neighborhood schools at the elementary school level are very important, having been a D.C. Public Schools parent. When kids are young and small, they need to be near their homes.” Schwartz stresses her experience with education over many decades of public service, including as a special education teacher, a full-time consultant to the U.S. Department of Education and the vice chair of the National Advisory Council on the Education of Disadvantaged Children. “I didn’t just chair a committee for a See Schwartz/Page V12
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ATTorNEy GENErAL
Lorie Masters Democrat
Karl racine Democrat
Edward “Smitty” Smith Democrat
Lateefah Williams Democrat
Paul Zukerberg Democrat
Lorie Masters
Karl racine
Edward “Smitty” Smith
Lateefah Williams
Paul Zukerberg
Lorie Masters is an attorney with the firm Perkins Coie. If elected, Masters, a Democrat, would focus on fighting corruption, advancing consumer protection and advocating for self-determination and autonomy for the District. With regard to fighting corruption, Masters said, “If it’s the government’s dime, it’s the people’s time” — meaning that the operations of government should be
Karl Racine, a Democrat, is a former managing partner at the firm Venable LLP. If elected, he said, he would focus on fighting corruption, reforming the juvenile justice system and enforcing consumer protections. With regard to corruption, Racine said, “Having a government that is regarded as ethical will bring in more business and more jobs.” He added, “I think the citizens of the District of Columbia deserve to be proud of their elected officials.” With that in mind, his campaign platform calls for limiting the attorney general to two four-year terms in the hopes of ensuring that he or she “won’t be captured by special interests who hijack
Edward “Smitty” Smith, a Democrat, is a former attorney for the Federal Communications Commission. If elected, he would focus on juvenile justice reform and consumer protection as well as D.C. autonomy and voting rights. Juvenile justice is an issue with personal significance for Smith, who had friends and family members interacting with the system while he was growing up in Anacostia. He
Lateefah Williams is an attorney and longtime Democratic activist who previously served as president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. If elected, the Democrat would focus on consumer protection, juvenile justice and ensuring that the attorney general represents the legal needs of all Washingtonians, especially the most vulnerable. Williams said her passion for consumer protection was inspired in part by her grandmother, Ora Lee Williams-Haywood, who was the plaintiff in a 1965 D.C. lawsuit involving the purchase of furniture. The case established the legal rule that “unconscionable
Paul Zukerberg is a private-practice attorney who lives in Adams Morgan. If elected, Zukerberg, a Democrat, would focus on juvenile justice reform, fighting corruption and ensuring fair application of the law for all people. With regard to juvenile justice, Zukerberg touts his history of fighting against the “school-to-prison pipeline” and mass incarceration, including his vocal advocacy
transparent and shaped by public input whenever possible. Masters would push for greater openness, especially concerning how government contracts are awarded. She would also investigate how much money supposedly set aside for small business contracts is actually going to large companies and companies based outside D.C. In terms of advancing consumer protection, Masters would draw on her experience fighting insurance companies on behalf of policyholders. “I know that D.C. law is not very consumerfriendly,” she says on her campaign website. She added in an interview that she would advocate for legislation making it harder for insurance companies to deny claims. She said she would use the attorney general’s office to “proactively fight payday and other lending scams, identity theft and other schemes targeted at consumers and the elderly, and other frauds and consumer complaints.” “I would also review D.C. law to see if there is an opportunity to enact policies that would allow us to recover attorneys’ fees in consumer abuse cases.” Concerning advocating for self-determination and autonomy for the District, Masters has pledged to use meetings of the National Attorneys General Association to advance the See Masters/Page V10
the regulatory process.” In an effort to make government corruption easier to expose, Racine would create “a confidential hotline, an online portal and a dedicated investigative team” for whisteblowers. He would also assign a portion of his office the task of investigating corruption in government contracting. In terms of juvenile justice reform, Racine has proposed that the attorney general instruct the Metropolitan Police Department that small incidents like loitering or truancy by children shouldn’t warrant arrests. He also thinks that many juveniles who are arrested should be diverted to educational programs. He would want his office to help to coordinate these programs, funded by the business community. In addition, Racine believes juveniles should never put in handcuffs or other restraints when they are led into a courtroom. He argues in his campaign platform that the “severe emotional trauma and distress” associated with shackling “only increases the likelihood See racine/Page V10
hopes to expand the categories of offenders eligible for diversion programs, which are forms of sentencing that allow first-time or nonviolent offenders to avoid jail time. These programs include counseling, community service and mentorships. “When utilized appropriately, diversion programs can often better address the root causes of delinquency, without leaving youth offenders with the stigma of a criminal record, at a far lower cost than arrest and standard trial,” according to Smith’s website. He would seek to reverse a trend of funding cuts to D.C.’s Youth Court, which he said has meant that “the proportion of pre-arrest diversion for juvenile offenses is now only one-third what it was in 2010.” “All of this is in the context of balancing the needs of our youth with the need for public safety in our communities,” Smith said in an interview. He would also explore ways to strengthen early identification of more high-risk offenders. With regard to consumer protection, Smith plans to draw on his experience at the Federal Communications Commission, where he fought against businesses taking advantage of people, including those with pre-paid phones. He is pledging to use the Attorney General’s Office to take on mortgage fraud, See Smith/Page V10
contracts” are unenforceable. Learning about her grandmother gave Williams what she calls “a firsthand understanding of how the law can help protect residents.” She says she will work as attorney general to prevent businesses from taking advantage of their customers. With regard to juvenile justice, Williams said she would hope to work with the D.C. Public Schools, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation and the D.C. Department of Employment Services on programs to divert young people away from criminal behavior. She also envisions ways for the attorney general’s office to direct first-time offenders away from criminal activity. For example, she said, “If a youth is arrested for a drugrelated crime, the office would work with him or her to find an appropriate treatment program.” Another example she gave is mandating counseling for students found to have skipped school. In order to ensure that the attorney general represents the legal needs of all See Wiliams/Page V12
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for the decriminalization of marijuana in the District. “I was concerned about the racial bias in the application of the law, and the huge number of young people who were being sucked into the criminal justice system on marijuana charges and other misdemeanors,” he said. As a result of decriminalization, about 6,000 people were not arrested in D.C. this year for simple possession of the drug, according to Zukerberg. As attorney general, Zukerberg would exercise prosecutorial discretion. For example, he would avoid prosecuting young women and girls who are prostitutes, because many of them are the victims of abuse. “I would treat them as victims,” he said. “Most women and girls in the system often have diagnosed mental health problems or low self-esteem. ... We need to provide them support and empowerment.” In terms of fighting corruption, Zukerberg said he would crack down on election law violations, making the results of investigations public and referring cases to the U.S. Attorney when merited. He also wants to audit nonprofit organizations to make sure they are spending their money for charitable and educational purposes — not on lobbying, unless they are registered to be lobbySee Zukerberg/Page V10
CHAIrMAN D.C. CouNCIL
John C. Cheeks independent
Phil Mendelson Democratic Nominee
Kris Hammond Republican Nominee
John C. Cheeks
Kris Hammond
Phil Mendelson
Brookland resident John Cheeks is a business consultant in the fields of regulatory permits and building developments. The independent candidate said that if elected he would concentrate on the housing crisis, small-business empowerment and drug tests for D.C. elected officials. On housing, Cheeks called for a dramatic shift in the District’s approach to helping low-income residents. “Our housing crisis must end by eliminating public housing assistance and empowering occupants to become owners through tax relief,” he said. “The amount of relief would be based on how well the individual’s unit has been kept up.” Under Cheeks’ plan, housing cooperatives created by residents would be responsible for regularly inspecting units. Monthly payments would be based on income — no more than 30 percent of after-tax income. If someone moves out of the city, the ownership certificate could be assumed by any D.C. resident or entering resident. Cheeks also favors city-backed mortgages at rates not to exceed 3 percent for residents of wards 5, 7 and 8 and parts of 1 and 4. The limit would be $400,000 per mortgage. Section 8 tenants could shift to an ownership basis where they are currently residing except in wards 2 and 3. Also, “returning citizens” and unskilled laborers would be employed to build new housing. Meanwhile, Cheeks said the D.C. government should back bonds of $100,000 to $4 million to help small businesses. The money could be used for contract solicitation or operating capital. The program would be limited to general contractors, infrastructure contractors, builders of affordable homes, and light and medium assembly manufacturers. Information technology companies could also apply. The bonds would be available only for non-creditworthy business owners and businesses earning less than $100,000 per year, disadvantaged veterans and minority-owned companies. A majority of employees would have to be D.C. residents; the business would need to be based in the District, though the owners would not have to be D.C. residents. Also under this program, Cheeks would want participating companies to get a 35 percent preference on city contracts, and he said company owners and officers would have to pass a drug test. Cheeks also wants legislation passed to require substance abuse testing for the mayor, council members, the attorney general and the D.C. inspector general, as well as all legal and investigative officials. The chief financial officer would be exempt, he said, though he did not say why. He said the top officials should be tested more frequently: The mayor would be tested four times a year on a random basis. The council chairman would be tested five times, the attorney general 10 times, the inspector general 12 times and council members three times. Cheeks, 52, was born in Texas but grew up in the District and graduated from Suitland High School in Maryland. He graduated from Catholic University, where he majored in general studies. He has two sons in college, one at Boston’s Northeastern University and one at George Mason University in Virginia.
Kris Hammond is a former Ward 5 advisory neighborhood commissioner who recently left the U.S. Justice Department after 10 years working in the Civil Rights Division. If elected, the Republican nominee said he would concentrate on education, jobs and public safety. Hammond said education is a priority because of the present state of local schools. “D.C.’s education system for many years has been subpar,” he said. “Currently 40 percent of traditional public high school students do not graduate. Inadequate education increases inequity in our society.” Hammond said he supports Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s education reforms. He said the schools could use more wraparound services and the city more adult education options. He said charter schools deserve equal funding to regular public schools, and he praised the former as “giving traditional schools competition.” On employment issues, Hammond said the city needs more “jobs that pay a living wage,” partly to address the “unemployment crisis in Southeast and Northeast.” To address the problem, Hammond favors reviewing licensing regulations and other rules that could “stifle job creation.” “All licensing regulations should be reviewed for their necessity. Others should be streamlined,” Hammond said. Hammond also called for tax credits to small businesses in Southeast and Northeast that hire local residents in high-unemployment areas. In addition to helping those residents, he said, “It would help small businesses with high labor costs caused by minimum wage increases.” On public safety, Hammond said current Metropolitan Police Department staffing levels are inadequate. “We need many more police officers to keep pace with our growing population,” he said. One of the main contributors to an inadequate force is that police salaries in D.C. are insufficient to retain officers, Hammond said, noting that officers went seven years without a pay raise. He also said he would have voted against an arbitration decision to not provide the back pay for those lean years that the police union had sought. “We should focus on keeping our current officers, which means we probably need to raise their pay to increase retention,” said Hammond. “There is a [police] morale crisis ... that is the council’s fault.” Hammond also said members of the public should be allowed to have firearms for protection. “I support handgun self-defense rights for law-abiding citizens who pass a background check and receive training,” Hammond said. “Law-abiding gun owners aren’t committing crimes.” “I’m concerned that the council has in fact banned self-defense rights in Southeast and Northeast by banning guns citywide,” he continued. “The council wanted a de facto ban, and I’m opposed to that.” He noted that he does not oppose gun restrictions near embassies and government buildings. Hammond, 41, grew up in Indiana. He graduated from Franklin College, where he majored in political science and journalism. He then went to Indiana University’s law school. He lives in Trinidad.
Phil Mendelson has chaired the D.C. Council since 2012. He was first elected to the council in 1998, winning an at-large seat. If re-elected to the council’s top post, Mendelson will have three priorities: improving the professionalism, transparency and reputation of the D.C. Council; reducing truancy in D.C. Public Schools; and using council oversight to improve the University of the District of Columbia and the District’s still-new community college. Regarding improvements to the council, the chairman supports enhancing the quality of legislative reports accompanying bills, which he said “vary enormously.” Some “barely explain legislative intent,” he said. Mendelson backs boosting resources for the council’s budget office and its general counsel. He also pledges to make public documents more accessible to citizens and to continue working to minimize ethical infractions by council members. “I can’t make a council member not take bribes or not commit a criminal act if he or she is so inclined,” he said. “However, the amount of contentiousness and embarrassing episodes has declined in the past year and a half that I have chaired the council.” With regard to school truancy, Mendelson supports continued investment in grants for community organizations such as Boys Town, which work with parents to address the root causes of students’ chronic absences. When bullying is the cause, these groups sometimes help children find new schools. On funding, Mendelson believes the city should invest more in middle and high schools, and carefully analyze the data on elementary schools “to see what is working best.” Mendelson’s campaign website states that investment in public education is personal for him, because his daughter attends Deal Middle: “Phil knows that our schools — both traditional and charter schools — are only as successful as their principal, teachers, and the parent community that supports them. He has fought to protect funding for the classroom and worked to block efforts to politicize the school system. He will continue to advocate for clear lines of accountability, for greater parental involvement, and a stable strategy for reform.” For the University of the District of Columbia, which “spent the last two years contracting and finding its focus,” Mendelson seeks to provide oversight without jeopardizing the school’s independence. “The community college is a tremendous opportunity for workforce development to improve job opportunities for District residents,” he said. As chairman, Mendelson presides over the D.C. Council’s Committee of the Whole. In addition to having direct oversight of agencies such as the Office of Planning, the Office of Zoning and the University of the District of Columbia, he oversees the council’s annual budget deliberations, decides on committee posts and sets the agenda for legislative meetings. A graduate of American University with a bachelor’s in political science, the 61-year-old Mendelson lives in Takoma. Prior to winning citywide elected office, he worked as a council aide and served as the longtime advisory neighborhood commissioner for McLean Gardens.
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AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Michael D. Brown independent
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
Anita Bonds
Michael D. Brown
Graylan Scott Hagler
Brian Hart
Eric J. Jones
Anita Bonds, who lives in Bloomingdale, has chaired the D.C. Democratic State Committee since 2006. She was appointed to a vacant at-large D.C. Council seat in late 2012, then held onto the seat in a special election the next spring. If re-elected, the incumbent will focus on reducing poverty, creating affordable housing and enhancing neighborhood quality.
Michael D. Brown, elected in 2006 and 2012 as U.S. shadow senator as a Democrat, is running for the D.C. Council as an independent after switching his party affiliation. If elected, the American University Park resident would focus on education, statehood and affordability. Brown believes the city is “approaching education from the wrong perspective.” For example, the latest plan to change school boundaries “puts the cart before the horse,” he said. “You improve neighborhood schools by improving neighborhood schools — not by shuffling students around.” He thinks teachers need more in-depth evaluations,
Chillum resident Graylan Scott Hagler is the senior pastor of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ and former development director of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, which helps low- and moderate-income people buy homes. If elected, the independent candidate would concentrate on governmental transparen-
Brian Hart is an Adams Morgan advisory neighborhood commissioner and a business litigator involved in public interest law. If elected, the independent candidate would concentrate on education, affordable housing and transparent government. On education, Hart said “a big issue is disparity,” with low-income and minority students falling far behind their white and more affluent peers on tests. He pledged to review the budget to ensure that “resources are allocated efficiently and fairly across the city,” and said he favors wraparound services for lowincome students. Hart called for refinements to the standardized testing process to broaden
Eric J. Jones, a resident of Truxton Circle, is associate director for government affairs of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Washington chapter. If elected, the independent candidate would concentrate on workforce development, education, and community and economic development. “The District has never had a comprehensive workforce development strategy,”
On poverty, Bonds authored legislation to eliminate property taxes for residents over 70 with annual household incomes under $60,000 who have lived in their condo, single-family home or town house for over 20 years. Though it was not funded in the current budget, she remains committed to future implementation. She supports closing the District’s homeless shelter at the former D.C. General Hospital and shifting families into permanent housing. “I think we need to ... have the government become the landlord,” Bonds said. “We could purchase some apartment buildings as well as some row houses and town houses.” She also suggests using surplus public properties like former schools. Bonds supports the D.C. Promise college scholarship program offering high school graduates from lowand moderate-income families up to $7,500 a year for higher education. The legislation was opposed by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and others for fear it would end a federally financed scholarship program. Concerning affordable housing, Bonds would modify the current rules so units can’t become market-rate when a low-income tenant leaves. She also supports See Bonds/Page V8
such as peer reviews: “If a teacher raises test scores by two grades, but the students are still below grade level, the teacher has done a good job.” Brown emphasized the importance of extracurricular activities, across all populations of the city. “When they cut funding for art and music at Janney [Elementary], parents kicked in $200,000. They can’t do that in ward 7 or 8,” he said. Personally, he said, “I learned more about getting along with people on the baseball diamond than anywhere else.” Sports are particularly important for girls, he said, “offering lessons like teamwork and self-confidence.” Brown noted that the city sees about 2,100 dropouts each year. “No one drops out of high school because it’s too difficult, but because of what’s going on in their lives. We need additional social services and more counselors, especially in wards 7 and 8.” See Brown/Page V8
cy, the educational achievement gap and affordable housing. Hagler said he’s particularly invested in ending the “pay-to-play culture that is currently in the Wilson Building and has been for some time.” “We must be brutally honest about secret deals that are made all the time and end loopholes on the First Source law, where contractors show up with their crews so nobody is hired from Washington,” he said, referring to the law requiring builders to give job priority to D.C. residents when the project receives government assistance. For example, he said, when the city must make infrastructure changes to accommodate a development, some builders nevertheless claim no government funds are going to their projects so they don’t have to follow the First Source rules. He also said all lobbyist interactions with the mayor’s office or D.C. Council members should be made public. Another area requiring more scrutiny is “land deals such as the soccer stadium and the Reeves Center,” he added. In terms of the achievement gap in education, Hagler believes recent reforms aren’t working. “Over the last six years, … See Hagler/Page V10
their focus beyond reading and math, and for peer evaluations and students surveys at middle and high schools. Reforms should also address charter schools, said Hart, providing them with equal funding with regular public schools but also preventing them from expelling students partway through the year for frivolous reasons and ensuring that accounting is open and transparent. On affordable housing, Hart said “skyrocketing” housing prices throughout the city have forced residents out of their longtime neighborhoods and caused serious challenges for newer residents. He said the city should encourage moderate growth to increase the housing supply and in turn reduce prices. The city must assess and preserve its current affordable housing, Hart said, and “we need to supervise and monitor investments to prevent future Park Southern-type problems,” referring to neglect and management issues at a city-backed apartSee Hart/Page V9
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he said. “As a council member I will focus on a comprehensive plan that includes grants for programs ... dedicated to furthering the fastestgrowing local industries.” He would work with local universities, encouraging them to provide training to unemployed and underemployed residents. He would also propose tax incentives for businesses that train their employees who seek additional education. “We’d introduce programs targeting returning citizens, recent high school graduates and veterans,” he said. On education, Jones is concerned about an overemphasis on tests. “We should teach students to be learners instead of just test takers. ... We should focus on providing youth with the skills needed to be productive.” He said this process “starts with developing a comprehensive plan and embracing the Common Core.” He said the comprehensive plan should include benchmarks, and officials should then be reviewed every few years against them. Additionally, teachers should be judged by student progress, he said — even if that progress doesn’t bring a pupil up to par. “If eighthgraders start the year reading at a fourth-grade level and end it at the sixth-grade level, See Jones/Page V12
AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
Khalid Pitts
Kishan Putta
Elissa Silverman
Courtney r. Snowden
robert White
Khalid Pitts lives in Logan Circle and owns two neighborhood businesses on 14th Street, Cork Wine Bar and Cork Market. He also serves on the executive board of the DC Health Link insurance exchange. If elected, the independent candidate would concentrate on strengthening neighborhoods, assuring quality education and increasing the number of well-paid jobs in
Kishan Putta is a Dupont Circle advisory neighborhood commissioner and a contractor with DC Health Link who helps oversee the local health insurance marketplace. If elected, the independent candidate said his major emphases would be on planning for city growth, education and transportation. Putta said the District’s transit services are inadequate. “People wait at bus stops while buses pass them by,” he said. He takes credit for getting the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the D.C. Department of Transportation to add highcapacity accordion buses on 16th Street and Georgia
Elissa Silverman, who lives in Capitol Hill, worked most recently as communications director and a policy analyst for the DC Fiscal Policy Institute and is completing her graduate degree in urban public policy at the University of Maryland. If elected, the independent candidate would concentrate on education, affordable housing and honest, transparent government.
