The Current
The Current
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Voters Guide
17
april 3, 2012 ■ Primary election
About the April 3 Primary
About the Voters Guide
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3. 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 March 27. Early voting will begin March 19 at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St. NW, and will continue daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through March 31 except Sundays. Satellite early-voting locations — including the Chevy Chase, Columbia Heights and Takoma community centers — will be open March 24 through 31, except on Sunday. Voters registered with the Democratic, Republican or D.C. Statehood Green parties as of March 5 are eligible to vote in their respective primary; if you are not registered to vote, you may register in one of the parties at an early voting loctaion or on Election Day and cast a special ballot. The ballot will include the following offices: delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives; atlarge member of the D.C. Council; ward member of the D.C. Council from wards 2, 4, 7 and 8; U.S. shadow senator; and U.S. shadow representative. For details, visit dcboee.org or call 202-7272525.
The Current’s staff interviewed the major candidates in the Democratic contests for at-large D.C. Council, the Ward 4 D.C. Council seat and D.C. statehood senator. There are no contested races in the Republican Party (except for national committeeman and committeewoman), and the incumbent Ward 2 council member and D.C. delegate to the House of Representatives are uncontested in the Democratic primary. D.C. Statehood Green candidates were not included due to the limited number of party members. In the Democratic race in Ward 4, Calvin Gurley was not interviewed because he did not meet either of two threshhold requirements: having served as an advisory neighborhood commissioner or held other elected office in the District; or having raised at least $5,000 in campaign funds. In the council races, the interviews provided the basis for profiles combining candidates’ biographical information and a discussion of their top priorities, as well as charts offering brief positions on dozens of specific issues. In the statehood senator race, a chart offers the candidates’ positions on varioius matters. Photos were provided by the candidates’ campaigns.
At-large D.C. Council seat ■ Democratic Primary Sekou Biddle
Sekou Biddle served as an interim at-large D.C. Council member from January to May 2011, chosen by the D.C. Democratic State Committee to fill the vacancy created when Kwame Brown became council chairman. In an April special election to fill the seat, Biddle placed third behind Democrat Vincent Orange and Republican Patrick Mara. He is now running for that same position. While on the council, Biddle chaired the Special Committee on School Safety and Truancy. He previously served as a member of the D.C. State Board of Education and worked for the groups Jumpstart for Young Children and KIPP DC. If he returns to the council, Biddle would prioritize education, employment and ethics, he said. On education, Biddle said the council needs to insist that the school system and its chancellor state a clear objective for what the District needs to accomplish and when, but not micromanage the implementation. “If you’re the expert at doing this, you tell us what you need and we deliver the resources,” said Biddle. “But if you fail to deliver, we’re going to replace you with someone who can.” The school culture that treats some students as inevitable failures also must change, Biddle said, noting that the city should explore programs to “break the cycle” of failure in some communities. He pointed to the success of magnet and trade programs at boosting graduation and college acceptance rates, and said those models should expand systemwide. “What frustrates me more than See Biddle/Page 23
E. Gail Anderson Holness
At-large D.C. Council candidate E. Gail Anderson Holness has served on the Columbia Heights/U Street advisory neighborhood commission since 2009, and chaired the panel in 2010 and 2011. A former supporter of incumbent Vincent Orange, Holness now faults him for a lack of community engagement. If elected to the at-large seat, Holness would prioritize employment, education and fiscal efficiency, she said. On employment, Holness said she would push for tax incentives to businesses whose workforce is majority D.C. residents. She has heard from residents who are employable, she said, but who have lost out on jobs to residents of neighboring states. A “first source” requirement is already in place that requires that at least 51 percent of hires for a city contract be residents of the District, but Holness said the council needs to better enforce that rule. Holness also said the city should partner with the DC Chamber of Commerce to help residents “find creative ways to employ themselves” — forming their own businesses, for instance, which in turn could hire more District residents. The city should also establish additional workforce development training for residents who don’t yet have the skills to be employable, she said. Employment is a central issue that affects others throughout the city, said Holness. Residents with jobs are less likely to commit crimes and typically require less social services spending, she said. See Holness/Page 23
Vincent Orange
Incumbent Vincent Orange is seeking re-election to the at-large D.C. Council seat he has held since winning an April 2011 special election. He chairs the council’s Committee on Small and Local Business Development. Orange, a certified public accountant, previously served as the Ward 5 council member, from 1999 to 2007. He has also been chief financial officer of the National Children’s Center and a vice president for Pepco. He unsuccessfully ran for council chairman in 2010 and for mayor in 2006. If he is re-elected, Orange said, he would focus on education, employment and economic development. “I think education is the starting line for a life of productivity and happiness,” said Orange, citing studies that predict prison populations based on fourth-grade test scores. “And in the District of Columbia,” he said, “we have had problems educating our children.” Fourth-graders must be able to read for comprehension and do basic math to be able to progress in the educational system and ultimately prepare for the next stages of their lives, he said. “We need to ensure that we produce a high school graduate that has a diploma of value that indicates that person is either ready for college or a vocational trades job or a business opportunity,” Orange said. The school system should offer programs designed to give students a taste of different careers, Orange added, such as the wood-shop courses that persuaded him not to go into carpentry. “One of the glaring areas of See Orange/Page 23
Peter Shapiro
Peter Shapiro grew up in the District but developed his political career in Prince George’s County, first on the Brentwood town council and then as a six-year member and twoyear chair of the county council. When he returned to D.C. to live with his second wife, Shapiro saw shortcomings in accountability in the city’s government, he said. He now hopes to use his Maryland experience to make improvements in the District as an at-large member of the D.C. Council. Shapiro said his top issues if elected would be ethics, jobs and education. On ethics, Shapiro said he would push city officials to work toward excellence at their jobs. Shapiro defines “ethics” to include more than preventing illegal activity and conflicts of interest; his meaning speaks to “doing the best job you can and are supposed to do.” To achieve this, he said, the city must set clear performance goals and ensure they are achieved. “We have no system in place that ties the incentives that we offer to anything but political whim, so we don’t know what we get for our incentives across the board,” Shapiro said, adding, “I would say from Day One, let there be no subsidies, no incentives that aren’t connected to some kind of statement of performance standard.” On the more traditional meaning of ethics reform on the D.C. Council, Shapiro said he would have supported Ward 4 member Muriel Bowser’s recent bill, but he would have introduced amendments to strengthen it. Shapiro said he would like a ban on See Shapiro/Page 23
18 Wednesday, March 14, 2012 At-large D.C. Council seat Democratic Primary What would be your three major areas of concentration as a D.C. Council member? What departments or areas, if any, should be D.C.’s three top priorities in terms of any new or additional spending, once the city can afford it? What departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s three top priorities for spending reductions, given the enormous budget crunch the city may face in future years? Which taxes would you like to see increased and which decreased, given the city’s current budget situation? Tax receipts went up from the very wealthy after the District reduced its rates to below Maryland’s. Would higher income taxes for the wealthy mean less revenue, as affluent empty nesters might be less likely to settle here and some current D.C. residents might even leave? Some argue 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? For commercial real estate in a highland-cost area such as the District, the price per square foot is far lower for high-rises than it is for low-rises. Some say this is one reason Rosslyn, Va., is so successful. Should parts of wards 7 and 8 be allowed under District law to have high-rises in an attempt to reduce unemployment levels there? Should the city have opposed or encouraged Walmart to locate here? Why?
What approaches, if any, should be taken to decrease the likelihood of lower-income, long-term D.C. residents being forced from their homes because of increasing real estate values and taxes? D.C.’s commercial real estate and corporate business tax rates are by far the highest in the area. In future years, should D.C. make a major effort to reduce them in order to compete better for businesses? If yes, how? The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services has been criticized over the years for alleged lax supervision of juvenile offenders. Is the department overall doing a good job? If not, what should the council do? Should juveniles who commit felonies be treated as adults in most cases? What steps should be taken to improve education?
The Current
Sekou Biddle Education, employment, ethics.
E. Gail Anderson Holness Vincent Orange Resident employment, education, fiscal Education, employment, economic stability. development.
Peter Shapiro Ethics, jobs, education.
Getting residents back to work, charter school students, public safety.
Education, public safety and health care.
Education, employment services and public safety.