Deanwood resident Courtney R. Snowden — an LGBT activist and former president of the DC Black Pride event — serves on the boards of a charter school and a nonprofit development firm, and works as a principal of The Raben Group, a public policy firm. If elected, the sixth-generation Washingtonian, who is running as an independent, would concentrate on education, economic development and affordable housing. Snowden said the city has “seen significant progress in economic development, in areas we never thought possible,” but not east of the Anacostia River or in parts of wards 1 and 4. She favors offering tax
Robert White, president of the Brightwood Park Citizens Association, left his job as legislative counsel to D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton to campaign for an at-large D.C. Council seat. If elected, the independent candidate would concentrate on improving schools, creating affordable housing and creating jobs. On education, White believes the city needs “solid
the District. Pitts stresses five different aspects to strengthening D.C. neighborhoods: public safety, adequate recreational activities, access to commerce, adequate transportation and affordable housing. For transportation, he said the District “should invest so neighborhoods have access to bus, rail, car and bike services.” Each area requires different solutions. For example, he said, one problem now for wards 7 and 8 is that “buses make so many stops.” Express buses and lower Metro fares are among the potential fixes. As a father, Pitts said he is unhappy having to take his children long distances to visit parks. To ensure safe, walkable streets, Pitts sees a need for more community policing. He said he would encourage more police sensitivity training for cultural and other societal differences. On affordable housing, Pitts said he would continue funding the Housing Production Trust Fund at $100 million annually. He is concerned about rising property taxes. With schools, Pitts emphasized the necessity of “one educational system encompassing charter and traditional public schools.” See Pitts/Page V12
Michael D. Brown independent
Avenue and to improve signal timing. He says the agencies are overseen by two different council committees, which stymies oversight. He urges creation of rushhour bus lanes as a Columbia Heights pilot test showed that they wouldn’t significantly affect parking. “When over 50 percent take the bus, it’s OK to reserve one lane for buses,” he said, noting heavy transit use along the north-south corridor. Putta isn’t as certain that streetcars are necessary, however. “I want to see how streetcars work on H Street before we do them elsewhere,” he said. “The biggest reason to have them is to encourage development. But encouraging development might not require streetcars.” Regarding growth issues, Putta praised former Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor Hoskins, though he said many projects Hoskins helped launch still need to be completed. He supports the See Putta/Page V12
Silverman said the D.C. Council’s role in education is to ensure that funding invested “has the most impact and addresses the most pressing need — in my opinion, making sure that we close the achievement gap and increase the intellectual development of kids, particularly those living in highpoverty households.” In particular, she said, there is a real need to “build a stronger, intellectually driven program at Ward 8 schools.” Silverman also believes the city must become “much more vigorous in our oversight of charters” and ensure transparency in their operations. “We want ... to learn from the good achievers and transfer that knowledge to our regular schools.” At the University of District of Columbia, Silverman thinks emphasis belongs on community college training for jobs such as nurses, physician assistants, plumbers, and food service and hospitality workers. “Training people to be chefs,” she added, would be “ideal for returning citizens.” She also sees a need for continuing technology education for adults. On affordable housing, Silverman believes the city must devote more funding to the cause, including at least $100 million annually into See Silverman/Page V12
incentives for east-of-the-river projects, especially grocery stores in food deserts, and she said the city has erred in the locations of some developments. “The soccer stadium is a perfect example of things the city gets wrong. ... There was no consideration of putting it in [wards] 7 or 8. We should locate projects needing city funding in areas that need it,” she said. Enticing development to those areas would help make the community “economically diverse. ... without pushing people out,” she said. Also important are funding affordable housing programs and offering job training, she said. “We can do it by supporting all the affordable housing programs and by creating jobs to allow residents to pay rent and mortgages. Part of the problem is we have not invested in job training to move people from the lower class,” she said. Snowden supports increasing the minimum See Snowden/Page V10
turnaround strategies for each underperforming school.” He sees a need for multiyear budgeting to allow for more long-term planning, and for increased collaboration between traditional public schools and charter schools. He also wants to expand vocational education “to reduce truancy and dropouts.” Teacher retention could improve “through assessments focusing more on student improvement,” he said, while extracurricular programs should be equalized across the city. White also called for some neighborhood high schools to offer magnet programs similar to the math/science program at Silver Spring’s Montgomery Blair High. To attract more parents, every school should offer Advanced Placement courses, White said. To increase parental engagement, he suggested teacher home visits as well as events at schools providing child care and dinners. On affordable housing, White wants to see the city invest $200 million annually for five years toward the cause, an increase from the $100 million currently spent each year. “We’d explore how to raise the extra annual $100 million,” he said, and the rate could revert after the five years. See White/Page V10
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WArD 1 SEAT STATE BoArD of EDuCATIoN
David Do
E. Gail Anderson Holness
Lillian Perdomo
Laura Wilson Phelan
Scott Simpson
David Do
E. Gail Anderson Holness
Lillian Perdormo
Laura Wilson Phelan
Scott Simpson
David Do is a teaching assistant at the University of Maryland, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in community planning. He previously worked in constituent services for mayors Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray. Do grew up in California in what he describes as one of the country’s worst public school systems. The son of poor Vietnamese refugees, he had to learn English in
E. Gail Anderson Holness, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner, has worked in various legal and administrative positions and is currently a substitute teacher at Cardozo High School. If elected, she would concentrate on teacher evaluations, truancy and testing. Principals must directly evaluate teachers by visiting classrooms, Holness said. She suggested that if principals review new teachers about 90 days after they start, those teachers will be more likely “to improve and help our students perform better.” Evaluations should be based on students’ progress in class performance and tests.
Lillian Perdomo has worked in government and at various nonprofits and served as co-chair of the Ross Elementary School PTA. If elected, she would concentrate on assuring quality education for all in neighborhood schools; ensuring oversight and accountability for all schools; and improving science, technology, engineering, art and math, as well as encouraging dual lan-
Laura Wilson Phelan is a former advisory neighborhood commissioner and bilingual teacher. She now works for the private Flamboyan Foundation, which seeks to improve educational outcomes for public school children in D.C. and Puerto Rico by training teachers and principals on how to engage families. Phelan said she’s unsure whether “it serves my ward to have an explicit policy agenda,” but if elected her focus would be on the school system’s family and community engagement, a “whole child” approach to education and ensuring a balanced educational approach.
Scott Simpson is the press secretary at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and has worked at youth centers in the past. He has attended almost every meeting of the State Board of Education this past year. If elected, he will concentrate on improving special education; protecting and supporting the offices of the ombudsman and student advocate; and ensuring that
school, which he said will help him relate to his constituents. “Many Ward 1 students live in poverty. All our schools are Title I schools,” he said, meaning they receive federal assistance due to families’ low incomes. Do has been working at local elementary schools organizing book clubs and engaging parents. He has mentored two high school students who are now graduating from Pennsylvania State University. “I want to continue working for our students,” he said, “and use the school board as a bully pulpit.” If elected, he would concentrate on ensuring a rich, full, balanced curriculum; making sure the city has flexible graduation requirements; and encouraging parent involvement. On curriculum, Do said that a proper balance “should include arts, science, history, literature, civics, geography and foreign languages as well as mathematics and reading. We focus too much on math and reading.” Do also said that although he wouldn’t “force it,” he would love to see students be able to choose among Spanish, French and Chinese. “The current two-semester foreign language requirement gives students a taste. If they want to learn more, they can,” said Do. “I would See Do/Page V8
Struggling teachers should receive opportunities for professional development, she said. “Don’t just throw them out.” Holness said chronic truancy is a major problem, leaving students irreparably behind in learning and testing. But she said parents shouldn’t be penalized; instead, “there has to be some intervention” by school administrators. She said communities must offer support to troubled families. “The faithbased community has a lot of outreach programs that can assist parents from lowincome families,” Holness said. “There are children whose parents never read a story to them. When you get the children, you’re going to get the parents.” She said she would create a Ward 1 education committee of parents and community organizations to help address such issues. She pointed to her work as a three-time advisory neighborhood commissioner as preparing her for such community organizing. “I’ve been a community activist See Holness/Page V8
guage programs. On quality education, Perdomo pointed to her experience as evidence that she’ll get results. “I know a lot of the people in government. I used to work for Carol Schwartz, other city council members and appointed people,” she said. “Through coalitionbuilding, advocacy, commitment and dedication to the issues, I have been incredibly successful.” She also referred to her past experience as a board member for the D.C. Language Access Coalition. Perdomo called for reforms to teacher and principal evaluations to include parental input. Since many low-income parents do not have time to visit schools, she added, “we need to be very flexible to work with them.” She said she wants to see “mutual respect” between parents and faculty. On accountability, Perdomo hopes to see the board’s power increase. “There used to be oversight on issues related to special education and English language learners,” she said. “When the mayor became in charge of the schools, the state education agency’s power to do this work was not left in place.” Perdomo also believes the state board should oversee standards for charter schools, especially on civil rights and other federal mandate issues, as well as for private schools See Perdomo/Page V8
“There is a formal and an informal role for board members,” she said. “Both are equally important.” Phelan said she would work with principals to help encourage families to enter and stay in the public schools. “It’s especially important to engage families before they are eligible to attend a particular school,” she said. “I would actively work to create networks of families grounded in their neighborhood school” so that they are able to communicate with administrators, share information, volunteer and otherwise contribute. Phelan, for instance, has volunteered at Bancroft Elementary, participating in establishing the school’s priorities for the next five years. She said she thinks teachers need extra help to “reach all the children,” and that it’s important to build partnerships like those established by the organization Communities in Schools, “which offers parttime social workers to provide wraparound services.” See Phelan/Page V8
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education reform is inclusive. On special education, he noted that the city has been out of compliance with federal requirements for years. “Our most glaring challenge is ensuring that students with disabilities receive what they are entitled to under the law,” Simpson said. “We need to provide serious oversight, promote city council action to improve service delivery and support families struggling to work with the schools.” He said the board can serve as an advocate, holding hearings and speaking out. “We need to show the urgency and the need,” he said, noting that he has experience in this regard because he works as an advocate. Simpson believes creating the offices of ombudsman and student advocate was one of the “most important reforms we’ve had. ... It’s imperative we make sure these offices are being executed with integrity and get the support that is needed so students needing an advocate have one.” He said the first report to come out of the Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education “showed atrocious disparities in special education needs and overdiscipline contributing to stubborn and unacceptable achievement gaps. We need See Simpson/Page V8
WArD 3 SEAT STATE BoArD of EDuCATIoN
Tricia Braun
Stephanie Blessey Lilley
Phil Thomas
ruth Wattenberg
Tricia Braun
Stephanie Blessey Lilley
Phil Thomas
ruth Wattenberg
Palisades resident Tricia Braun is a former prosecutor who now serves as co-president of the PTA at Key Elementary. She has worked as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan and as a lawyer in private practice. If elected, her primary goals would be setting high standards for teachers and students, improving middle and high schools, and creating a comprehensive vision for the direction of public education in the District. “We need clear and transparent high standards for teachers and pupils,” she said. “They must include science, history, foreign languages and social studies as well as math and English language arts. The standards must optimize the opportunity for teachers to help children develop critical thinking skills. Standards should be the floor, not the more challenging top.” She said the District’s testing emphases on math and writing are too narrow: “If we just evaluate schools on math and English scores, struggling schools will just teach math and English, as that’s what the grown-ups’ jobs depend on.” Braun, who has two children at Key Elementary, said the city’s lacking middle schools are “the reason my son is at Georgetown Day.” She said she wanted to keep him in public school, but she found the curricula at Hardy and Deal middle schools were not aligned. “At Hardy, ninth-graders would take Algebra 1. At Deal, they ... had Algebra 1 in seventh grade.” She also found high attrition at the Hardy feeders, but practically none at Deal’s. With two children still at Key Elementary — a Hardy feeder — she has worked to improve Hardy, reaching out to PTA presidents of feeder schools for support and collaborating with the school’s principal. In terms of math classes, fifthgraders headed for Deal take an assessment test to determine where to place them, she said. “Hardy didn’t do that,” she said. “Now, they are looking at it in every District middle school.” “Many people leave the District or the public system,” she said. “I had the power to be an advocate. ... As a trial lawyer, one gets to know a subject in depth. I’ve charged ahead and found a way on the Hardy questions ... to get everybody in the same room.” More broadly, Braun said that with nearly half of the city’s public school students in charter schools, a “comprehensive vision on the direction of See Braun/Page V9
Stephanie Blessey Lilley, a Palisades resident, worked on George H.W. Bush’s presidential campaign and subsequently served as an adviser to the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. She has served on the boards of the Beauvoir School and multiple charter schools. “When I was introduced to charter schools, I saw great things happening and the possibility for dramatic turnaround for the school system,” Lilley said. “Sometimes you have to know when to hand over to someone else who is doing a better job.” Lilley points to the success of the DC Scholars charter, where she is a board member, which helped manage a turnaround at Southeast’s Stanton Elementary — previously the District’s lowest-performing school, with 9 percent literacy. She also served on the board of the former Septima Clark Public Charter School for Boys, which merged with the higherperforming Achievement Prep after struggling to find a building and achieve other goals. If elected, she said, she would concentrate on reaching compromise among policy stakeholders on teacher certification requirements and training. “I’ve noticed that the state board has been frustrated ... that what they’ve worked on has not been implemented,” Lilley said. “I believe we should find common ground with the chancellor and the state superintendent of education.” Pointing to the example of a thesis requirement recommended by the board for high school graduation that never went into effect, Lilley said, “I want to get ahead of the problems before that happens again. We must ensure all relevant parties agree on what we are doing.” On qualifications for teachers, Lilley said she wanted to remove possible barriers that could dissuade highquality educators from working in D.C. public schools. “I want to broaden the pool. ... Some people don’t enter public school teaching because they have to spend so much time in teacher certification programs,” she said. “Charters and private schools don’t have that problem.” Lilley said the goal should be to “encourage the smartest and most qualified people to become our teachers.” Furthermore, Lilley said that the See Lilley/Page V9
Phil Thomas is an advisory neighborhood commissioner representing the Palisades and a physical education teacher at a District private school. He chairs education committees for both the neighborhood commission and the Palisades Citizens Association. If elected, he would concentrate on students with disabilities, enriching the curriculum and getting public charter and traditional public schools to work together. Thomas, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, said he knows how hard it can be for kids with learning difficulties to thrive at public schools. He would fight for every school to have a literacy coach, a social worker and extra funding for at-risk children, providing such students with one-on-one teaching or dedicated aides outside the classroom. Funding should also provide technology such as a “reading pen” that can identify printed words or an iPad that can be used as a dictionary or learning tool. Should at-risk children leave a particular school, the associated extra funding should follow them, Thomas said. When a teacher suspects a child has a disability, the instructor should be able to arrange for testing, he said. Thomas also favors more afterschool programs, such as tutoring and athletics, for all children. He said sports fields should be made available before school as well as after classes are over for team practices. The curriculum, he said, should require a foreign language, science, art, music, social studies and physical education in every District school during the day. Participating on sports teams should not be a substitute for the PE requirement, he said, and high school students should have to have a minimum of two years of a foreign language. To accommodate these requirements, Thomas would push for a longer school day, running from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. High school students should study biology, chemistry and physics as part of a four-year science requirement, he said. They should study art history for two years, including music, painting, sculpture and architecture. Band or orchestra would be included in music, as would the history of music, including classical, jazz and pop. Social studies should include a basic class and then world and American history. Thomas also called for more colSee Thomas/Page V9
A former editor of a publication for the American Federation of Teachers, Tenleytown resident Ruth Wattenberg serves on the board of the Core Knowledge Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes ideas about necessary education content — similar to the idea behind the Common Core requirements. She also previously chaired Deal Middle’s local school advisory team. Wattenberg — whose campaign highlights her mix of grass-roots experience as a Janney Elementary, Deal Middle and Wilson High School parent and her professional work on policy and education reform — is interested in directing attention away from test preparation and toward other subjects. “If elected, I want to ensure that science, history and the arts are not deemphasized as we focus on reading and math; reduce and streamline the testing process; and advocate for excellent schools across the city,” she said. In spending so much time preparing students for standardized tests, Wattenberg said, “we’re shortchanging [key] subjects. … Test prep has a marginal impact on test scores. What matters is children’s background knowledge as they advance.” She said the “next frontier of education reform” is focusing on giving kids the knowledge they need to be ready to learn science and history. The board, she said, should use its authority to require reports on how teachers are dealing with subjects including science and history. “If it appears on the state report card, parents are going to care. ... We want to know how our scores compare with Sidwell’s and Montgomery County’s,” she said. Wattenberg recognizes a need for testing and accountability, but believes our tests are “dumb tests, often not aligned to the curriculum.” “Advanced students must take tests designed for non-advanced students,” she noted. “It is also demoralizing for the student who is far behind and can’t answer any of the questions.” She also noted that many tests don’t tell educators how to help students improve. As the school system prepares for a new standard assessment, officials should take the opportunity to “revisit the entire testing process to let people know if kids are on track,” Wattenberg said. She also wants the board to audit the tests to determine what they produce and “how many days are lost to See Wattenberg/Page V9
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-7
Do From Page V6 favor trying to force high schools to offer at least two years of a specific language, and would advocate for more.” Do also wants a year of world history and another of U.S. history to be offered. He favors a course in D.C. history as well. He says students should study American literature for a year and English literature for a second year, both being aligned with Common Core standards. A half-year civics course should be a part of
PErDoMo From Page V6 hired for special education. To improve academic programs, she said a big factor is to avoid teaching to the test. She also believes teachers should be integrating various subjects into their teaching. She said some schools fail to work effectively with their students
on science projects. “We need to teach [students] early on scientific language, so they can create top-ofthe-line science projects” and they must understand “what it means when something is proven or disproven.” For language instruction, Perdomo noted that the Chinese Embassy has provided Chinese instructors for schools, and suggested the city should turn to other embassies in the future.
PHELAN From Page V6 “We need to understand all of the factors that affect a child’s performance,” she said. “It falls into the informal school board role.” She said the education board can hold hearings, and ward members can gather education leaders to draw attention to things that are working and foster sharing of resources and information. “I think it is important to highlight best practices in schools that are successful,” she
HoLNESS From Page V6 all of my life,” she said. Holness called for testing reform, noting that even students who speak little to no English are tested in that language. “If you have students who are proficient in Spanish and they are learning the
the social studies curriculum, which should also include a flexible year, he said, and there should be a half-year studying geography. Do said the math requirement should include a year each of geometry, algebra and pre-calculus. Advanced Placement courses should also be offered. He wants science requirements to include biology, chemistry and a lab science. Physics or pre-engineering should be available. Graduation requirements should include the chance to earn a regular diploma; a distinction diploma requiring two years of a foreign language, some Advanced Placement classes, and a senior project; and a career and technical educa-
BoNDS From Page V4 giving public grants to landlords to subsidize upgrades to affordable units, and offering incentives to developers of city-owned land in lower-income communities if the projects include affordable housing. In terms of enhancing neighborhood quality, Bonds is focused on spurring economic development to increase food and grocery options in areas that lack those amenities. “In wards 7 and 8, most families have just two stores,” she said. “I’m going to show grocers they can make money there.” Stores should receive incentives like tax breaks to locate in the city’s food deserts, she said. “We have to jump-start conveniences in some parts of the city.” She said new businesses could ensure their success by targeting their items to locals, increasing security and hiring from within the commu-
She also wants to ensure more career development programs for kids who can’t find their way after graduation. Additionally, she said, “We need to look at bullying and ensure there is equitable treatment for all our students.” Perdomo, 53, was born in El Salvador and attended Trinity University in the District, where she majored in public affairs after being a child care provider/house-
said, and to offer sufficient teacher development time and curriculum alignment. Moving to an evaluation system that includes more measures of student progress would free up teachers from teaching to the test. “There could be a portfolio-based approach instead of just a semester approach for graduation requirements, and there should be more standards for bilingual schools,” she said. High-quality teaching, she said, includes differentiation so schools meet the needs of both the lowest and highest performers. She said having Advanced Placement options is crucial, but in response to a question said she
course material, they should be given the tests in Spanish as well as in English.” Holness also advocates for creating international academies to help teach English to non-native speakers. Such a program is in place at Cardozo “for students who are newer immigrants,” she said. “They’re all in the same classroom. They’re being taught the
tion diploma, which would require career and technical education classes. Meanwhile, to encourage more parent involvement, Do favors holding more community days to beautify schools, potluck meals and other events. The objective would be to provide a better learning environment and create a sense of collaboration. He said the board cannot force parent involvement, but “if we can get to 50 percent, it’s better than no parents.” Do, 27, majored in economics at the University of California at Merced. He lives in the Park View neighborhood.
would need to do more research before deciding whether to recommend implementing a new gifted and talented program. Phelan, 40, lives in Mount Pleasant and has two 4-year-old girls at Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School. She will decide after kindergarten whether to keep them there or send them to a traditional public school. Born in Massachusetts, she has a bachelor’s degree in politics from Wake Forest University and a master’s in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has also worked as a Peace Corps teacher in Namibia.
same thing. You have to have teachers who can speak the students’ languages.” She also urged efforts to address the achievement gap between black and white students in D.C., which she noted is the largest in the country. Holness, 57, grew up in South Carolina, moving to Washington to attend the Howard University
nity. Bonds said building more “little commercial hubs” in the city, with a well-running transportation network, will open up opportunities to develop more housing. As the District’s population prepares to swell to 800,000, Bonds points to wards 5 and 7 as prime development zones. “Instead of building up, let’s build out and have more development in [wards] 5 and 7, so people will have conveniences.” Bonds, 68, grew up in Ward 7 and became active in progressive politics at the University of California at Berkeley. Back in the District, she worked in the mayoral administrations of Marion Barry, Sharon Pratt and Anthony Williams, and later as chief of staff for Kwame Brown when he was at-large council member. Bonds also formerly worked as director of corporate relations for the Fort Myer Construction Co., which performs roadway and bridge work.
keeper. She has held numerous jobs in nonprofit fields. At one, she trained public school teachers how to set up early childhood education centers. She also taught fourththrough sixth-graders how to use computers and worked in the superintendent’s office, coordinating with low-income parents. Perdomo has two children and one grandchild and is the only candidate in the Ward 1 race with a child in the D.C. public schools.
School of Law after graduating from Clark College in Atlanta. She also earned a doctorate of divinity from Howard. She has served on the Mayor’s Interfaith Council and as president of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. Holness, a Columbia Heights resident, has worked in a variety of fields, including criminal, corpo-
BroWN From Page V4 On the issue of statehood, Brown believes the city needs to invest more into promoting the cause. “We spend only $200,000 on the effort, when we lose $2 billion every year because we can’t tax income at its source.” Funds should go toward a lobbying effort in Congress, education of District citizens and a nationwide public relations initiative, he said. Brown realizes statehood doesn’t have much chance with a Republican House, but building the cause now can help push it through “when the time is right.” On affordable housing, Brown believes the District needs to get more creative. For example, he supports placing two floors of affordable housing for seniors atop a refurbished Martin Luther King Jr. Library downtown.
SIMPSoN From Page V6 to … make sure these offices get the budget they require.” Simpson also noted that while the school system’s ongoing reform efforts have made improvements for some students, they have “left gaping holes for low-income students and students using English as a second language.” He said the role of the Ward 1 board member can be sparking conversations and helping develop “pragmatic solutions.” D.C. Public Schools must help struggling kids and provide extra resources to low-income students, but the system also must support children who can handle additional challenges — and all in the same place, he said. “Most schools in Ward 1 have an extremely high proportion of free and reduced lunch students,” he said. “We need to promote integrated schools from a class and income perspective.” Improving data distribution can help teachers, by telling them where their charges are performing right from the start. “This data can be available, but we’re not providing it,” he said. “We need to give teachers the resources they need and the student support staff.” He also supports expanding Advanced Placement classes, and ensuring students have access to technology. Simpson, 30, lives in LeDroit Park. A native of Cleveland, he has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southeastern University. rate and family law; legal services; patient advocacy at St. Elizabeths Hospital; university administration at the University of the District of Columbia; and ministry at the Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church on Georgia Avenue. She has a 25-year-old daughter who attended Edmund Burke School.
He warned that intervention is necessary to preserve 500 affordable units now under threat as their government loans expire in the next five years. “We can offer city refinancing that might be attractive to landlords, and if that’s unacceptable we should subsidize rents so they gradually increase to market value,” he said. Any new residential project involving city-owned real estate or public funding should be required to reserve 20 to 30 percent of its space for affordable units, Brown said. The city should also tighten loopholes that allow some smaller or historic buildings to bypass affordable housing requirements. He would have the city take over taxdelinquent properties, offering them to homesteaders at reduced rates. Brown, 61, earned both his bachelor’s in political science and master’s in public policy at the University of Maryland at College Park. Previously he ran his own consulting firm.
V-8 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
LILLEy From Page V7 right type of training will encourage the best teachers to remain in the District. “To retain great teachers, we must give them the opportunity to grow in their field and be supported by ... opportunities to learn and grow as
THoMAS From Page V7 laboration between traditional public and public charter schools. He said they should share professional development resources, fields and playgrounds, as some already do. He says nearby schools should communicate to see what works and what doesn’t. He also believes there should be private accreditation organizations to advise parents on school placement.
HArT From Page V4 ment building in Southwest. Hart also called for supporting mixed-use developments across the city: “I support investing $100 million annually, some of which should be for renovating and subsidizing current affordable housing.” The government needs to
professionals,” she said. “Teachers need time outside of their classrooms to be able to plan and collaborate with others.” Lilley praised the D.C.-based nonprofit Center for Inspired Teaching, whose program includes a year in a classroom with a lead teacher, calling it “really meaningful.” She also said the board should sponsor innovation incubators to bring teachers together to
Thomas, 29, was born in Kentucky and raised both there and in the District. He graduated from the University of Kentucky, where he majored in the study of body movement under the College of Education. Thomas is active in a number of local organizations, including the 2nd District Citizens Advisory Council, Neighborhood Watch, Palisades Village, Food & Friends and several Democratic Party groups.
encourage more partnerships with proven entities like Jubilee Housing that are effective at managing or creating affordable units, he said. He also said the District should ensure that its inclusionary zoning policies, setting aside affordable units in new developments, are achieving the desired result. Hart said he’d also focus on good-government issues, given the criminal records of several past
share best practices. “Inspired teachers can create joyful environments for children to learn so teachers and children will want to come to school,” said Lilley. Lilley, 49, is an alumna of Connecticut’s Trinity College, where she majored in economics, and Georgetown University’s law school. She grew up in New Orleans and has three children who attend District private schools.
BrAuN From Page V7
science because of them.” “The board can ask schools to show that their tests are aligned with the year-end tests and with the curriculum [and whether] they drive teachers off the curriculum,” said Wattenberg. “There are some standardized tests that are aligned to the Common Core standards that will tell teachers whether ... their kids are on track.”
She believes board members should visit schools and teachers, and should she be elected she will hold parent forums and communicate with the press. Wattenberg, 56, has two children: a son in college and a daughter attending a Silver Spring private school. She grew up in Montgomery County and has lived in the District for over 33 years. She majored in political science and history at Barnard College and has a graduate certificate in testing from the University of Maryland.
education” is crucial. “The systems should support each other, and still be competitive,” she said. “It’s hard for DCPS to plan for the future without knowing what will be offered in particular neighborhoods. Maybe the city could help in locating charters.” “It’s not that I have a comprehensive vision that I want to impose,” Braun explained. “We need to augment enrichment programs for the highly proficient students and offer better intervention for the children who need it.” She said the State Board of Education “can be a bully pulpit ... and educate stakeholders as to what their roles should be.” Braun, 47, has degrees from Southern Methodist University and Yale Law School.
council members. “Transparent and honest government is fundamental to the basic credibility and trust of the public,” he said. The mayor alone should have authority over city contracts, said Hart: “I would eliminate pay-toplay contracts where a majority of the council must approve contracts,” he said. At the same time, said Hart, oversight committees should be
strong, with public hearings and reviews, and he would look for abnormalities in the budget, spotchecking contracts and calling for further investigations if necessary. Also, Hart wants to eliminate council members’ constituent service funds “as they breed corruption and lack transparency,” and he favors open primaries so independents are not disenfranchised. Hart, a 34-year-old Pennsylvania
native, has degrees from Amherst College (economics and English) and Georgetown Law School. He volunteered on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and worked pro bono with DC Appleseed on its HIV/AIDS report. He serves on the board of the D.C. Alliance of Youth Advocates and with the Georgetown Street Law Program mentoring Anacostia High School students.
WATTENBErG From Page V7
Perhaps the greatest right that we Perhaps theUnited greatestStates right that we all have as citizens all have United citizens isas the rightStates to vote!
is the right to vote!
Being an informed voter is important and we urge you to take the time to Being an informed voter candidates is important take and we you to take the time to review the review the positions onurge the myriad of issues that can help to improve our region both the local andthat the can federal As a our region positions candidates take on the at myriad of issues help level. to improve long-standing corporate citizen metropolitan Washington both at the local and the federal level. of Asthe a long-standing corporate citizenarea, of the we hope you will indeed and then exercise your right metropolitan Washington area,become we hopeinformed you will indeed become informed to vote in the upcoming elections.
and then exercise your right to vote in the upcoming elections. Giant is commited to continuing our long-standing
Giant is commited to continuing our long-standing tradition of being an involved corporate citizen of this tradition of being an involved corporate citizen of this community. Please join us in becoming involved too! community. Please join us in becoming involved too!
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The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-9
WHITE From Page V5 He thinks the city should purchase marketrate buildings currently providing affordable housing when they go on the market, to prevent their conversion into condos or higher-priced rental units. These buildings should be subject to “a permanent covenant limiting rent on a share of the units, adjusting for inflation once they go back on the market,” he said. This strategy of preserving affordability would be cheaper for the city than building new units. White also said the city should work with
SNoWDEN From Page V5 wage — and cutting business taxes “so businesses can afford it.” She also wants the city to build municipal parking garages. “We don’t have enough parking to allow people to shop,” she said. “They go to Silver Spring because there is parking. ... I can’t buy groceries on a bike.” And she isn’t happy with the schools in her Ward 7 neighborhood. “There are few educational opportunities in Deanwood for my son,” she said. “He started in an excellent charter school, but it closed. Now I send my son to Lowell — a Ward 4 private school. Other parents don’t have the same options.” Snowden said it’s important to “maintain solid leadership at the top.” She also thinks it might be
necessary to restructure the school year or day to ensure sufficient learning time for those who need extra attention, and she wants highquality technology in every classroom. As far as charter schools go, Snowden wants to see more collaboration among the independent programs and D.C. Public Schools, as well as “better oversight of the charter board.” “The highest-performing schools continue to do well,” she said. “The middle set have moved a ton and the lower-performing schools just a little. We must figure out how we can accelerate movement in the lower-performing schools. One solution does not fix it. ... You have to have the freedom to implement new strategies.” Snowden, 35, grew up in Shepherd Park, graduated from School Without Walls and has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Beloit College.
CATANIA From Page V1 needed on housing: “When I chaired the Committee on Health, and we had the HIV/ AIDS crisis, I held weekly hearings and demanded answers until improvements were realized.” On economic development, Catania would aim to bolster growing sectors of the District’s
ZuKErBErG From Page V2 ists. As far as ensuring fair application of the law for all people, Zukerberg said, “I want to see that contracts are awarded fairly, based on merit, and that small- and medium-sized businesses — specifically District of Columbia businesses — receive their fair share.” Zukerberg also believes there must be greater enforcement of affordable housing rules and minimum wage laws. He would be prepared to sue companies that were not paying their workers minimum wage. “There may be other administrative remedies,” he added, “such as voiding city contracts or making businesses unable to get new city contracts if they violate fair wage
commercial owners to convert old underutilized office buildings into apartments with a percentage of affordable units. He would also urge a rezoning study for longtime commercial corridors such as Georgia Avenue to explore adding residences above or between commercial units. On jobs, White notes that the District has a higher unemployment level “than just about every state.” One way to create more entry-level positions is to bring new amenities like restaurants and grocery stores to parts of the city that need them. To do so, White supports using low- or no-interest loan programs, as well as tax incentives. Local advisory neighborhood commissions could
HAGLEr From Page V4 high-income and white students have advanced by 28 points in reading ... but black students have advanced by zero.” He believes in the concept of “local school autonomy,” while maintaining a central office. And veteran teachers who know what’s needed should get respect, he said. “We shouldn’t just intimidate them with tests.” “[Adrian] Fenty predicated reform on ‘I will name a chancellor and you can hold me accountable.’ And the public did,” Hagler added, referring to the former mayor’s reelection loss in 2010. He said parent groups are not always respected, and there are racial elements to decisions. “When we brought 500 parents together about Keene Elementary, they still closed it.”
economy such as health care, hospitality, education and technology. One of his specific priorities would be to cultivate local talent in these fields. As part of that effort, he hopes to use St. Elizabeths Hospital in Southeast as a hub for applied sciences education. His model for that initiative would be a New York City project where Cornell University is set to open a new Roosevelt Island campus to train the next generation of technology workers. Catania makes the case for this strategy in his
laws.” Zukerberg, a 56-year-old New Jersey native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and his Juris Doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law. After the D.C. Council tried to delay this year’s election for attorney general until at least 2018, he successfully sued to ensure the race would be on the ballot this fall, consistent with a referendum District voters approved in 2010. Zukerberg said this demonstrates that he is prepared to enforce the law. “When the time came to fight for the people and to defend their choice to have this election, which they overwhelmingly made by a 3-to-1 margin, someone had to step up and do it,” he said. “An attorney general assures that the law is applied and followed.”
have a role in determining suitable tax breaks. White believes employment training should be tied to the city’s large infrastructure projects such as burying power lines and developing stormwater retention systems. A helpful tool could be an “infrastructure bank” to link jobs to projects. He would also expand the city-funded green teams into more commercial areas that are not organized as business improvement districts. D.C.-born White, 32, has degrees from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he majored in philosophy and political science, and American University’s law school. He previously worked as a law clerk for Montgomery County’s District Court. In terms of the city’s affordability, Hagler said it’s crucial to maintain public housing, “because it is the only resource truly affordable to low-income ... families.” He said some of this housing is disappearing as the city enters into publicprivate partnerships to redevelop communities, and original residents won’t be able to return once the work is done. “The city also needs to take responsibility for workforce housing” so firefighters and police officers can afford to live here, he said. He favors having the District government fund part of the costs. He would also require developers to set aside more of the new housing for those earning $40,000 or less, and to ensure the affordable homes look similar to other units. Hagler, 60, was born in Baltimore. He graduated from Oberlin College, where he majored in religion, and the Chicago Theological Seminary.
campaign platform, citing a 2012 study showing that high-tech jobs have a ripple effect on the economy. The study found that each high-tech job creates an additional 4.3 local jobs in other fields including hospitality, law, retail and medicine. Catania, 46, is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree from the School of Foreign Service and his Juris Doctor from the Law Center. He lives in Dupont Circle.
rACINE From Page V2 that shackled juveniles will commit more crimes.” Racine also thinks the attorney general should consider the housing status of juvenile offenders. “Homelessness and juvenile delinquency are intricately linked,” his campaign platform asserts. “Children who commit a crime are more likely to get kicked out of their home, and homeless kids are far more likely to commit crime, leading to a vicious cycle of crime, poverty and hopelessness.” Regarding consumer protection, Racine would go after payday lenders who take advantage of D.C. citizens. He would also enforce debt collection laws that currently “are not enforced as often as they should be.” In addition, he would educate
seniors about the risks of scams. Racine also considers the enforcement of affordable housing laws to be a matter of consumer protection. “People don’t know what the rules are,” Racine said, proposing a public information campaign on the subject. He would also increase enforcement. His campaign platform calls for the creation of a “Tenants’ Complaints Hotline” for issues with shady landlords. The platform also proposes an Office of Affordable Housing within the attorney general’s office. Racine, 51, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Virginia Law School. He previously worked for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and served as associate White House counsel for President Bill Clinton. He lives in the U Street corridor.
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SMITH From Page V2 predatory lending practices, abusive debt collection and telemarketing scams. On D.C. autonomy and voting rights, Smith said, “I will defend our budget autonomy and our rights with respect to effective, reasonable, constitutionally defensible gun laws.” To that end, he thinks the District should appeal this past summer’s federal court ruling declaring a D.C. gun control law unconstitutional — even though he acknowledged that the conservative U.S. Supreme Court likely would agree with the decision. “If you believe something was wrongly decided, you appeal it,” he said. “The Second Amendment is not absolute. There have always been reasonable restrictions.” He also argued that restrictions are especially appropriate in a place like the District, where security is such a concern: “This is not the same as Omaha, Neb., and I think our gun laws should reflect that.” Smith, 34, earned his bachelor’s degree from Brown University and his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. He has worked at the law firm Hogan and Hartson, as the deputy general counsel for the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee, and in various positions within the Obama administration. A native Washingtonian, he now lives in Bloomingdale.
MASTErS From Page V2 cause of D.C. statehood and budget autonomy. “I want to use that association as a platform to talk with other state legal officers and get them on board to support our fight,” she said. “We’re not going to get what we need and deserve if we don’t have other people outside of the District supporting us.” Masters said she has a history of advocating for D.C.’s civil rights through organizations including DC Vote and DC Appleseed. Earlier this year, she filed two amicus briefs in support of the Local Budget Autonomy Act of 2012, legislation approved by the D.C. Council — and by voter referendum — in an attempt to win autonomy for D.C. without congressional approval. A federal judge halted that effort in May. But Masters has also said that, if elected, she would join the lawsuit about to be filed by the former director of the District’s American Civil Liberties Union affiliate, attempting to prevent federal agencies from moving out of D.C. until the city achieves statehood. Masters, 59, earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame. She lives in Chevy Chase.