Jobs and education, assuming the funds are spent wisely. The community college could have a tremendous positive impact.
Target mayor’s and council’s offices; combine some Department of Transportation services with Public Works services; combine functions of the offices of the deputy mayor for education with the state superintendent. No taxes need increasing. Decrease income taxes on low and middleincome residents.
I don’t see any.
Look at Department of General Services and chief technology office.
Make business incentives more transparent and accountable. Defer capital spending.
Increase soda and cigarette taxes. Decrease residential real property taxes.
None.
Offer incentives to businesses that bring quality jobs if we have firm agreements.
It could. That’s why we have a tax commission to study the issue. We should not set tax rates to adjust the current year’s budget.
No.
I don’t buy into that premise. People are No, the city’s amenities are strong moving here. enough to overcome a small differential.
Possibly. It underscores the need for a well-researched tax commission report.
Yes, residents of a certain age should get certain privileges.
No, I think the current tax structure is adequate.
No.
We need to consider this along with investments in job training and placement.
Yes. Those areas need all the help they can get as they have the highest unemployment rates in the District.
I would favor a comprehensive study moving in that direction, but we would need local residents’ input.
No. It would have little or no impact on the market.
Encouraged. But we shouldn’t recruit particular stores unless they bring goods and services we need and good jobs. Encouraging businesses can improve the quality of life for people while increasing sales tax revenue. We should explore caps on property tax assessments for lower-income people.
My concern is the company’s history on health care. Perhaps Walmart should be encouraged, but not as many stores as have been proposed. Walmart would take business away from longtime small businesses. We need to look at grandfathering lower-income individuals and establishing tax control for seniors that would be analogous to rent control.
Encourage, but only if Walmart agrees to a community benefits agreement. Its reputation elsewhere has affected small businesses and employee wages.
A Walmart or two could be helpful if we have strong community benefits agreements and tough development standards. They would address neighborhood needs and bring in jobs. It could hurt small local businesses. We could adjust the homestead tax credit in targeted ways.
Yes. We need to consider all options to make the District a more competitive home for businesses.
No.
Only if it would increase our revenue and create jobs so the benefits outweigh the costs.
No major effort. The benefits of being in the city outweigh the differential.
Uncertain, but it is falling down on protecting residents from troubled youth.
In between. It’s clear there are issues somewhere. The D.C. Council should review its operational policies to make it a more effective department.
They are not doing a good job. The council should decide whether the department or the courts should be in charge of placement.
Major reform is needed, with much stricter oversight. We’re just beginning.
Juveniles are not adults and should not be so treated. Fund students more equitably and provide services commensurate to students’ needs.
In some cases, but not most.
Yes, but just in very serious cases.
Not in most cases.
Establish pilot programs for parental involvement, check new teacher qualifications better and re-evaluate curriculum.
Continue reform; train 3- and 4-yearolds for kindergarten; ensure fourthgraders can read independently and add, subtract, multiply and divide; provide high school vocational training. More for basic educational goals such as reading and math and vocational training. We should look for savings in central administration. At this point, that is a luxury we cannot afford. Successful programs for 3- and 4-year-olds must come first.
Improve teacher and principal quality; integrate wraparound services into the schools.
What line items in the school budget, if Adequately fund charter school Nothing should be reduced. We need any, should be reduced, deleted or facilities; fund more hours and weeks of more teacher training, student supplemented? school. equipment such as computers, better recreational facilities and more arts. Should the city fund pre-kindergarten We know high-quality programs bring Yes. services for very young children, academic success. We should prioritize beginning shortly after birth? it for low-income families.
Examine possibility of real estate tax breaks for low-income, long-term residents if we continue to have surpluses.
Increase principal leadership development and integrated wraparound services. If reductions required, the last place is in the classroom. Yes, especially for at-risk children.
The Current
At-large D.C. Council seat Democratic Primary
Do you think we have an adequate number of police officers on the force? Should the fines for bicycle riders who violate traffic regulations be substantially increased? Is the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board generally too friendly to licensees, or to local residents, or is there a proper balance? How should the D.C. Council reduce the conflicts between universities and their neighbors over 10-year campus plans?
Should the city force universities to provide more on-campus housing for undergraduate students? If so, how? Is the present open-meetings law adequate?