Vote Tuesday, November 4 in the 2014 General Election Polls are open from 7am to 8pm. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the General Election on November 4, 2014. To find your polling place or confirm your registration information, visit dcboee.org or call (202) 727-2525. Some polling places have recently changed.
Want to vote early?
Vote early at One Judiciary Square starting October 20, or any Early Voting Center in the District starting October 25. Early Voting Centers are open daily from 8:30am until 7pm, except Sunday, October 26. Early voting ends Saturday, November 1.
Early Voting Centers Ward 2 One Judiciary Square 441 4th Street NW (Old Council Chambers)
Ward 1
Ward 3
Columbia Heights Community Center 1480 Girard Street NW
Chevy Chase Community Center 5601 Connecticut Avenue NW
Ward 4
Ward 5
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center 1100 Michigan Avenue NE
Takoma Community Center 300 Van Buren Street NW
Ward 6
Ward 6
King Greenleaf Recreation Center 201 N Street SW
Sherwood Recreation Center 640 10th Street NE
Ward 7
Ward 8
Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library 3935 Benning Road NE
Malcolm X Elementary School 1351 Alabama Ave SE
Need to Register? To register at the polls, bring a driver’s license or DMV identification card to cast a provisional/special ballot. No driver’s license? Bring any of the following showing your current name and address in the District: • Bank statement • Utility bill
• Lease or residential agreement • Occupancy statement
• University housing or tuition bill
• Statement from a homeless shelter • Other government document
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-11
JoNES From Page V4 teachers have done an excellent job, but they are evaluated negatively because the student doesn’t read at the eighth-grade level,” he said. Jones believes there should be “increased focus on foreign languages starting in elementary school.” And for high-performing students, he favors additional International Baccalaureate and gifted and talented programs. He would also increase the focus on music and the arts, as well as sports, to “help with a well-rounded education.” Jones says school modernization projects should add increased fields and other such resources, but that even without them, the city should ensure that school sports thrive. “We may have to share fields and use parks and recreation centers. ... It’s also the health of our students.” On economic development, Jones emphasized the importance of starting “with com-
prehensive planning that includes stakeholders and investors.” He suggested partnering with local universities that have urban planning departments to work with community groups to update small area plans. “This would help get community buy-in,” he said. He favors public/private partnerships and bond and tax-increment financing to spur economic development. One such partnership could redevelop the United Medical Center site in Southeast into a new neighborhood. “This would include a new hospital similar to the NOVA model in Northern Virginia and partnering with regional universities to create a technology campus,” he said. “We would also encourage development of affordable and workforce housing and mixed-use retail through tax incentives.” Jones, 34, is a fourth-generation Washingtonian and former executive vice president of the DC Young Democrats. He graduated from Morehouse College and earned a master’s of science and finance at New England College of Business.
SILvErMAN From Page V5 the Housing Production Trust Fund. In addition, the city must “work with the development community to have an inclusionary zoning law that works” and to look at shared equity programs with large down payments. In addition, Silverman said, the District needs to work to “preserve the affordable housing that we have” and prevent its sale to “developers turning it into higher-priced condos.” She also thinks rental assistance is an important piece of the equation, since “minimum wage earners cannot afford a one-bedroom apart-
BoWSEr From Page V1 source for the Housing Production Trust Fund. She would also work on preserving existing affordable housing units, not simply acquiring new properties. Additionally, she believes public projects on city land should require some amount of workforce housing. In terms of job training, Bowser said, “We will play close attention to women exiting the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program.” She also pledged to work with the private sector to offer training for former prisoners. Finally, Bowser described fundamental reforms she would make
From Page V5 idea of selling U Street’s Reeves Center and relocating its government offices to Anacostia — “but only if daytime commerce remains on U Street with new hotels and office buildings.” Putta said economic development should include public input. “There should be mailings to every resident highlighting what’s going on,” he said. He also favors bringing the Washington Redskins football team back to D.C. (albeit with a name change), “as it would have great eco-
From Page V5 The two systems shouldn’t compete, he said, but should work in partnership. And both “should be held to the same accountability and transparency standards,” he said. In general, he said, “You want a baseline for every kid. If a child is not at that level, there must be resources such as access to special education.” Pitts said he wants to see improvements at both traditional and vocational schools, as well as the University of the District of Columbia. Related to his priority of jobs, Pitts spoke of the importance of fostering a better environment for small businesses. He noted that there are about 26,000 of them operating in the city — and “each of them has opened with little or no support from city government.” He suggested a small business advisory council to report to the mayor, and invest-
ment.” Silverman advocates for closing the D.C. General shelter for the homeless, so the city can “stop spending millions of dollars a month to put [people] into hazardous housing.” She said a better option for this population, and a cheaper one for the city, is to focus on long-term housing solutions. On the topic of government transparency, Silverman said the city needs “to understand how we’re spending our money,” and make sure that spending is performance-based. Silverman said that if she’s elected her focus in her first year would be on the 2016 budget, “with vigorous oversight of the most crucial agencies.” She wants to look harder at the con-
to the D.C. government itself — aimed at attracting the best and brightest to serve. “Let them come up with big ideas and stand behind them as we implement those ideas,” she said. On transparency, the council member sought to strengthen the District’s open meetings law, and also introduced measures to bolster the city’s Open Government Office and to improve compliance with Freedom of Information Act requirements. Bowser, 42, holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Chatham College and a master’s degree in public policy from American University. She served as an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Riggs Park before being elected to the Ward 4 council seat in 2007.
PuTTA
PITTS
tracting process, ensuring that it is merit-based. As a council member, Silverman wouldn’t have a privately funded constituent service fund, she said. In addition, she believes incoming council members should be prohibited from holding outside employment, while existing members could be grandfathered in. “The council offers a full-time salary,” she said. Silverman, 41, grew up in Baltimore and graduated from Brown University, where she majored in economics and history. She formerly worked as a reporter, including as the “Loose Lips” columnist at the Washington City Paper. She later covered city politics, crime and emergency services for The Washington Post.
SCHWArTZ From Page V1 year and a half,” she said, alluding to mayoral challenger David Catania. With regard to affordable housing, Schwartz said the rising cost of living is threatening the District’s “glorious diversity.” To tackle this, she would seek to impose tough fines on developers who fail to meet their commitments on affordable housing units. Asked about her plans for housing the homeless, Schwartz said D.C. General isn’t necessarily an unacceptable place to house families, but the shelter needs to be totally refurbished. She favors providing homeless services at D.C.
nomic value.” He also called for improved public safety and judicial processes to protect the momentum of development. “It’s very important for transitioning neighborhoods to get support,” he said, citing an issue he was involved in regarding serial car break-ins. One man was arrested over 50 times but received a long sentence only after community intervention. On education, Putta said parent engagement is critical to improving schools and the city should do more to foster that. “The success stories I’ve heard have been when parents ... get involved with other parents so they’ll be comfortable sending kids to a particular school,” he
ment in “improved communications between businesses and city regulators.” He thinks city grants and loans should help boost these businesses, with information readily available on how to obtain them. Pitts also emphasized the importance of retaining existing businesses as neighborhoods boom. “There are businesses on the 14th Street corridor that no longer exist because the buildings were sold and the new owners tore them down.” When developers seek zoning leeway and exceptions, they should in turn “be required to meet needs of the neighborhood,” he said, possibly by maintaining affordable commercial rents and retaining former commercial tenants. Pitts, 47, formerly consulted on political and legislative campaigns for the Services Employees International Union. Born in Detroit, he graduated from Holy Cross College, where he majored in history and pre-medicine. He holds a master’s in public health from George Washington University.
General in-house, as opposed to using contractors, and believes all employees should have to pass a background check. In terms of improving the government’s fiscal stability, Schwartz said she has a history of voting against bloated budgets and advocating for substantial rainy day funds. If elected, she would seek to bring back a perpetual fund for street repairs. She said she marvels at the worsening state of the District’s roads: “It’s like a thirdworld country — it’s unbelievable.” Schwartz, 70, was born in Mississippi and graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a degree in elementary and special education. She lives in Adams Morgan.
said. Putta pointed to the School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens in the Dupont/West End area as an example of a program that turned around after the campus almost faced closure, and said he’d work with other schools “in crisis.” He also supported the idea of a more uniform curriculum. Putta, 40, has a bachelor’s degree in government and economics from Dartmouth College. He also attended Harvard’s Kennedy School. Before moving to the District, he worked as a local news reporter with the Los Angles Times and The Providence Journal, and he has worked on federal health care policy.
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WILLIAMS From Page V2 Washingtonians, Williams would hold community forums in all eight wards. She would also meet with vulnerable groups with specific legal needs such as seniors, members of the transgender community, and youth in foster care or the juvenile justice system. Another priority Williams has is to more effectively enforce the District’s First Source law, which requires that at least half of the workers hired on development projects receiving city funding be D.C. residents. “It’s often unenforced,” Williams said of the law. “There should be fines, and repeat violators should be barred from doing business with the District.” On her campaign website, Williams said she decided to run for attorney general “after reading news reports about prospective candidates and realizing that there were no community advocates in the race.” She said she was doubly concerned to see that her most formidable rivals had corporate law backgrounds. “For me, working in the public interest has not been something to do on the side while I enrich large corporations,” she said. “Rather, I made a conscious choice to dedicate my career to public service.” Williams, 38, earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University. She has at various points been the national committeewoman for the DC Young Democrats, the Mid-Atlantic region representative on the Young Democrats of America Judicial Council and a member of the D.C. Democratic State Committee. A lifelong resident of the Washington metropolitan area, Williams now lives in Brookland.
D.C. MAyor
Muriel Bowser Democratic Nominee
How would you differentiate yourself from your competitors?
I’m focused on how to prepare our city for the next I’ve tackled some of the city’s toughest challenges 25 years with 200,000 additional residents, and and have a record delivering substantial results. I’m the needed infrastructure and educational facilities. the only one in the race with substantial managerial experience.
The depth and breadth of my experience both in elected office and volunteer work and other professional activities. Have excellent relations with former colleagues.
What would be your three major areas of concentration as mayor?
Speeding up and spreading school reform across all eight wards; jobs and affordable housing for the middle class; and building an efficient, open government by attracting the best agency heads.
Education, housing and economic development.
A financially sound government that works; education; taking care of vulnerable populations including affordable housing.
Personnel decisions before an election are premature. I don’t want to politicize them when the mayor is trying to run the government.
I won’t fill my administration until I’m elected, but would definitely keep Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson for at least a year.
Cut rate of uninsured and HIV infections by 50 percent; saved Ward 8’s public hospital; authored marriage equality and smoke-free D.C. bills; authored legislation putting $80 million to narrow education achievement gap. I’m open to exploring publicly financed campaigns and reviewing other states’ models.
Creation of the Department of the Environment; the strongest whistle blowers protection act in the country; sick and safe leave (domestic violence or hurt in accident) for all workers in District.
I’d prefer the council not be in the contact approval business. It invites politicalization. Disapproving large contracts would make sense.
I like having a check and balance of having the council approve contracts, but the law needs to be tweaked.
Will review them all. I want to ensure the good ones’ vision comports with mine. Definitely keep Cathy Lanier as police chief and Kaya Henderson as school chancellor. Will create an East of the River deputy mayor. What have been your major accomplishments as a Authored legislation creating Board of Ethics and member of the D.C. Council? Government Accountability, which has produced real results; free Metro rides for children going to and from school. If elected, which deputy mayors and department heads, if any, would you ask to stay on board? Which ones would you definitely get rid of?
Should there be some public financing of District elections — matching funds provided by the taxpayers once a certain amount has been raised by a certain number of contributors? Currently, the D.C. Council must approve all city contracts exceeding $1 million. Would you push for a change giving a council super-majority the right to veto large contracts rather than the current process, under which they must approve them? In looking over this year’s budget, what spending areas, if any, would you like increased and which decreased?
I’m concerned public funds would be diverted from pressing public priorities like schools, affordable housing and job training.
Some argue that we have more than sufficient reserve funds so there is no need to increase them to two months’ worth of spending as Mayor Vincent Gray believes. Others say getting to two months’ is important to avoid a fiscal disaster. What are your thoughts? Some have argued that very wealthy retired people are the most likely to leave the District due to our high income tax rates, yet they require few if any government services. Should there be a tax exemption on retirement income such as Social Security and 401(k) distributions similar to Pennsylvania’s? More than 60 percent of D.C. government employees live outside the District, and as a result the District can’t collect their income taxes. What, if anything, should be done about it? Many high-end, luxury-goods stores such as Tiffany’s are located in Tysons Corner and in Friendship Heights, Md., across the District line. Do you support offering developers tax incentives to bring such stores here in hopes of increasing real estate and sales tax revenue? If so, what should the incentives be? Did you support raising the minimum wage for non-union major retailers? Walmart said that had the legislation gone into effect, it would have abandoned plans to build three stores in wards 7 and 8 and re-examined its other D.C. stores then under construction. Does the D.C. government budget enough money for maintenance of public buildings? If not, what changes would you propose?
I support having two months in reserve.
What approaches, if any, should be taken to decrease the likelihood of lower-income, long-term District residents being forced from their homes because of increasing real estate values and taxes, or are our current policies generally adequate?
I got the household income eligibility level for a 50 percent property tax reduction increased and created a housing modernization fund. We should do more for renters and increase the standard deduction. Eliminate property taxes for 70-year-olds with limited means.
I’ve supported a bill to remove all contracts from D.C. Council approval. I would compromise on setting the amount far higher.
Invest more in middle schools, senior services, getting people back to work, permanent housing for the homeless. Look carefully at chief financial officer’s budget. I support the recently passed middle class income Which taxes would you like increased and which would you like decreased, given our current budget tax relief and linking estate tax with the federal rate. I favor greater competitiveness on business taxes situation? with Maryland and Virginia. There is no need for increases.
Carol Schwartz independent
David Catania independent
We need to study the implications.
No.
Fund D.C. Promise initiative and put more resources Invest in education funds for wraparound services in affordable housing and homelessness; less and expanding pre-K programs, police and funding in motion pictures office. affordable housing. Look at reducing travel, conferences and consulting contracts. Decrease all business and individual taxes, as we Reduce some business fees and fines as they’re can afford to do so. Get top payers’ income taxes too high, as well as traffic fines. Commercial real down at least to 8.5 percent to compete with property tax is too high relative to suburban competitors. Reduce the cost of business licenses. Maryland. Try to get closer to Virginia. We now have a pretty good balance on revenue system. I agree with having two months. 60 days is not a magic number. Our reserves served us well in the Great Recession. I see no bubble in the forecast. There is a balancing act between present-day needs and saving for tomorrow. No. Individuals choose to live here due to the vibrancy of city living. We should follow New York City’s lead in preventing gaming the system.
I would have to think about that.
We have some discretion to giving privileges without I would love to have a residency requirement for We need to make an extra effort to train high making it a requirement. It makes sense to have policy-level jobs, but Congress won’t let us. But I school and University of the District of Columbia would make it a priority. graduates to prepare them for our government jobs. District residents run our government. I support incentives where they are a good deal. I Luxury stores are blooming in CityCenterDC. The would absolutely consider incentives where they are market will drive these retailers into the city. Tax needed. incentives should be aimed at jobs and revenue.
If they don’t move on their own, I would consider it. Sometimes you must spend a little money to make a lot of money. I think it will happen naturally.
No. I voted against it.
No. I voted against it.
No.
The budgets are adequate. We need to hold our leadership and developers more accountable for delivering.
No. We’ve invested a lot of money in new facilities and we’ve not created an adequate capital maintenance budget, so we are losing our investment. There are private-sector business models on how much we should plan per square foot. I’m concerned about increased property taxes for all our residents. The burden is greater on lowincome residents. Increasing the homestead exemption is important. We need more housing production to lower rents.
Probably adequate.
I support deferring increased taxes until the sale of the home. Would look at tax credits and special waivers to encourage developers to provide lowincome housing,
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-13
D.C. MAyor
Muriel Bowser Democratic Nominee
Carol Schwartz independent
David Catania independent
The District’s commercial real estate and business tax rates are the area’s highest by far, even though for many small companies, Virginia’s gross receipts tax makes its total tax take higher than ours. Business groups say Virginia attracts many District firms due to attractive tax rates. Should there be an effort to reduce them to better compete? If so, by how much? Should the sales tax include services such as health clubs and yoga studios?
Yes. We must send signals we are open for business. We can’t afford to let them leave town. Virginia is very aggressive in this area, especially for law firms.
I’d favor long-term reductions in commercial property taxes, which are much higher than Virginia’s and are passed through to business tenants. It’s particularly important with all the new Metro stations there.
Yes. I would like to be more competitive as we can afford it.
No.
No.
In Virginia and Maryland, the sales tax is at 6 percent; ours is at 5.75 percent. Should we restore ours to 6 percent and use the resulting revenue of more than $20 million to reduce taxes elsewhere? Or use the money to fund services of some kind? The D.C. Office of Planning has been praised and criticized for favoring fewer parking places in new apartment buildings. Supporters say parking is expensive to build, forcing higher rents. Critics say it would worsen often-tight parking conditions. Others say there have been reasonable compromises in the agency’s proposal. What is your position?
Yes, restore it to 6 percent. Use funds for a middleclass tax break.
I would consider it and use the $20 million for affordable housing or college tuition assistance.
Packaged with a middle-class tax break at the last minute, probably yes, but on its own I would have opposed it. No; we win that one.
It’s appropriate to reduce parking space requirements especially near Metro stations. I’m concerned about eliminating them anywhere else.
Underground parking does add costs and prevents affordability. One answer is to exempt low-income affordable units from parking requirements. The residents most likely won’t have cars.
New buildings should have parking spaces associated with the buildings.
In the absence of housing, nothing else can be effective. Many have an untreated substance abuse issue. Many are not eligible to participate in a job training program that requires an eighth-grade education level. Invest more in lower-performing schools and in special education through earlier intervention; end social promotion in practice as in law; improve vertical integration of the feeder system in program and curriculum. Social promotion and disinvestment in lowerincome students burden the entire system. My efforts to end social promotion should set more children on a path to succeed. I don’t favor tracking, but there should be advanced courses in math and science. Every school must offer the same opportunities.
More drug and alcohol treatment and job training programs; bring more jobs to the city that they can fill.
I have a constructive relationship with her and will talk with her after the election, but until the election, she has only one boss. The agency in charge of workforce investment should tell us what jobs we expect, and schools should adjust their courses accordingly. Allow students to take vocational courses at high schools other than their own. Yes. Standardized tests serve a success-measuring function. The best ones are at the beginning and the end of the year to measure progress.
Yes, for at least a year. If we work well together, it would be longer.
I’ve authored three bills focusing on early intervention, greater parental empowerment, and improved transition services to move them into adulthood. We need to end the war with parents. No, we have a retirement bubble coming down the road.
I was a special education teacher and my brother had special needs. Lower teacher-pupil ratios. Enlarge offerings within school system.
The government should do more for job training and should subsidize job opportunities in both D.C. government and private-sector partners. Eliminate the crime history box on job applications, but allow it in the interview stage. What steps do you feel should be taken to improve Invest in improving middle schools; give resources public education? to schools on brink of being top tier to attract families; prepare students for math, science, engineering and technology jobs. What additional steps, if any, should the District take to help former prison inmates find jobs?