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Sekou Biddle Our goal for all our students should be to provide an education equal to that of the best private schools.
E. Gail Anderson Holness Vincent Orange No, it would be unfair. Wealthy parents Yes, so they can be challenged and can send their children to private reach their greatest potential. schools.
Peter Shapiro We must be careful about the differentials, but having talented and gifted programs that send youngsters to the best colleges would be a real benefit for the city. Equity is a fundamental issue.
Not tough enough.
I think the District is overrun with charter schools. It requires a case-bycase analysis. In the case of Stevens Elementary, on very valuable real estate, I’d turn it over to a developer and find other real estate for a charter. Adequate.
Adequate.
If the city has a clear overriding rationale, then it must make the case, but the default is charters get the first crack. The community college got a closed school, and that was appropriate. Generally adequate.
Not at all.
When arrested.
If convicted of a violent crime.
Only when convicted of a major felony or violent crime.
Hold the police accountable for enforcing them.
I would eliminate jaywalking laws and look at eliminating “blocking the box” laws. Have cameras for bicycles and stricter police enforcement.
The city council should call for better enforcement.
Pressure police to enforce these laws.
We are short of the authorized level and should be there. I don’t know the fine level. They should be reviewed.
Yes, as long we have the authorized number. No, but the laws should be enforced.
Often too friendly to licensees.
They could be stricter on licensees.
Require universities to attend advisory neighborhood commission meetings to share plans and listen to residents’ concerns.
It is more a zoning issue. We can only write letters. The current rules are appropriate.
City leaders should play a role in developing city/university partnerships that facilitate ongoing communications.
No. Doing so would be too much of a strain on the universities.
Yes, if it threatens a neighborhood’s quality of life.
Yes.
Yes.
It depends on the university. The city could offer density bonuses or, if necessary, limit growth. The law may be adequate, but enforcement is certainly not.
Yes. No.
Yes. No.
Yes.
Yes, due to unethical activities. A Yes. council member shared an office with a lobbyist. I voted for it. Yes, but it needed strengthening.
Would you favor increases in the school budget to allow gifted and talented programs for our brightest students? If yes, should the goal be to offer an education equal to that of the District’s best private schools? Should charter schools have first dibs There is nothing more valuable than our on a closed public school campus even children. We should follow the law. if it occupies exceptionally valuable real estate that would yield significant tax revenue if turned over to developers? Is enforcement for quality-of-life offenses generally adequate, too heavy-handed or not tough enough? Should D.C. turn over citizenship information to U.S. immigration officials when suspects are arrested? 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?
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Yes, but we must maintain that number No. and ensure proper deployment. The laws need to be enforced. I’ve No. never seen a bicycle rider stopped by a police officer. A proper balance, but it needs constant A proper balance. monitoring. The council should provide formal opportunities for both to voice opinions and concerns so all parties understand the others’ point of view. All council members should share information about the plans — both positive and negative. No.
No. All advisory neighborhood commission meetings should be open to the public. Should Klingle Road be reopened? No. We’ve decided it already. Compared with their counterparts, D.C. Yes. We’re not getting our money’s Council members receive among the worth. highest salaries in the country. Should their salaries be reduced? Should the council become a full-time No. Making it a full-time job and job, with a ban on legislators earning banning outside employment would outside income? limit the talent pool we need. Would you have voted for the recently No. It fell far short of the reform we passed ethics law? need today. Should subsidiaries of corporations and No. It violates the spirit of the contribution limits. other types of business entities be allowed to individually make contributions to political candidates if the parent company or other subsidiaries also make them? No. They are an opportunity for pay-toShould D.C. Council members be play corruption. allowed to keep their constituent service funds? If yes, should they be larger, smaller or left as they are now? Yes. There was a lack of faith that the Do you agree with the council’s previous structure was up to the job. decision to create the new Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, or should the council have given more power and staff to the Board of Elections and Ethics instead? In 20 words or less, explain why voters We deserve better than our current should elect you to the D.C. Council. corrupt council. I will serve all residents regardless of ward, income or political connections.
Yes, but I would have favored more stringent amendments. No.
Turn it over to developers if the tax revenue would allow us to give appropriate space to the charter.