With one exception, the District’s National Merit Scholars attended private schools. Surrounding counties had quite a few in public schools, indicating that for the very bright, our public and charter schools might not be as strong as theirs. What would you do to improve the quality of education for bright children whose parents cannot afford private school? Would you plan to keep Kaya Henderson as school chancellor?
With upcoming high school renovations, we have the opportunity to replicate programs at Banneker and School Without Walls elsewhere in the city. Improve middle schools to better prepare students. Our schools must serve every child, so they should have programs allowing them to excel.
How should the District select technical education choices, or should we have them?
Schools must have pathways for all students. Emphasize science, math, document management and health care where there are a lot of good paying jobs.
Are we putting too much emphasis on testing in our public schools?
Nobody is satisfied with the present system, but we need to have a measure to assess children’s progress.
Do you generally approve of the school boundary proposals as currently drawn? Are there any specific changes you would make?
No, I do not approve of the current plan.
Do you approve of the movement of Crestwood/16th Street Heights to MacFarland Middle School and Roosevelt High School? What steps could make the change more acceptable to the community?
I don’t think the mayor’s plan is ready to move forward.
If we invest in several new middle schools as suggested by the task force that studied boundaries, should there be limitations on new charter middle schools for financial reasons? If yes, how should any limitation be determined? What steps, if any, are needed to improve special education?
There needs to be more coordination with the charter board. Discussions are needed also with individual schools, and if necessary, a move to more formal steps.
Do you think we have an adequate number of police officers?
Yes. I think she is a great chancellor.
I support Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s commitment to ensure children are evaluated early and that timelines are met. We should investigate the type of environment private schools provide. Yes, but we will need more as the city grows.
More financial resources; encourage volunteers, especially retired educators; more pre-K and wraparound services for vulnerable. We must offer appropriate challenging courses and magnet schools. We must accommodate the needs of all children.
We must look at the job market. We need all types of vocational education. In the 1970s it was a dirty word as African-Americans were tracked into it.
Probably. I brought them back when I was on the school board. Today, we’ve gone to such an extreme. Just teaching and evaluating to the test is not fair to the student or the teacher. I would postpone implementation by a year as there Some changes were needed. I like the final version are parts of the plan that have merit and others better than earlier ones. I would ask for a delay as that need improvement. the new mayor should weigh in. Raise out-ofboundary students by 5 percent at all school levels. I feel their pain. Ensure that MacFarland and No. Parental confidence is critical to school Roosevelt will be high-quality schools. improvement. We should give them the option between MacFarland and Deal. We need a school improvement plan to accompany any changes in boundaries and feeders. We need to fund the construction and renovation of MacFarland. That could cost between $60 million and $100 million. Then we need a robust curriculum and programming plan equal to Deal. No. We have many charter elementary schools I want to change the law so there will be growing into middle schools, and we should not coordination and transparency for charters. disrupt the process.
Probably not. Our goal should be 4,000, but they must be adequately trained. I want more on the streets.
V-14 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
Mayoral candidates focus on achievements, senior issues at AARP forum By GrAHAM vySE
Current Staff Writer
The three leading mayoral candidates outlined their visions for senior citizen services at an AARP DC forum earlier this month. D.C. Council members Muriel Bowser (Ward 4) and David Catania (at-large) shared a stage Oct. 9 with former at-large Council member Carol Schwartz at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. The candidates didn’t directly engage with one another, but they did take turns staking out positions on key issues. Muriel Bowser, the Democratic nominee, arrived at the forum having held a “telephone town hall” in which the public could call in with questions on senior issues a few days earlier. She told the AARP crowd she was instrumental in urging the District to participate in the World Health Organization’s “age-friendly cities” program, an effort to ensure a high quality of life for citizens of
all ages. Bowser said she would continue efforts begun under Mayor Vincent Gray to achieve that “age-friendly” designation for D.C. by 2017. (Independents Catania and Schwartz also support the program.) In the immediate future, Bowser said, she wants to challenge the D.C. government to think about how seniors can lead fulfilling lives with more employment and volunteer opportunities. She added that she hopes to “tap into the vast expertise that they have to help us run our government and build a great city.” Since many seniors live east of the Anacostia River, the task of finding employment for them would fall to a new Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity — a position Bowser is pledging to create to work with the District’s poorest communities. Discussing how she would keep seniors safe, Bowser said the new chief she would appoint for the Fire and Emergency Medical
D.C. MAyor
Muriel Bowser Democratic Nominee
Some advocates claim the city government ignores the law by not giving charter schools first crack at closed school buildings. What, if anything, would you do about it? Advocates also claim that charter schools do not receive as much per pupil as the public school system does, largely because most charter schools have to fund their own buildings. Do you agree? If yes, what should be done about it? Should charter schools be allowed to limit enrollment to their immediate neighborhoods in whole or in part? Should the District’s firefighters and emergency medical personnel be allowed to have a schedule where they are on duty 24 hours a few days a week? Critics say this primarily enables employees to live as far away as West Virginia and Pennsylvania and have second jobs, while union officials say that alternative schedules would harm public safety. Undergrounding the entire city’s power lines would be very expensive. Should we encourage more undergrounding? If so, how should it be paid for? Is the present level of enforcement for quality-oflife offenses such as public urination, graffiti and littering generally adequate, too heavy-handed or not tough enough? Should D.C. turn over citizenship information to the U.S. immigration agency when suspects are arrested and booked for alleged criminal activity? When they are convicted? Just when convicted of a violent crime? Or not at all? Should the fines for bicycle riders who violate traffic regulations be substantially increased? Should adult riders be allowed on sidewalks? Although most District elected leaders have been trying to get statehood, some observers say it is a hopeless cause as national Republicans don’t want two more Democratic senators and Virginia and Maryland don’t want a commuter tax. These people say we should go for territorial status, which would mean we wouldn’t pay federal income and corporate profits taxes and could thereby attract businesses that would ease unemployment. Do you agree?
Services Department would need to have a medical background. Bowser also touted her work developing the YMCA Fit and Well Seniors program, a taxpayersupported initiative providing seniors with exercise classes and other opportunities for physical activity. (The program is funded under Bowser’s Hospital and Medical Services Corporation Regulatory Amendment Act.) Bowser said she used to visit senior wellness centers throughout D.C. and feel as though they weren’t offering quality programming. Now, with the Fit and Well program, she said, “oftentimes the most popular employee there is that fitness instructor.” When his turn came, Catania touted his own legislative work as it relates to seniors. For example, as chair of the D.C. Council’s Health Committee for eight years, he helped reduce the rate of the uninsured by half. He also worked with AARP to provide dental benefits and successfully prevented the closure of United Medical
Center in Southeast. Catania said his proudest achievement with regard to seniors was his work overhauling nursing home services. His efforts led to increased staffing at nursing homes, with more training mandated for employees. They also led to a requirement that nursing homes have physician services available. If elected, Catania would try to expand senior aging-in-place “villages” in the District. He said the villages “strengthen our communities” and, by providing a framework for residents to help their older neighbors stay in their homes, create “an opportunity to live our values.” Catania said he hoped seniors would take part in the District’s relatively new Smart911 program. The initiative allows residents to create online profiles with their personal information such as existing medical conditions. That way, in the event of an emergency, responders have vital information ahead of time.
David Catania independent
Schwartz also weighed in on emergency responses, saying she has always thought the fire department should be separated from the emergency medical services department for greater efficiency: “I always found it crazy that when you need an ambulance, when you’re having a heart attack, a fire truck arrives. What is with that?” In addition, Schwartz said she wants to expand D.C.’s Summer Youth Employment Program to be a yearlong initiative; as part of that, she would have young people employed at senior centers teaching computer skills. She also hopes to encourage seniors to volunteer at public schools in the District — including seniors from the suburbs, whom she would bus into the city. Schwartz closed by casting herself as living testament to the fact that life can be fulfilling no matter one’s age. “Don’t let your age deter you,” the 70-year-old said with a smile. “It’s not deterring me.” Carol Schwartz independent
We have an obligation to make them available to charter schools.
First we must follow the law. If there is no other municipal use, offer it to charters.
I’m not sure that is the case any more. But we need to have school buildings available should we need them.
We should consider partnerships with underutilized buildings for our public charter schools.
The facilities allotment was increased in the last budget. The question is how D.C. Public Schools gets additional dollars. There are legacy costs associated with DCPS such as pension costs that charters don’t have. It would create direct competition with D.C. Public Schools. I’d be open to a discussion of allowing a percentage to be in-boundary.
I need to discuss it with them to find where they feel they are shortchanged.
With the growth of charters, a neighborhood preference must be considered.
I don’t think there needs to be neighborhood preference, but there should be some slots available.
We must respond to the changing needs of the city. It’s important to sit down with our workforce to New leadership must gain the trust of the public settle the work schedule. and the rank and file. Our concern is what schedule works best.
No. They need to be alert, and being on duty for 24 hours does not add to that. Also in emergencies, how can those who live that far away protect us on short notice?
We should consider it where reliability of the electric Both underground and aboveground wires can hurt grid is low. Undergrounding will improve reliability. the tree canopy. The majority of the costs should be borne by the utility. We need to increase both enforcement and public I have seen little evidence of enforcement. education.
Where there are lots of outages, I think undergrounding is a good idea. The companies should bear some of the burden. Unsure. I’m willing to look at it. I want strong enforcement and appropriate fines.
When convicted of a violent crime.
Not at all.
Just when convicted of a violent crime.
We need enforcement of rules of the road for bicycles and drivers. They should be allowed on sidewalks outside the central business district. No.
I don’t believe adult cyclists should be on sidewalks. The way to curb behavior is the certainty, not the size, of the fine. We need to increase enforcement. We should continue our efforts for statehood by visiting states. I got the New Hampshire legislature to pass a resolution.
I would look at the fines, but increase enforcement. Would look at banning them from sidewalks where there are a lot of pedestrians. If I can’t have full voting rights and budget and legislative autonomy, I’d look at territorial status.
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-15
CHAIrMAN D.C. CouNCIL What would be your three major areas of concentration as D.C. Council chairman?
John C. Cheeks independent Family and housing crisis; financial empowerment for small businesses, public safety tests for D.C. elected officials.
What, if any, additional safeguards are needed on No contributions from city contractors or their political contributions to ensure the honesty of D.C. employees to current D.C. elected officials. elected officials? Candidates may accept them. Should there be a ban on corporate contributions to D.C. campaigns? Would doing so invite a lawsuit the District would lose given recent Supreme Court decisions? Did you support the non-union large retailer minimum wage law (affecting Walmart) that was vetoed by Mayor Vincent Gray? More than 60 percent of D.C. government employees live outside the District, and as a result the District can’t collect their income taxes. What, if anything, should be done about it? What approaches, if any, should be taken to decrease the likelihood of lower-income, long-term District residents being forced from their homes because of increasing real estate values, rents and taxes, or are our current policies generally adequate?
There should be a limit on the amount. The higher the position, the lower the amount. No.
Job growth, education, public safety.
Improving professionalism, transparency and reputation of the D.C. Council; reduce truancy; improve the University of the District of Columbia and the community college. Ban on corporate contributions. We need to see how the new law works before making changes; I will introduce a bill to encourage people doing business with the city not to contribute. Yes, there should. It would not have a legal problem No. It would drive campaign finance underground due to concerns of corruption. and make donations less transparent. Unsure about potential lawsuit. No. I don’t think we should target particular businesses.
I authored the bill, including the exemption for stores with less than 75,000 square feet.
Have emergency workforce personnel and executive I don’t know there is anything we can do about this directors live in the District. unfair situation.
Continue to give preference to hiring District residents.
End subsidized housing and create housing cooperatives across the city. Privatize the D.C. Housing Authority.
Look at increasing the homestead deduction for real property owners. Expand the Schedule H income tax credit that benefits homeowners and renters alike. Possibly lower real property tax rates for everyone. Focus on lowering income taxes for low-income people. We should try to reduce our commercial real property tax rate.
Decrease gentrification by not giving corporations tax breaks to locate here; increase the homestead deduction.
I would support tax cuts if they are coupled with The District’s commercial real estate and business Yes. budget cuts. taxes are the area’s highest by far. Business groups say Virginia attracts many District firms due to attractive tax rates. Should there be an effort to reduce them to better compete? What additional steps, if any, should the District Skills training, business education and certification. Job training and transition programs. take to help former prison inmates find jobs?
What steps do you feel should be taken to improve Introduce the advanced learning model Finland public education? uses. Some educators say that per-pupil spending in areas where there is a great deal of poverty ought to be higher than in areas where students generally come from affluent, well-educated families. Do you agree? Last year, only one D.C. public school student was named a National Merit Scholar, while quite a few District private school students and suburban public school students won the scholarships. What, if anything, should be done about this? Charter school advocates claim that they do not receive as much per pupil as the public school system does, as most charter schools have to fund a large part of their own buildings. Do you agree this is the case? Do you support allowing a neighborhood preference for charter schools? Should D.C. turn over citizenship information to the U.S. immigration agency when suspects are arrested and booked for alleged criminal activity? When they are convicted? Just when convicted of a violent crime? Or not at all? How would you get better enforcement of laws on jaywalking, bicycle riders ignoring moving vehicle laws, and drivers ignoring yield signs, using cellphones and blocking the box, or would you eliminate some of these laws? Should D.C. Council members be allowed to keep their constituent service funds? If yes, should they be larger, smaller or left as they are now? Although most District elected leaders have been trying to get statehood, some observers say it is a hopeless cause as national Republicans don’t want two more Democratic senators and Virginia and Maryland don’t want a commuter tax. These people say we should go for territorial status, which would mean we wouldn’t pay federal income and corporate profits taxes and could thereby attract businesses that would ease unemployment. What are your thoughts?
Phil Mendelson Democratic Nominee
Kris Hammond Republican Nominee
Continue school reforms and increase adult education programs.
I authored legislation protecting businesses from being sued for hiring ex-offenders; the bill authorizes certificate of good standing for former inmates, which should be implemented. We should also expand record sealing. Keep the current chancellor; focus on literacy; provide more resources to poorly performing schools and for truancy reduction. Yes.
No.
Yes. Each school should be funded according to its needs.
Increase advanced learning for all students. Give them awards. Have ads in papers.
With continued school reforms, we will eventually see improvement in this area.
We should continue to focus on improving the quality of education.
I disagree.
I agree. There should be equitable funding.
In general, I agree. We should strive for equity through the budget.
No. Everybody is using the same tax dollars.
They should have the option but not be compelled.
When arrested and booked.
When convicted of a violent crime.
Almost always, no. There might be a reason for an exception at times. When convicted of a violent crime. I authored the law prohibiting disclosure for minor offenders.
Have more walking and Segway-equipped police officers.
Greater enforcement, particularly of jaywalking laws.
The rules serve a purpose even if they are not enforced, but enforcement could be improved through greater council oversight.
Yes, the same as now.
Eliminate them due to corruption concerns.
Yes. I’ve opposed raising them.
I would push for territorial status.
I support looking at all voting rights options, as statehood is not now feasible. Territorial status would probably increase gentrification and cause a housing bubble.
I support statehood.
V-16 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
ATTorNEy GENErAL
Lorie Masters Democrat
Edward “Smitty” Smith Democrat
Top billing associate among fellow attorneys entering during the same year as a corporate attorney at Hogan & Hartson; was telecommunications regulatory attorney at Federal Communications Commission and deputy general counsel in Obama’s inauguration committee. As a federal employee I launched $350 million broadband grant program. How does your experience make My practice is consumer-oriented; Twenty-five years of broad Practiced law in diverse areas; you the best candidate for the I am most experienced experience in the public and experienced dealing with position of attorney general? representing plaintiffs. private sectors representing businesses; did $40 billion in clients from children and adults mergers and acquisitions and as public defender, associate securities transactions; have White House counsel under advised Fortune 500 companies Clinton; have led one of America’s on corporate governance issues; largest law firms. was active on Hogan & Hartson’s associates committee advising on firm management and its recruiting and diversity committees. I expect relations to be How do you envision your I have good relationships with all A collaborative and respectful relations with the next mayor three major mayoral candidates; I relationship while maintaining the cooperative. My duty is to advise the new mayor and council on and the D.C. Council? would work with him/her, but not independence of the office and legal issues and represent the representing the District’s for them. I would want to work city on all legal matters. citizens. with the mayor and council, but would take an independent position when I thought it appropriate. Yes, during my tenure at Public Advocated for the office to be Do you have experience I worked with them on Ward 2 Defender Service I testified on elected. advocating before the council? voting machine problems in the juvenile justice issues. 2008 primary and received commendation about pro bono representation. Was outside pro bono counsel to special committee on election laws. Weeding out corruption; instilling Juvenile justice; consumer What do you expect to be your Fighting corruption; advocating protection; D.C. autonomy, transparency, integrity and main areas of interest if elected? for self-determination/budget autonomy; using office to enforce accountability in city government. including voting rights. consumer protection laws.
What has been your main area of legal experience?
Insurance coverage litigation representing policyholders.
Karl racine Democrat
What is your experience in these areas?
Background in suing insurance companies; was on the boards of DC Vote and DC Appleseed Center for Law & Justice; pro bono work fighting predatory lending.
The office will have about 550 employees, including 350 attorneys. What is your managerial experience?
I’ve managed large teams of lawyers, some representing billions of dollars; managing partner of law firm office of up to 30 lawyers.
Do you see a problem with the new reporting structure whereby attorneys in the various agencies work for the agency directors and do not report to the attorney general?
It will complicate the job of the attorney general. There could be agencies taking legal positions in contrast with that of the attorney general. Could be problems litigating cases.
Do you have any experience in handling complex litigation settlements?
Yes. Some have been in international arbitration. Many settle before going to trial. One must bring together parties of different viewpoints and be able to compromise.
Defending individuals and corporations subject to government investigations and advising them on ethics and government experience.
Defending, investigating and recommending changes in policies regarding government ethics and corporate governance.
I grew up in a rough area where many were involved with juvenile justice. I have mentored young men involved with system. As an enforcement attorney at the Federal Communications Commission, I prosecuted numerous businesses whose practices violated consumer protection regulations. I’m active with DC Vote on policy and advocacy with elected leaders locally and in Congress. At the Federal Communications I have managed for over six years. I was managing partner of Commission, I was chief of staff one of America’s largest law firms of a task force where I managed a team of over 60 attorneys, with about 600 lawyers in four economists and engineers on a offices and 1,350 employees. complex technical multi-billion project. All District government attorneys Yes, it will lead to inconsistencies must follow District law. I will be in legal opinions, confusion the arbiter of what the law is. among government agencies and those who are regulated. I agree there could be a problem with an attorney general who wants to be mayor, but it is dangerous to allow political motivations to create circumstances that could lead to legal inconsistencies and poor practices. Yes, in numerous cases including Yes, in my time as an disputes involving hundreds of enforcement attorney at the millions of dollars. Federal Communications Commission. Most of my cases ended in settlements.
Lateefah Williams Democrat Legislative and public policy law.
Paul Zukerberg Democrat Civil and criminal litigation in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
I’ve spent my career working in I have the widest and deepest the public interest of workingexperience in litigation at trial and class people, which will make me appellate levels. the best equipped to deal with Washingtonians’ concerns.
A productive and amicable working relationship. But I will be an independent attorney general, so I won’t be beholden to them.
I look forward to having a strong working relationship with the next mayor and D.C. Council. I’ve worked with Chairman Phil Mendelson, at-large member David Grosso, and Ward 6 member Tommy Wells on criminal justice reform and civil rights. Yes, on the attorney general Both professionally for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local election, criminal and juvenile law reform, and affordable housing. 689 as well as a civic advocate for various groups such as the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club and D.C. Young Democrats. Ensuring my office represents the legal needs of all Washingtonians, especially the vulnerable. Consumer protection and juvenile justice. I’ve been a civic activist for over a decade, and I’ve dedicated my legal career to public service. My litigation and public policy experience gives me the needed tools.
Juvenile justice reform; fighting corruption; fair application of law to all people.
I’ve worked with a labor union as their political and legislative director and have supervised dozens of union members who wished to get involved.
My experience is mostly in the law and in setting policy goals. I have been in offices between one and four lawyers; I have collaborated with larger law firms.
It may create a challenge with ensuring consistent legal decisions throughout the District.
No. I will collaborate with the agency heads and the mayor to ensure that the District’s business is appropriately conducted under the new arrangements.
Insurance defense and plaintiffside tort law.
It’s one of my subspecialties, such as the case involving the elected attorney general. It involved questions of standing, statutory interpretation, voting rights and federal participation.
I have practiced juvenile law and helped move decriminalization of marijuana. I have advocated on behalf of the will of voters regarding an elected attorney general, as well as on living wages and nondiscrimination in housing.
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-17
ATTorNEy GENErAL
Lorie Masters Democrat
Edward “Smitty” Smith Democrat
Karl racine Democrat
Lateefah Williams Democrat
Paul Zukerberg Democrat
What factors would you consider when you decide whether to litigate an issue or settle with the other party?
You need to look at broad factors, chances of success, costs, and public interest. We don’t have unlimited funds.
Every case must be thoroughly analyzed initially so that the right strategy is developed to reach a conclusion that best serves the client’s interest.
The strength of my case as a matter of law, the evidence at hand, the interests of the public and the D.C. government, and the likely cost of litigation versus the cost of settlement.
The public interest would be primary. D.C. residents should be protected while representing D.C. agencies.
Settlement and compromise are almost always preferable to litigation and the inherent risks of trial. However, I will always fight to protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
What is the settlement power of the attorney general’s office? (Editor’s note: Up to $500,000 without mayoral approval.) What experience do you have in civil litigation?
Up to $200,000.
Uncertain.
Uncertain.
Uncertain.
All cases.
That’s really the main part of my experience.
Extensive experience with the Federal Communications Commission.
Several years working as a litigation associate with David C. Simmons & Associates.
What experience do you have in providing legal advice on financial matters such as buying and selling properties?
I’ve taken on predatory lending and construction issues on a pro bono basis.
Extensively at Hogan & Hartson. Most of my clients were real estate investment trusts.
None, but I have been trained to help people dealing with foreclosures.
A wide variety. I have the largest recorded judgment for workers who were cheated out of their pay. Wills, trusts and estates. None.
Do you have any experience in child support matters such as establishing court orders and getting money from noncustodial parents? Do you have any experience in abuse and neglect case, both for juveniles and adults?
Some pro-bono work, mostly in child custody areas.
I have participated at every level, from filing of complaints, taking depositions, arguing motions to trials and appeals. Throughout my career, I have often reviewed transactions for regulatory conformance and advised on issues of ethics surrounding the transaction. Yes, in my representation of children in the juvenile system.
No.
No.
Yes. As a public defender I represented both in the juvenile and neglect systems.
Only on a personal basis with family members and friends.
None, other than working with advocacy groups.
Some pro bono child custody work and pro bono representation of women and girls imported from abroad. A lot of experience in multistate Do you have any experience in litigation as cases for multistate litigation such as air policyholders often involve foreign pollution? insurance companies. There is intersection between class-action product liability or environmental cases and insurance litigation. Would you like to see any Possibly the child support structural changes in the office? division. DC Appleseed has recommended greater If so, what should they be? coordination of child support, child placement and job support, especially for non-custodial parents. There are 34,000 orders outstanding. This would lead to better collection. Would like office of community outreach. What do you see as the office’s The office does a great job of strengths and weaknesses? How increasing professional development. A weakness is that would you address the the office is not used as weaknesses? proactively as appropriate on consumer issues — fighting scams. Many seniors are targeted and need help. We need a summit to discuss it, analyze the laws and see if changes should take place. We haven’t coordinated with the National Association of Attorneys General. What issues or tools would you Look at laws for government lobby for that would strengthen recovery of attorney fees to make the office’s ability to perform? sure these funds can be used to finance future consumer protection efforts.
Yes, some of my cases with the Yes, I represented clients in numerous multistate criminal and Federal Communications Commission involved offenses in civil actions. multiple states.
It should be made clear that all lawyers working for the city government report to the attorney general except for the mayor’s and D.C. Council’s lawyers.
I would like the office to have authority over agencies’ general counsels. I would like to form two new entities: an office of public engagement and a task force to research and examine legal grounds for the District to have expanded autonomy.
Strength lies in the talent and experience of its lawyers. In my experience, I’ve seen high-quality lawyering. Among areas for improvement, we have the opportunity to implement more robust risk management tools to reduce the city’s legal exposure. We should look at agencies where most issues derive. If we focused more on training in the beginning, you should see fewer problems. I would push for resources including money to better allow the office to assess the merit of cases. I’d lobby to provide greater resources to the office to develop more diversion and educationbased solutions to juveniles’ problems. It’s a basic requirement of true democratic autonomy that prosecutions reflect the values of the community.
Office is strong in core of attorneys. It’s weak in support given to them on process and resources. I would like to see greater process efficiencies. There is a lack of standardization of process. Expand training. Better job of up-front risk and cost-benefit analysis of cases to determine whether a case should go to trial or settlement.
We are the only jurisdiction in the country where the federal government has jurisdiction over local felonies. Should your office be responsible for prosecuting all crimes?
It’s a core function of a local government. It’s not going to change overnight. We should encourage it. There would be an independent source to keep other elected officials in line.
Both the lawyers and the staff are unionized. Do you have any experience working in a unionized environment?
I’ve represented union workers. I No. represented Florida Service Employees International Union on eligibility to vote questions. I’ve never worked in a union environment.
I have represented clients in these fields in D.C. and Maryland and am familiar with the District’s juvenile justice system. No. Experience in interstate compacts, removal of cases from one jurisdiction to another and from state to federal courts, and challenges of obtaining witnesses due to interstate rules of procedure. I would like to see more outreach Not initially. I’d want to fully assess how everything is working. and responsiveness to community concerns and a It’s essential to see how things substantial improvement in the work before making drastic office’s IT and document changes. management capabilities.
There are a lot of dedicated people working there who are legal experts in their field. The weaknesses are that the office is understaffed and underfunded. It needs additional attorneys and support staff and updated IT equipment.
Seek additional funding. Allow Would lobby Congress to prosecute adult felonies and seek District to prosecute all local renewal of the office’s subpoena crimes. power.
Yes.
Many of the staff that I supervised at the Federal Communications Commission were union members.
Extensive experience in child support in D.C. and Maryland.
Yes.
Strengths include its first-rate professional staff. I would anticipate continuing to rely on it with an emphasis on providing opportunities for further professional development. Weaknesses include its information technology and document management tools, and I will endeavor to upgrade these areas through additional personnel systems. Improve information technology and increase community outreach.
Yes. It’s a goal of the office to prosecute all crimes that are violations of the D.C. code. My more immediate goal would be to take over the prosecution of all misdemeanors and drug counts. I believe we could obtain federal funding for these projects. I did work in a unionized Yes. The support staff of the union I worked for is organized by environment at a factory. As an attorney, I represented employees a different union. Most other in a suit against a contractor in employees are represented by which I won a $1.4 million the union I worked for. judgment.
V-18 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
Voters to consider legalizing possession of marijuana with Initiative 71 By GEorGE ALTSHuLEr Current Correspondent
District residents will vote Nov. 4 on whether to legalize marijuana in what could be a momentous but uncertain step for the city. The D.C. Council passed legislation in March to decriminalize marijuana. When the law took effect in July, it replaced jail time with a fine for people caught with less than 1 ounce of marijuana. Initiative 71 this November would make it legal for people 21 and older to possess 2 ounces of marijuana and to grow small amounts — eliminating even the fine. The initiative would not make it legal to buy or sell the drug. There are many signs of support for the bill in D.C., though a Maryland congressman has pledged that he would overturn the measure if it passes. Leading mayoral candidates Muriel Bowser and David Catania support the legislation, although Carol Schwartz opposes it. At a Sept. 30 debate all five prospective attorneys general said they would enforce
ATTorNEy GENErAL
the initiative if it passes. A NBC4/ Washington Post/Marist poll last month showed that 63 percent of voters favor the initiative. But Jan Leighley, a professor of government at American University, warned that many voters who said they would vote yes in the Washington Post poll are young, with general voting patterns suggesting they may not actually vote. “I would guess that leads to possible passage of the initiative ... but not nearly at the level of approval that the September poll might suggest,” she wrote in an email. Even if the initiative passes with widespread support, it is not clear where it will lead. The D.C. Council may fold the initiative into a bill that would also make it legal to buy and sell marijuana, according to observers like Adam Eidinger, chair of the “Yes on 71” campaign. Eidinger, however, would oppose such a move. “I don’t want to drag out the initiative into the muck of lawmaking when this will be what the voters wanted,” he explained. Congress could also strike down any
Lorie Masters Democrat
Karl racine Democrat
It is imperative the city regain full authority to run and manage all of its agencies. I will assemble a task force of interested parties to independently assess the status of each of the items and develop a plan that will lead to the city’s regaining its authority over those agencies. The next attorney general must have a reputation of honesty and integrity so judges will trust him. There are millions of dollars being paid to the receivers. They want to maintain the status. Given that so much of the I’ve had experience in election I was with the public defender’s office’s work directly involves the law issues and working for the office. I’ve represented clients functions of city government, D.C. Council special committee. who were adverse or aligned with what is your experience dealing Also work with DC Appleseed. the city. I have worked pro bono with the city government? for the city and done paid work. Please cite an example of your I’ve worked extensively with the I operate on the premise that ability to make an organization’s Women’s Bar Association of D.C. every employee must be dealt environment collegial. when I was president and with respectfully. We trained through American Bar Association employees to treat everyone with Commission on Women in the dignity. We place a high value on Profession on best practices on the community through the getting fair evaluations. Venable Foundation. All employees had input how the foundation’s money would be contributed. We have a Diversity Committee Book Club that brings a sense of harmony to the firm. First prioritize the work that is How would you handle situations It’s a key management issue. I most important. Creatively bring when the office has more work would work with heads of than it has the ability to do? divisions and talk about workflow. in additional talent by bringing in Make sure computer systems on law students from local schools workflow and discovery and other to intern at the office. Make greater use of having law firms areas are up to snuff. Would advocate for additional funding if represent the city on a pro bono basis. necessary.
There are several class-action lawsuits still outstanding that involve allegations of mismanagement related to child abuse, juvenile justice and the Department of Corrections. How do you envision handling classaction suits that have been unsolved for many years?
What is your experience in recruiting personnel?
We have made progress in getting out from under them. I would try to keep focus up to comply with outstanding requirements so we can bring the functions back into the District government where they belong.
I’ve chaired many hiring committees in the several law firms I’ve worked for.
Prior to becoming managing partner, I was in charge of recruiting associates at Venable. As managing partner, my basic job was to recruit, train and develop lawyers. I recruited more minority partners than any other managing partner at any firm.
legislation. Eidinger predicted the initiative itself will make it through Congress’ review period, but he worries legislators might overturn it with language slipped into a larger bill. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., has vowed to oppose the District’s efforts to legalize marijuana. Congress has a history of opposing relaxation of marijuana laws; notably, it blocked a 1998 D.C. medical marijuana initiative until 2009. Anticipating Initiative 71 will pass, Eidinger is planning a demonstration on Capitol Hill for Nov. 19. “We’re already getting organized,” he said. But William Jones, the main organizer of a “No on 71” campaign, warned that legalizing marijuana would have negative implications for poor communities. “We already have decriminalization. People are no longer being brought in for marijuana,” said Jones, who called past incarceration rates for marijuana use “terrible.” He compared the marijuana industry to the tobacco and alcohol industries, saying, Edward “Smitty” Smith Democrat
“Historically and currently these industries thrive off of low-income communities.” Jones said he is most concerned that if buying and selling marijuana become legal, large companies will target the drug at kids. He said that in Colorado, where marijuana is legal, marketers have used edible products like marijuana gummy bears to lure in young customers. “You’re going to hear, ‘We’ll just regulate it,’” he said. “But has that really worked for alcohol and tobacco?” Eidinger countered that Colorado has been a “pretty excellent success story,” although he acknowledged that there have been some problems with regulating edible products. He suggested that the District could draw from Colorado’s model for its marijuana policy. The state allowed growing the drug for personal use before it legalized buying and selling. “Initiative 71 is a temporary plan,” he said, adding that “you have to offer people a place to buy.”
Lateefah Williams Democrat
Paul Zukerberg Democrat
There is a tendency in the office I’d find out why they are not now to litigate ad infinitum. I resolved and then transparently would make a fresh evaluation to work to find solutions. save taxpayer money and prevent further delay of justice.
I will work diligently with the agencies, the new mayor and the council to find solutions to the unresolved class-action suits and work to restore full District authority over those agencies that are still subject to classaction consent decrees.
I have extensive experience with the federal government, but limited with the city government.
As a community activist and with the union.
As an attorney in private practice in litigation, regulatory work, and administrative hearings and enforcement.
In my capacity as chief of staff of a task force at the Federal Communications Commission, I instituted regular meetings and updates for staff, sometimes with team building and motivational exercises, and worked to keep them informed of all aspects of the project.
I’ve successfully convinced many of our union’s members to get involved politically. I’ve navigated personal differences in working for a common goal.
As a school coordinator for a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, I helped establish the first bike train for students and parents going to and from school.
Take care earlier to evaluate the merits of various cases to see which ones require more resources and which could possibly be dismissed or settled. I would bring in experts in process efficiency to put together systems to allow workers to be more efficient and would seek budget authority to obtain additional resources as needed. Extensive at my law firm, recruiting and mentoring them, as well as at the Obama administration.
Advocate for additional attorneys. Tell them to work harder and Depending on the situation, ask smarter. opposing parties for extensions, connect with local law schools and clinical programs for assistance, and be willing to settle cases where the facts so dictate.
I have recruited volunteers in our Attorneys and support staff for union political activities. While my practice. with the Center for Effective Government, I recruited 25 legal experts and nonprofit leaders to challenge some Internal Revenue Service rules.
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-19
AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Michael D. Brown independent
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
What would be your three major areas of concentration as D.C. Council member? How would you differentiate yourself from your competitors?
Poverty reduction, affordable housing, neighborhood quality. I’m an experienced community leader. I listen to people and want my work to reflect their interests. I practice honest and results-oriented government.
Education, affordable housing, statehood.
Government transparency, education achievement gap, affordable housing. I’ve focused on social justice and civil rights all my life.
Education, affordable housing, transparent government.
Workforce development, education, community and economic development.
Strong neighborhoods, quality education, good paying jobs.
City growth, transportation, education.
A transparent budget, closing schools’ achievement gap, affordability.
Education, economic development and transportation.
Improving education, housing affordability, job creation.
Taught and mentored students at Anacostia High School, worked as public interest lawyer, serve as advisory neighborhood commissioner.
I’m the moderate in the race. I have business ties.
A mother of a young child, sixth-generation Washingtonian, and openly gay.
I bring the most extensive legislative and oversight experience, as well as civic and nonprofit board experience.
Contributions are necessary to run a campaign. We must have transparency. I’m not opposed to corporate contributions, especially for non-incumbents.
Complete public financing.
There must be a transparent accountable process. I support an LLC contribution ban.
Eliminate the council’s authority to approve contracts.
We should ban corporate contributions in conformance with federal law. We should look at public financing to get away from big donors.
Focus on transparency and how it’s being raised. Would support public financing.
We should institute public financing and ban companies with city contracts from contributing.
Should we ban corporate contributions? Given recent Supreme Court decisions, would doing so invite a lawsuit we would lose? Currently, the D.C. Council must approve all contracts over $1 million. Would you push for a change giving a council supermajority the right to veto large contracts rather than the current process under which they must approve them? Would you have voted for the large nonunion retailer minimum wage law (affecting Walmart)?
No. It might invite a lawsuit we would lose. $2,000 cannot buy influence.
We’re doing what needs to be done by ending bundling. There are other issues, such as Council member David Catania’s having been paid over $200,000 annually as the vice president for corporate strategy of a city contractor, M.C. Dean, which does a lot of business with the District government. No. They are limited once the bundling is ended after this year.
A strong record of results as an advisory neighborhood commissioner. Got a new bus route on 16th Street and three new affordable, local child care programs. We could have public funding if there is public buy-in.
I have a clear track record, with an emphasis on issues of fairness and equity, including minimum wage, a fair budget and paid sick days.
What can we do about political contributions to restore a reputation for honesty to the District’s elected officials?
Am a father and a small-business owner. I have experience in passing legislation on the state, local and federal levels. Currently serve on the D.C. health exchange board. We should create publicly financed campaign system like New York City.
Allow them to contribute to a corporate pool that would be equally divided among candidates making the ballot. Uncertain.
While I dislike them, that is not the solution. It would invite a lawsuit.
We should not ban them. It would invite a lawsuit.
If we create a true publicly financed system, it would reduce candidates’ need for corporate contributions.
Yes. In federal elections they are not allowed, so it should not be a problem.
Yes. The Supreme Court decisions dealt with indirect, not direct contributions. State bans have been upheld.
I would support it, but the main emphasis should be on transparency.
No, just businesses with contracts voted on by the council.
Approving contracts should be the mayor’s responsibility with no right of the council to veto.
The council should not be involved at all.
Yes. No, but the contracting approval process should be as transparent as possible.
The council’s role should change. Would consider supermajority as an option.
Yes. So much of council members’ voting might be tied to corporate contributions.
Yes.
I originally voted Yes. for it as I support labor, but then voted to uphold the veto to get entry-level jobs.
Yes. I was an organizer for it.
No. No, but I would have supported the joint D.C., Montgomery and Prince George’s increase in the overall minimum wage.
Yes.
No, but I favor the joint MontgomeryPrince George’sD.C. increase that passed.
Yes.
No. We needed a more comprehensive wage standard.
Do you approve of allowing legal recreational marijuana sales?
I voted to No, but I believe decriminalize in decriminalizamarijuana tion. possession and reduce the fines. When voters approve it, I will uphold the law.
Uncertain.
Yes, in small amounts.
Yes, with restrictions.
Yes.
Yes.
No. I wanted a more comprehensive approach that would have assured more development in wards 7 and 8. Yes.
Either way there will be a debate. Recently, many have had to be approved retroactively. I think the current system is better.
I’m only one of two who has been elected to citywide office. I’m the most politically experienced. My priority is equal rights for D.C. residents through statehood.
Absolutely. The current approval is one of the main corrupting influences on council members.
Uncertain.
V-20 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
We have to study how things turn out in Colorado.
AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Michael D. Brown independent
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
In looking over the recent budget, what spending areas, if any, would you like increased and which decreased?