Yes. No, but not raised either.
I favor banning corporate contributions but only if we ban outside employment by council members, as they can work for the same corporation.
I support banning them outright.
No.
Yes. I voted for the reduction from $80,000 to $40,000.
No.
The Board of Elections and Ethics should have been given more power.
More power and staff to the Board of Elections and Ethics.
Yes. I support the new entity.
Not provided.
I represent honest, effective and intelligent leadership we desperately need to address ethics, education, employment and the economics of D.C.
D.C. needs change and leadership now. I’m the only council candidate with a proven record of integrity and effective service.
20 Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Current
ward 4 D.C. Council seat ■ Democratic Primary Muriel Bowser
Ward 4 D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser, who joined the council in 2007 when Adrian Fenty left to serve as mayor, is now seeking re-election for a second full term. Bowser chairs the Committee on Government Operations and recently shepherded new ethics legislation through the council. She is also the council’s voting member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board. If re-elected, Bowser would focus on public safety, government integrity and education reform. “What’s most important,” she said, “is to make our streets safe.” Bowser said she’s “strongly committed” to Police Chief Cathy Lanier, and “very proud of the reduction in gun-related crimes, but also focused on tapping down the recent uptick in robberies, vehicle theft and theft from autos.” Bowser said the key is having officers walking foot patrols and working with the community. “We leave the crime-fighting strategies to the crime-fighting professionals,” she added. “My job is to see that the 4th and 2nd districts have the number of police officers they need.” The incumbent also said she’s committed to “enhancing” fire and emergency medical services in the ward, noting that she’s proud to have secured space for Engine Co. 22 on the former Walter Reed campus. On ethics, Bowser said the council made a “great start” with the “robust” bill she recently authored. “But, what’s most important is that we elect honest leaders,” she said. “I am proud to be a strong voice in implementing solutions.” One point of contention in the ethics debate has been council members’ use of constituent service funds. Bowser said the funds need not be limited to emergency use, but there are some items that are clearly inappropriate. On the other hand, she said there’s “nothing wrong with buying tickets for kids to sporting events that they otherwise could not attend.” On education reform, Bowser pointed to various accomplishments since she See M. Bowser/Page 24
Renee Bowser
Attorney Renee Bowser, who served three terms on Petworth’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4D, is running to replace Muriel Bowser — no relation — in the Ward 4 seat on the D.C. Council. Renee Bowser works as assistant general counsel of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and serves as vice chair of the D.C. Commission of Human Rights. She has actively opposed Walmart’s entrance to Ward 4. If elected, Bowser would focus on education, job creation and inclusive constituent services. Bowser blames the incumbent for a “failure to get money for Ward 4 schools,” which she said has resulted in “playgrounds and buildings that are not as modernized as ... in other wards.” In Ward 3, for example, the city spent $125 million to renovate Wilson High School, while “repairing Ward 4’s Roosevelt and Coolidge [high schools] together will cost $150 million, but will be delayed to 2015 and 2017,” Bowser said. “There has been three times as much capital spending on Ward 3 schools as on Ward 4’s.” At Coolidge, “you can’t run the lights, the air conditioning and computers at the same time without tripping the power … system,” she said. “On the incumbent’s watch, there has been practically nothing done.” Bowser said the school system must improve significantly before it devotes money to gifted-and-talented programs. She also called for more wraparound services for disadvantaged students. “We cannot ignore the relationship between poverty and education the way Michelle Rhee did,” she said. On job creation, Bowser cited a lack of progress in recent years. “Ward 4 is not booming,” she said. “Unemployment is at 8 percent. We need a council member who will concentrate on job creation.” One key element of unemployment goes back to education, and the failure of D.C. schools to prepare students for jobs. She said that See R. Bowser/Page 24
Baruti Jahi