Increase affordable housing, a worldclass educational system and ending D.C. homelessness. Reduce service duplication such as by making the recreation department responsible for maintaining school pools. There are similar issues in the tax office.
Increase spending on efforts to get statehood, for affordable housing and for alternative job training. Decrease on school system’s central office.
Increase spending for the neediest schools and for affordable housing.
Increase affordable housing, roads; no specific decreases.
Increase workforce development and job training. No substantial decreases.
Increase affordable housing resources, small business development and upgrades to city infrastructure. No decreases.
Preventive street repairs to avoid potholes; protected bike lanes; affordable child care programs; affordable housing; shift some funds from the new streetcar project.
Fund universal pre-K in neighborhood schools for every 3- and 4- yearold. Increase housing production trust fund and other affordable housing measures. Review contracting procedures to save money.
More for education, particularly middle and high schools. Find a way to pay for senior property tax relief without requiring heirs to pay taxes on the deferred amount. More on homelessness. No decreases.
Increase funds for workforce and local business development, senior services, affordable housing, transportation infrastructure. None decreased.
Some argue that we have more than sufficient reserve funds so there is no need to increase them to two months’ worth of spending as Mayor Vincent Gray believes. What are your thoughts?
We have I agree with Gray. adequate reserves now. But we need to continue to save. We do need to increase spending on the police department and for homelessness.
It’s ridiculous to have a large reserve when there is so much need.
I agree we should have two months’ reserve funding.
We should have two- to threemonths’ reserves.
As a smallbusiness owner, I believe two months is adequate, but needs can change. Sometimes we could need more and others we might need less.
Uncertain. I don’t know what’s appropriate to avoid reducing our bond rating.
We have more than any other state, perhaps a little high. We shouldn’t be overly conservative and take away from current pressing needs.
Having two months’ spending surplus is important.
I would not push for two months. It’s already more than sufficient.
What are your thoughts on the expansion of the sales tax to health clubs and yoga studios? If you are opposed, what tax increases or spending cuts would you support to make up the difference? Do you approve of the council’s decision to delay spending on streetcar lines to finance middleclass income tax cuts and reduce the estate tax threshold? Which taxes would you like increased and which taxes decreased, given our current budget situation?
I’m comfortable with that.
It was necessary The expansion to include them. was incredibly misguided. Would have kept $100 fee for outof-District employees as recommended by the Tax Revision Commission.
I opposed the increase. I’d increase tobacco and other sin taxes to make up any shortfall.
A bad area. We had a quarterbillion surplus last year. We didn’t need to increase taxes.
Sales tax should include services. I favor subsidies for health clubs in low-income areas.
I support taxing services like gyms.
I’m opposed. There are potential cost savings in the Department of Employment Services.
I would not try to reverse it.
Yes.
No. It was shortsighted.
I’m opposed to the increase because we should not be taxing behavior we want to promote. As a public health advocate, I’m concerned about disincentivizing people from working out. Yes, for short term to focus on tax relief, but we can’t delay H Street development as local businesses are counting on infrastructure improvements. I’d focus on personal property tax relief and re-examine the expansion of the sales tax.
Yes. H Street should progress, but future lines are not as important.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, as we need more time for streetcar planning. I would not reverse the tax decreases.
Decrease further taxes on senior citizens’ homes. We should consider adding more services to the sales tax.
Look at property tax credit for small businesses including renters, especially neighborhoodserving retail.
Eliminate the gym tax. Possibly increase on earners of over $1 million. Look at reducing business taxes.
We don’t need any increases. I would rather reduce middleincome taxes and business property and profits taxes and further raise the estate tax exemption.
More than 60 percent of D.C. government employees live outside the District, and as a result the District can’t collect their income taxes. What, if anything, should be done about it?
We should try to make neighborhoods more affordable for everybody.
Study rent or other housing subsidies for city employees.
Improve schools and have moderateincome housing.
Offer extra points as we do for veterans. Provide more comprehensive job training.
We need tax incentives for police, teachers and fire/EMS personnel; more workforce housing for city employees; and to improve neighborhood schools.
Yes, but not for I’m opposed to trolleys, but the estate tax threshold. money should have gone to those with great need rather than middle-class tax cuts.
Yes, but we should find alternative methods to fund the trolley cars.
I’m comfortable No increases or decreases are with the reductions we’ve necessary. made. Possibly increase alcohol and tobacco taxes. Tax marijuana if it becomes legal.
Uncertain.
Lower business taxes to be more competitive with Virginia. No increases.
Decrease taxes on seniors and all residential property taxes. Increase taxes on luxury goods and fast food.
We should hire more D.C. residents to fill these positions. It’s very difficult to address the issue.
In spite of the lawsuit, I believe D.C. employees should be D.C. residents.
Offer incentives through health and wellness subsidies and possibly bonuses.
Increase job training and workforce development to increase hiring of more District residents.
The ultimate answer is to be a state. The interim is to introduce the $100 fee for employers to pay for the infrastructure they use as recommended by the Tax Revision Commission.
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-21
v22 Wednesday, oCTober 22, 2014 AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Some say that No. very wealthy retired people are the most likely to leave the District due to high income tax rates. Should there be a tax exemption on retirement income such as Social Security and 401(k) distributions similar to Pennsylvania’s? We should What eliminate approaches, if property and any, should be income taxes on taken to the low-income decrease the elderly. We must likelihood of focus on them as lower-income, it is difficult long-term District residents when prices continue to rise. being forced Unsure exactly from their homes because what to do for of increasing low-income families. real estate values and taxes, or are our current policies generally adequate? I support Mayor Vincent lowering the Gray says that capital gains the District receives little tax taxes, and giving them the same revenue from tax rate as high-tech firms Virginia’s. but is very attractive to their potential employees. Do you approve of legislation lowering D.C. profits taxes to attract these companies from Virginia and Maryland, and reducing capital gains taxes for their investors, since virtually any taxes we collect will be additional city revenue? Yes. The The District’s commercial real commercial real estate tax should estate and be reduced and business taxes the profits tax are the area’s looked at. We highest by far. Business groups can make up revenue through say Virginia our speed attracts many cameras, which District firms due to attractive are there for tax rates. Should public safety but do generate there be an effort to reduce revenue. them to better compete? If so, how would we make up the lost revenue?
The CurrenT
Michael D. Brown independent
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
No.
Uncertain.
An examination is worth undertaking if it might increase the city’s tax revenue.
Yes.
Increase subsidies for lowincome people’s property taxes. Subsidize rents for the short term to offset increases by landlords when low-income rent obligations expire at the end of 15-year lowinterest loans.
Require developers to set aside truly affordable units to keep them here.
Lower property tax rate for seniors and/or provide housing subsidies.
Yes.
We’ve focused too much on attracting businesses and not enough on our residents.
I don’t believe we No. need to do that — just try to find office space here!
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
I’d study whether Would consider No. it would be fiscal- decreasing taxes ly responsible. on them.
We should consider it.
No.
Increase affordable housing funds and lower individual property taxes.
They are not adequate. We should increase the affordable housing stock, ensure there are rent stabilized apartments, and create a welcoming environment for good paying jobs.
Address real estate taxes for seniors; more bus routes.
Expand property tax credit for lowincome owners and renters. Strengthen Office of the Tenant Advocate to preserve current affordable rental housing and inform renters of their right to purchase if their building might be sold.
Some policies are adequate, but inadequately funded such as housing trust fund, the home purchase assistance program, training people for jobs in wards 5, 7 and 8, and parts of 4. Eliminate deferred property inheritance tax.
They’re not adequate. We must invest more in low-income and workforce housing and rental vouchers for seniors and create mixedincome housing.
Yes. The tech industry has tremendous potential for us.
Yes.
Yes, if targeted to help grow the economy and if they assist in training people for jobs.
Yes to profits taxes; uncertain about capital gains taxes.
No.
Yes.
I agree with Mayor Gray. If we miss the tech wave, we’re in trouble.
Make them more competitive with Virginia’s rates. We might not lose revenue by attracting more businesses. Try to streamline District agencies to work more effectively with small businesses.
Yes. We could increase sales taxes and introduce a gross receipts tax.
The District should try to be competitive with surrounding jurisdictions if it doesn’t hurt our overall fiscal health.
We should reduce them, but am uncertain as to how much. Our rates do not have to be as low as Virginia’s. We need more analysis. The goal should be, over time, no lost revenue.
We lowered the rates to be competitive. I agree with what the council did.
We must look for a comprehensive structure, particularly for small businesses. We should have a task force to develop proposals.
Yes. We must be competitive with Maryland and Virginia. We should have tax breaks for firms locating east of the Anacostia River and in underutilized commercial corridors.
V-22 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
Wednesday, oCTober 22, 2014 v23
The CurrenT AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Michael D. Brown independent
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
What steps would you take to reduce homelessness?
Start housing programs for veterans with wraparound services and for LGBT youth. Have wraparound social services within the shelters, especially health and mental health.
Provide more transitional and permanent housing for lowincome people. Have better permanent shelter.
We have 500 vacant public housing units. Bring them back on line.
Assess city’s current shelters for replacement or renovation. Focus on the Housing First model. Strengthen mental health services.
Build more quality shelters and offer wraparound services. Increase affordable housing investment.
Upgrade D.C. General to serve as transitional home. Put in educational and training programs to reduce likelihood of their becoming homeless again.
Overall we would save money if we put them into housing. Eliminating an emergency room visit would save us one month’s rent.
Examine how we are spending our homeless dollars. Spend more for permanent supportive housing. Close D.C. General. Help Miriam’s Kitchen and other similar organizations.
Job training and education are important, as are mental health services. Connect them to services as quickly as possible. Hire more social workers. Try to support nonprofits.
Improve adult literacy and job training. Invest in low-income housing.
What additional steps, if any, should the District take to help former prison inmates find jobs?
I co-introduced a ban on questions on prison history on initial job applications. We should purge their records if they stay out of trouble for five years. Look at ending restriction on their living in public housing.
I support the “ban the box” legislation, but would allow background checks and asking questions in interviews. Have more training.
Ban questions about felony records on employment applications, provide job training and prepare corporations to receive them.
A returning citizens “incubator program” with a minimum annual $1.5 million investment.
I support efforts to prevent employers from using their past history as a reason for not hiring them, with certain exceptions.
I favor “ban the box” legislation. Offer more job training, job fairs and assistance in showcasing their skills.
Make sure that while in prison they have access to literacy and job training, and upon release have the government offer stable housing and job training.
Reduce class sizes; have students use more modern technology in preparing reports; increase resources for underperforming schools.
Rethink the new boundary plan. More aggressively address the achievement gap. Provide more public services and earlier intervention to reduce the dropout rate.
Move away from intimidation of educators through testing with vengeance.
Some educators say that per-pupil spending in areas with a great deal of poverty ought to be higher than in areas where students generally come from affluent, well-educated families. Do you agree? Only one District public school child this year became a National Merit Scholar. There were quite a few District private school students and suburban public school students. What, if anything, should be done to address the discrepancy? Are we putting too much emphasis on testing in our public schools?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No, except for wraparound services, but we need to improve high-poverty schools significantly.
I favor the “ban the box” legislation. Job training for needed jobs is important. Strengthen the community college program. We could pay firms to train them. Improve access to drug treatment. Speed up Be more A comprehensive There should be Teachers and aggressive with transformation of administrators plan with one system for low-performing chancellor on benchmarks and both public and should be held schools by closing the accountable charter school; regular reviews achievement gap increasing their of progress. ensure teachers, based on sturesources. and level the dent improveparents, field for students Extend or ment, not on administrators in poverty. More restructure the and city officials whether their school day. oversight of students are at are part of the Ensure lowgrade level. More charters and conversation. income students resources to help ensure their have access to low-income par- budgets are technology. ents be engaged. transparent. Yes. Enhance Yes, but the Yes. Spending should Generally not. increased funds spending on Public schools be based on should go to the students in loware public needs, and not performing students’ schools. We just per pupil. schools, but we Children can be should believe in schools. must continue to equality. very intelligent support other Wraparound coming out of schools, too. services can be very modest targeted to them. means.
Job training; tax incentives for businesses that hire them; partnership with private sector to create a job bank.
What steps do you feel should be taken to improve public education?
Strengthen job training and educational programs. Ban questioning during employment interviews about criminal records, but still allow later background checks before final job offer. Allocate resources more transparently; work closely on needs with individual schools; refine the teacher and student assessment performance process.
We give too little attention for high-performers. We need to make sure we have programs everywhere in the city for the gifted and talented.
We should expand the International Baccalaureate programs we now have, especially for science.
More resources should go to failing schools rather than to successful ones.
Have more advanced-level curricular offerings throughout the city.
Have teachers in local schools who can help identify candidates and assist in the application process.
The District should concentrate on ensuring that all children’s needs are met.
Offer more specialized education, such as magnet schools.
Increase the number of magnet and International Baccalaureate programs similar to Montgomery Blair.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
We need transparency in how test scores are used to judge students, teachers and schools. It’s not yes or no. It should be used to increase performance.
Yes, but it would Yes. be OK if we did a better job on the type of testing.
No, as long as Yes, absolutely. the subject of the test is the curriculum the student has been taught. However, I don’t support students being taught to the test. They need to be taught to think.
Make sure high I’m most school students concerned about are prepared for raising the floor. the SAT. I’m not sure the National Merit scholarships are a measure of intellectual development and curiosity.
Yes, but we need to have it. Kids need to build their critical thinking skills. You don’t have to teach to the test.
Equalize curricular and extracurricular activities across the city. Develop turnaround plans for underperforming schools. Expand vocational education. Yes, but we must be able to measure the outcomes.
Yes. They’re important for measuring outcomes and teacher accountability, but we are losing fundamental skills like strong writing.
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-23
v24 Wednesday, oCTober 22, 2014 AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
The CurrenT
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
Add more Uncertain. vocational training. Increase spending on extracurricular activities. Reduce central office personnel.
Increase educators’ salaries. More technology in the classroom. Sell some empty school buildings. Eliminate billboards such as the one at Oyster-Adams.
Add vocational training, D.C. history, foreign languages.
Extra focus should be directed at children with special needs, including the very bright.
We often renovate a school and then have to re-renovate it. They are very expensive. They should be better planned.
Add pre-K for 3-and 4-year olds in every neighborhood elementary school. Look at funding extended-day programs. Determine whether maintenance and building budgets meet each school’s need.
Continue focus on school modernization. Provide technology, field trips and overseas travel opportunities. Increase magnet programs.
Add libraries, arts and teacher funding. Reduce central office administrative costs.
Payment must be equitable, but charters should be under the same scrutiny as the public schools.
They are not getting it, but it should not be dollar for dollar.
I disagree, as they can apply for philanthropic funding.
I agree. Per pupil funding should be equal for both systems.
I agree. There should be a re-evaluation of the funding formula for both.
I believe resource allocation should not just be based on a per pupil basis.
I’m uncertain if they are equal. I understand the charter complaints, but want to see why attorney general says it’s untrue. The goal should be equality.
We need to fund their buildings and maintenance based on their needs.
Have stronger oversight to ensure they can effectively do their jobs; don’t just provide more money for buildings. We should help them raise foundation money.
I agree. There must be equitable funding.
Some say the right to attend charter schools or public schools elsewhere in the District makes building quality neighborhood schools difficult. What are your thoughts?
I’m a proponent of quality neighborhood schools. Parents should have the right to send children outside their neighborhoods.
It does, but parents need to have alternatives as the D.C. system in many areas is failing.
Nowhere in the city should we have a failing school.
It can. The competition needs to be transparent. Don’t allow expulsions midyear to raise test scores. Do not regulate charters’ locations.
I disagree.
I agree. As a father, I want quality neighborhood schools. The lottery system makes it difficult to focus sufficient resources to develop strong neighborhood schools.
Not in and of itself. But it would help neighborhood schools if we had more encouragement to go to a neighborhood school.
Parents need better immediate options while we improve the neighborhood schools across the board.
We can build quality neighborhood schools in spite of the right to attend charters and out-ofboundary traditional public schools
Should charter schools be allowed to limit their services, in whole or in part, to the surrounding neighborhoods?
A portion of their No. slots should be reserved for their neighborhoods.
Yes. They should have neighborhood preference if we are to have neighborhood schools.
No.
No, except for a possible small exception.
Yes. Yes, in part, by giving preference to neighborhood kids.
No. They should be accessible to everyone in the city.
Yes, but they should not be required to.
Do you generally approve of the school boundary proposals as currently drawn? Are there any specific changes you would make?
More tweaking needs to be made, but boundary changes were long overdue.
No. There is a lot of tweaking that needs to be done. For instance, Key Elementary is now overcrowded and the new plan will make it more so. The situation in Crestwood is another problem, as are lots of other areas.
No. They do not require neighborhood schools.
I largely support them.
Yes.
Yes. One must make decisions. Once in place, we can address the issues that will come up.
It’s all about the transition and phasing-in. I’m not convinced they are thoughtful enough. The quality must be equal.
There needs to be more cooperation between charters and D.C. Public Schools. Improving local schools will not occur overnight. Twenty-five percent of lottery seats should go to high-poverty students attending more affluent schools. There should be some kind of neighborhood preference, but I’m worried about the lack of coordination with neighborhood DCPS schools. I have concerns about students moving from higherperforming schools to lowerperforming schools.
There are some good things about them and some really notso-good things. We don’t want to divide the city by Rock Creek Park or the Anacostia River. It forces us to consider the quality of neighborhood schools.
No. I don’t believe the boundary revisions will result in a critical mass in underpopulated schools.
Do you approve of the movement of Crestwood/16th Street Heights to MacFarland Middle School and Roosevelt High School?
If the issue is distance, yes. If the issue is quality performance, we don’t know the answer as both schools will be newly regenerated possibly to a high-quality status.
No. Many people Uncertain. bought their houses in that neighborhood in the anticipation their children could go to Wilson. At the least, it should be phased in over time.
It is an example of why reform is so difficult. I do approve of it as part of the plan, but would focus resources on improving MacFarland and Roosevelt.
Yes. It’s a necessary evil.
Undecided.
No, unless the phasing-in and transition are more robust and helpful.
I’m concerned parents will leave the D.C. Public Schools system.
There needs to be much more discussion before it’s implemented. People have bought homes based on school feeder patterns.
No, because MacFarland does not yet exist. We shouldn’t force parents into schools with lower performance reputations.
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Michael D. Brown independent
What line items, if any, should be reduced or stricken from or added to the school budget?
Add free breakfast and lunch. Reduce size of classes in under-performing schools. I have voted for more enrichment activities, art and music. Look at downsizing administration.
Some advocates claim that charter schools do not receive as much per pupil as the public school system does, as most have to fund their own buildings. Do you agree? If so, what should be done about it?
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
V-24 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL What should be required to make a change from Crestwood/16th Street Heights to MacFarland and Roosevelt more acceptable to the community?
If we invest in several new middle schools as suggested by the task force that studied boundaries, should there be limitations on new charter middle schools for financial reasons? If yes, how should any limitations be determined? The D.C. Office of Planning has been praised and criticized for favoring fewer parking places in new apartment buildings. Supporters say parking is expensive to build, forcing higher rents. Critics say it would worsen often-tight parking conditions. Others say there have been reasonable compromises in the agency’s proposal. What is your position? Is the present level of enforcement for qualityof-life offenses such as public urination, graffiti and littering generally adequate, too heavy-handed or not tough enough? How would you get better enforcement of laws on jaywalking, bicycle riders ignoring moving vehicle laws, and drivers ignoring yield signs, using cellphones and blocking the box, or would you eliminate some of these laws?
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Michael D. Brown independent
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
Brian Hart independent
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
The highly regarded programming at Deal and Wilson should be introduced at MacFarland and Roosevelt. The boundaries for Deal and MacFarland and Wilson and Roosevelt should be shared. Yes.
They need to address specific problems. With Roosevelt, it’s safety and more resources.
Uncertain.
Improve education in both schools. Evaluate their educators. Engage with parents.
Additional investment and resources and community involvement.
We must invest to improve Roosevelt and MacFarland.
Specialized education planned for Roosevelt needs to become a reality. We need to see the instructors and the curriculum.
More community It all comes back input with the to quality. chancellor about how we build the confidence of parents. Ask parents what they need today so we’ll have three or four years to build their confidence.
No.
Yes. Ban them from where the new middle schools are being built.
No.
No.
Yes. The city should be a partner in deciding where charters can go.
Charters should Yes. There needs have to consult to be more with the coordination. community and the city, but they should have the right to locate where they want.
No, but we need to look at the ones we have to ensure they are performing.
No.
I favor parking in buildings. We may need a local bus system for small neighborhood areas and more bicycle options.
All of those statements are true. We must look at it on a case-by-case basis.
Developers should be required to have parking facilities in their highdensity buildings.
There have been reasonable compromises. The city should have more market-rate parking.
There have been reasonable compromises.
We can come to reasonable compromises if we ensure all stakeholders have a seat at the table.
I feel there have With more options such as been reasonable compromises. Uber, the need for having a car has somewhat decreased. Where there is a lot of mass transit and carsharing vehicles available, I agree with the planning staff.
New developments should have their own parking.
It depends on the neighborhood. We should reduce it near subway stations.
It’s adequate.
Adequate.
It’s applied along Adequate, except Not tough for nuisance enough in many racial lines. noise violations. neighborhoods. White folks get the service; blacks and Latinos do not.
Generally adequate, but some neighborhoods need more attention.
It needs to be more robust.
Traffic cameras would help. Currently lives are endangered. Increase fines.
We need stricter enforcement through having more beat officers. Bicyclists don’t know many of the laws.
Putting officers back on the street.
Through focused education and reasonable targeted enforcement.
Have more police Police districts staffing. should have units tasked with traffic and pedestrian safety.
Would consider licensing requirement for bicycles. Increase cameras for other illicit activities.
Better education programs and enforcement.
Courtney r. Snowden independent
Inadequate as to Not tough illegal construc- enough. tion. We also need more traffic enforcement in built-up areas.
We need more officers to enforce them. Give them more training on these issues. Look at how Amsterdam handles it.
robert White independent A detailed plan for building MacFarland and turning around Roosevelt.
Not tough enough in many neighborhoods.
Reduce meter enforcement and increase traffic enforcement.
The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-25
AT-LArGE SEATS (2) D.C. CouNCIL
Eric J. Jones independent
Khalid Pitts independent
Kishan Putta independent
Elissa Silverman independent
Courtney r. Snowden independent
robert White independent
No. The recent Not an adequate No. We need a reduction by 400 number who live small increase. was a mistake. here.
No.
In general, yes, but we should examine their deployment.
No.
We need to ensure we are deploying our current officers effectively, but we might need more given our population increases.
No, especially walking the beat. We need analysis.
No. The need is growing by the day with the high number of retirements.
The fines should be equal to cars as it’s a safety issue. Adult riders should not be allowed on sidewalks.
Fines should be increased and adults should not be allowed on sidewalks.
Fines should be on a par with automobiles. Adult riders should not be allowed on sidewalks.
There should be an increase, and no cyclists should be allowed on sidewalks.
Unsure about increases. They should be allowed on sidewalks where there are no bike lanes for safety reasons.
The fines should not be increased. Adults should only be allowed on sidewalks under special conditions.
Our laws need to be enforced. Red blinking lights should be required on bikes at night. Then we can look at fine increases.
Yes. Adults shouldn’t be allowed on sidewalks.
Business improvement districts should be allowed to expand into residential areas with residential approval.
No.
No.
No.
Yes.
No. It would exacerbate the haves and havenots.
Yes, but a portion of the extra revenues should benefit the entire city.
Fines should not be increased. We should enforce current laws. They should not be allowed on sidewalks, particularly in busy commercial areas. It would be divisive and add to social disparities and have an outsized effect on elderly long-time residents.
We still have a problem with juvenile offenders. We have to give more attention to the rehabilitation of delinquent youths.
The department is now doing a better job. More oversight is needed. It used to be a disaster.
Uncertain, but we must keep it under review.
Overall, a relatively good job of late. Supervision could be improved.
The agency is doing a better job but needs more resources and council oversight.
As a former court-appointed jail system adviser, I recognize that we need alternative approaches to addressing at-risk youth and pay increased attention to cultural and sexual orientation differences.
Yes. Remain as now.
There should be Eliminate them a single common as there is no transparency. fund that is equally accessed between the members with strict guidelines.
Eliminate them.
Yes. Remain as now.
No. Size would matter less if there were more transparency on contributions and how they are spent.
No.
Yes. One council member was elected with just 18 percent of the vote.
I would consider it.
Yes to runoffs; no to instant runoffs.
I am open to studying it, but should use resources to increase voting.
Anita Bonds Democratic Nominee
Michael D. Brown independent
Do you think we have an adequate number of police officers?
Yes, so long as we remain at full capacity. But we need to deploy them better, particularly to prevent property crimes.
Should the fines for bicycle riders who violate traffic regulations be substantially increased? Should adult riders be allowed on sidewalks? Should D.C. allow residents to set up selftaxing districts where residents agree to pay extra taxes to receive more services, like the business improvement districts in D.C. and in Maryland municipalities? The D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services has been criticized over the years for alleged lax supervision of juvenile offenders. Do you feel the department overall is now doing a good job? If not, what would you as a council member do about it? Should D.C. Council members be allowed to keep their constituent service funds? If yes, should they be larger, smaller or left as they are now? Should the District have runoff or instant runoff (where voters mark second and third choices) primary and general elections to ensure the winning candidate receives at least 50 percent of the vote.
Graylan Scott Hagler independent
No.
Brian Hart independent
Biking responsibly should not be banned on sidewalks, but we should encourage the use of streets. We need more bike lanes. No. We shouldn’t I would consider have two D.C.’s. it. It’s interesting.
Beyond oversight, kids should be pushed into a path to do something productive such as a GED program or employment training.
It has improved, but additional oversight is needed. The agency wisely focuses on rehabilitation.
No. It buys access and influence. I favor a line item for the council as a whole with strict rules based on need and not pay-to-play.
There has to be more transparency as to who’s giving and how the funds are being spent.
The funds should go to a general fund, not to particular council members.
Yes.
I have a concern on how it would affect minorityparty candidates.
Yes to runoffs, but not to instant runoffs. We should look at best practices elsewhere.
The agency isn’t We need much more oversight. doing a good enough job. It’s very difficult. I would ensure the agency is held accountable and is under strict oversight.
Yes.
V-26 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide
Early Voting Begins in District Council, School Board, Attorney General Up for Grabs By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer D.C. residents began casting their votes last Monday, October 20 with early voting taking place at the downtown polling place [441 4th Street N.W.]. Eight additional locations will be added on Saturday, October 25, remaining open every day but Sunday through Saturday, November 1. Registered voters can go to any of the nine sites to make their choices in the following races: the first-ever elected attorney general; delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives; D.C. councilmembers and state school board, including candidates from Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6, one at-large seat and the council chairman; advisory neighborhood commissioners; a ballot question on the legalization of marijuana possession; two volunteer “shadow” positions, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator, both created to advocate for D.C. Statehood; and of course, the mayoral showdown. Additional voting centers can be found at the following locations: Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Ave. N.W. (Ward 3); Columbia Heights Community Center, 1480 Girard St. N.W. (Ward 1); Dorothy I. Height-Benning Library, 3935 Benning Road N.E. (Ward 7); King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St. S.W. (Ward 6); Malcolm X Elementary School, 1351 Alabama Ave. S.E. (Ward 8); Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. N.E. (Ward 6); Takoma Park Recreation Center, 300 Van Buren St. N.W. (Ward 4); and Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. N.E. (Ward 5). It’s unlikely that any of the other four candidates for the House will be able to unseat the veteran incumbent Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D). However, the victor in the race for attorney general could be a nail biter, primarily because so few voters seem to know all of the candidates and where they stand. [The Washington Informer interviewed all five of the candidates and published their responses in the October 16th edition]. Only two at-large council seats are available but the list of candidates totals 15. The sole Democrat, Anita Bonds, while favored
because of the percentage of Democratic voters in the District, will need solid voter turnout to avoid a potential upset, especially from surging independent candidate, The Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler. Other candidates vying for the two seats include: Michael D. Brown (I); Frederick Steiner (L); Eric J. Jones (I); Kishan Putta (I); Wendell Felder (I); Eugene Puryear (SG); Courtney R. Snowden (I); Brian Hart (I); Robert White (I); Calvin H. Gurley (I); Elissa Silverman (I); Marc Morgan (R); and Khalid Pitts (I). In Wards 5 and 6, seats are available for both councilmember and the state board of education. Candidates for Ward 5 councilmember include: Preston Cornish (L) and Kenyan McDuffie (D). Candidates for Ward 6 councilmember include: Charles Allen (D) and Pranav Badhwar (L). Candidates for Ward 5 school board member include: Mark Jones [unopposed]. Candidates for Ward 6 school board member include: Mark Naydan and Joe Weedon. In response to requests from our readers, The Washington Informer asked candidates from Wards 5 and 6 to share their vision for the District and to include biographical information about their lives.
Preston Cornish, Ward 5 council candidate, was born in D.C. in 1991 but soon moved with his family to Rockville, Maryland to take advantage of better public education in Montgomery County. Cornish’s mother is a longtime resident of the D.C. area, originally falling in love with Brookland while attending Catholic University. He graduated from Furman University in 2011 and has worked for the libertarian nonprofit Reason Foundation since 2012. While there, his primary focus has been on protecting consumer freedom and fighting to end the War on Drugs. He lives in Eck-
ington and counts DCity Barbecue, Showtime Lounge and Brookland’s Finest as his favorite new additions to the Ward. “Ward 5 needs a councilmember who is steadfastly dedicated to improving the lives of its citizens – not a politician who will spend the next term angling for even higher political office. To improve government functioning, I will fight for competitive contracting, reduced waste and elimination of unnecessary functions. To better the lives of our citizens, I will press for greater parental control of education. And, I will seek to block policies that impinge on the individual freedom of residents. I was born in D.C. and I will work to earn your vote. “Politics as usual is not working for Ward 5. We need a focus on issues, not politics. We need to take a sledgehammer to backroom dealing and end the stranglehold of career politicians on the city council. I am not a politician and I am not a lawyer. I am running to fight on behalf of average citizens, not the moneyed interests who currently dominate our council. Finally, we need residential and retail that is developed fairly and without special favors from the council,” Cornish said.
Kenyan R. McDuffie, Ward 5 council candidate, is Chair Pro Tempore of the council of the District of Columbia as well as chair of the Committee on Government Operations, which is responsible for matters relating to elections, campaign finance, general services and personnel. For more than a decade, he has dedicated himself to improving the lives of Ward 5 residents and the collective life of the community. This deep passion for his community, he said, drove him to run for Ward 5 councilmember. Prior to being elected councilmember, McDuffie worked as a policy advisor to the deputy mayor for Public Safety and Justice, helping to shape policy and
legislation concerning public safety in the District. Other prior positions include: trial attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; Assistant State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County; judicial law clerk for an associate judge on the 7th Judicial Circuit of Maryland; and staffer to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. McDuffie graduated summa cum laude from Howard University and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland, School of Law. Married and the father of two young daughters, he and his family live in his childhood home in Ward 5. “I have represented Ward 5 with integrity and am proud of what we have accomplished over the last 20 months. If reelected, I will continue to serve as an affordable housing champion to preserve the unique character and diversity of D.C. I will implement the recommendations from my Ward 5 Industrial Land Transformation Task Force, attracting businesses that enhance our neighborhoods while working to end environmental nuisances. I will continue to strengthen public safety, create employment opportunities for our residents and support small businesses. Above all, I will hold DCPS accountable for quality educational opportunities for every child in D.C.,” McDuffie said.
Charles Allen, Ward 6 council candidate, his wife Jordi Hutchinson and their daughter Cora Neal, live in Northeast. For over a decade, he has worked in Ward 6 neighborhoods helping bring about school reforms, working with small businesses and improving his community. Allen, 37, began his career in the District as a graduate fellow with the federal Department of Health and Human Services to work on expanding community-based health options across
the nation. He said he soon understood that to make real change he needed to return to his roots working at the local and community levels. So, he began his service to the District as policy director for the District of Columbia Primary Care Association, where he helped bring about legislative, budget and policy changes that expanded health care options for almost every D.C. resident. Two of his signature efforts – bringing physicians, dentists, nurses and other healthcare providers to medically underserved communities and creating a District-owned captive insurance company to provide free and low-cost medical malpractice insurance to non-profit providers – remain a vital part of the city’s health care safety net nearly a decade after he helped create them. “Ward 6 is more than a sum of its great places – the true spirit of Ward 6 lies with its people. Each person adds to the strength and diversity of our neighborhoods and I want to make sure that Ward 6 is a place we can always call home. For those like myself with young families, this means bringing great schools to all corners of the Ward. “We’ve seen a transformation in our neighborhood elementary schools and I will bring the same energy and urgency to improve our middle and high school choices. For others, this means fighting for affordable family-based housing and ensuring that we can successfully age in our homes. For everyone, this means a safe neighborhood with small businesses that support our lives. These will be my priorities,” Allen said.
Pranav Badhwar, Ward 6 council candidate, moved from New York to D.C. in 2000 and lives in Ward 6 with his wife and their two children, both of whom were born in the District and attend public schools.
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The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide / OCTOBER 2014 / V-27
Early Voting Begins in District Council, School Board, Attorney General Up for Grabs
EARLY VOTING continued from Page V27 “I am deeply rooted here and want to help create a more livable city, not just for those who make this region the most prosperous in the nation but also for those getting left behind in our city and in our Ward. I create and launch wireless services for a living and understand the hard work is needed to effectively deliver services to the public. I want to see D.C. flourish and envision a city: that protects rights over one’s body, property and associations; which generates opportunities for the neediest, where men and women can thrive as small business owners; where people have affordable housing and transportation; and where our youth attend effective schools and are no longer jailed for non-violent drug offenses,” Badhwar said. A decade-long resident of Capitol Hill who worked his way out of poverty, he said he will apply his 20 years of experience driving grassroots innovation in private industry to implement policies which empower individuals to succeed. He is an advocate of the Zero Aggression Principle. “I want to work to improve schools, create jobs, reduce poverty, crime and homelessness and reduce taxes, making city life more affordable for all. Real solutions are win-win and remove barriers to opportunity. I will employ policies that simultaneously create opportunity and reduce spending, and are already proven to work including: empower schools and building student success; creating jobs and letting small businesses flourish; and reducing crime and freeing out citizens to succeed,” Badhwar said.
Mark A. Jones, Ward 5 school board candidate, is seeking reelection and said he wants to continue initiatives that got him elected in 2009, including Saturday School, the expansion of summer school and providing comprehensive wraparound social services for children in need. Jones, 54, president of M. Jones Companies, an organization that focuses on telecommunications and financial consulting, and the board’s president, identified some of the biggest issues for his ward as ensuring that there’s equity in all schools; bringing a middle school to the ward; addressing truancy and dealing with graduation rates and requirements. “This middle school issue was started when I was first elected. Now, we have McKinley Tech Middle School with Brookland Middle School slated to open in 2015.” The father of three said there are also plans for an International Baccalaureate campus at the Brown Educational Campus. He credited education activists, District of Columbia Public Schools officials and Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie with collaborating to bring these plans to fruition. Truancy, he said, remains a troubling issue. “We still have to spend more time lowering this rate and we still have a long way to go,” he said. Jones said while the District has some of the strongest graduation rates and requirements in
the country there are still unresolved issues that are the “big elephant in the room.” “I’d like to add flexibility. I want to develop several diploma options such as a diploma of distinction for those who excel. We also need a diploma with children with Individualized Education Programs and 504s instead of an age-out certificate. If they get a diploma, they can get a job. I’ve been working on graduation issues since Day One. This is a big problem but with so many opinions.” Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Maryland and previously served as deputy chief of staff for Mayor Anthony A. Williams and deputy director of the D.C. Lottery under Williams and Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr. Jones has worked in private industry as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley and is a consultant for the Prince George’s Economic Development and Housing & Redevelopment Authorities.
Mark Naydan, Ward 6 school board candidate, is a public school teacher in Prince George’s County and has been a resident in Ward 6 for more than two decades. He said he’s committed to the spirit of the decision of Brown v. Board of Education and desires a high quality education for all residents. He has been teaching high school in his current position for 10 years,
has taught in five countries and remains dedicated to excellence in teaching. He serves as secretary of his school’s PTA, works with the National Education Association, does tax preparation on a volunteer basis and actively participates in his church. “Ward 6 schools – both traditional and public charter – should be an exemplar of D.C. public school education. The Baccalaureate Program at Eastern High School is an important step in this direction. Technology and technology education are critical as well, especially for underperforming students. Students need to see the value of coming to school to reduce our high incompletion rate. “Maybe it would be helpful to have a member of the board of education who is an educator first. I know the trends in education in the classroom and see their effectiveness, and lack thereof, every day. My slogan: put a teacher on the school board,” Naydan said.
Joe Weedon, Ward 6 school board candidate, said he’s the only candidate for the Ward 6 State Board of Education who is a parent and who has led education reform in the District. He has worked with community members to develop and implement the Ward 6 Middle School Plan and served on the Eliot-Hine Middle School collaboration team, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) Title I Committee
of Practitioners and the board of two non-profits that focused on expanding after-school programming. He believe that his years of service and advocacy to improve child care and educational systems across the Ward means he knows and understands the educational issues impacting Ward 6 like few others. The father of two said he and his wife face the same challenges as other parents in choosing schools for their families. Weedon currently serves as executive director of Companies for Causes, a nonprofit organization working to engage socially-minded CEOs of closely held small and mid-sized companies to make a collective impact on our community. Overall, he has 15 years of experience in public policy, community organizing and government relations. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he later earned a master’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Maryland at College Park. “I am running to become the next representative for Ward 6 on the District of Columbia’s state board of education because we need a strong voice for our community’s schools. We need to move beyond the competition that governs our educational systems and build a collaborative environment that allows all students to succeed. Ward 6 needs a representative that has led education reform in our city and who knows the issues facing the schools in our communities. We need a representative that has and will continue to work hand-in-hand with communities across Ward 6 to ensure we have schools of choice in every neighborhood of the ward and across the city,” Weedon said. WI
urges you to VOTE!!!
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. Voters will be able to use either paper ballots or touch-screen voting equipment at their assigned polling place. You may also request an absentee ballot by mail through Oct. 28. Early voting began Oct. 20 at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St. NW, and will continue daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 1 except Sunday, Oct. 26. Satellite early-voting locations will be open Oct. 25 through Nov. 1, except on Sunday. For details, visit dcboee.org or call 202- 727-2525. V-28 / OCTOBER 2014 / The Washington Informer & The Current Newspapers General Election Voters Guide