Baruti Jahi — former president of the Shepherd Park Citizens Association, co-founder of the antiWalmart “Ward 4 Thrives” group and captain of a local Orange Hat Patrol — is running again for the Ward 4 seat on the D.C. Council. Jahi recently resigned from his job as a records manager for NASA to work full time on his campaign. The Shepherd Park resident ran and lost in 2008 to Muriel Bowser. If elected, Jahi would focus on crime, education and economic development. Jahi pointed to a recent increase in Ward 4 crime — with upticks in sexual assault, theft and homicide — as evidence that more officers are needed. “We need money in the budget to hire more police officers and then place more of them on foot patrol,” he said, noting that a stronger presence is particularly needed in Petworth and near Georgia Avenue. “A lot of these crimes are coming from juveniles,” Jahi added. “We need more programs ... to steer them in the right direction: trade, mentorship and preventative types of programs to try to address this systemic crime problem.” He also wants more Neighborhood Watch and Orange Hat programs, and he called for tougher punishments for gun-related crimes. Asked how to improve education, Jahi said the city should reconsider how we choose a leader for D.C. Public Schools, looking at the list of qualifications that were eliminated “so we could hire Michelle Rhee.” He noted that Ward 4 schools, in particular, are underperforming. “Fifty percent of the kids attend schools outside the ward. Sixty-two percent of the seats in [the ward] are in underperforming schools. Enrollment and test performance are well below where they should be.” Jahi also raised concerns over delays to planned modernizations to two Ward 4 high schools. “School modernization funds that were allocated to Coolidge and Roosevelt high schools were taken away and given to other wards.” See Jahi/Page 24
Judi Jones
Judi Jones, who is serving her fourth term as an advisory neighborhood commissioner, is seeking to replace incumbent Muriel Bowser in the race for the D.C. Council Ward 4 seat. A former business and computer teacher for both Montgomery County and D.C. schools, Jones said that if elected she would concentrate on education, D.C. statehood and smarter economic development. “Better education is the root of our solutions to a lot of our social ills,” Jones said. “We need to restructure the education process to make it more inclusive and invest the money upfront to reduce the emergency costs at the back end.” Jones said she is especially concerned about the achievement gap between black males and other students, and between blacks and whites in general. As a fix, Jones suggested developing individualized education plans for all D.C. students. That blueprint could include three credits in a certified skill as a condition for high school graduation, she said. That way, “if I don’t want to go to college, I can still have success and earn a living,” Jones said. Such a requirement would “make our students employable and have skills so they can go anywhere and get a job,” Jones said. But she emphasized that the system need not burden students who do plan to attend college. “Having certification in an area such as computer programming, web design, graphic arts, plumbing or bookkeeping does not reduce eligibility for any college campus,” she said. As for the statehood question, Jones said she would approach that issue in a different way than some others have. “I don’t like the attitude of people who say we shouldn’t strive for statehood because it is not going to happen in our lifetime,” she said. “We’ve got to start the process somewhere.” Jones said the District’s past opportunities to get a vote in Congress failed due to mismanagement. “Eleanor Holmes Norton turned down a vote on the floor because of some gun laws that we will have anyway,” she said. See Jones/Page 24
Max Skolnik
Max Skolnik, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner in Southwest who now lives in Petworth, is running for the Ward 4 D.C. Council seat. He runs Kid Power Inc., a nonprofit that operates afterschool programs for 350 young people with 25 full- and part-time employees. Should he win, Skolnik would concentrate most on education and youth development, small-business development and government ethics. “The District has some of the worst indicators when it comes to childhood poverty, teen unemployment, and the worst black-white achievement gap in the country,” Skolnik said. “I work with young people every day; I see the struggles,” he said. “The city has clearly not done enough.” Education reform strategies need to change, Skolnik said. “School reform is highly technocratic [and] topdown. I want ... a more community-centered approach.” Skolnik said highly ineffective teachers “are a small minority. And they should be removed ... as quickly as possible. The vast majority fall in the middle and need all the supports — training, incentives and peer mentoring — boosted.” Test scores should be used — to some extent — in evaluating teachers, he said, but they are of limited value in measuring student achievement. “Schools spend an inordinate amount of time in test preparation. That’s not education. That’s drilling.” The D.C. Council, he said, needs a separate committee for education and youth issues. He also wants a central youth office “with policy-making and grantmaking authority for youth issues.” Both Skolnik and his wife run small businesses. “I know the pressures,” he said. “The main economic development job of the District government should be to support ... small businesses.” Skolnik suggested a targeted approach to promoting Ward 4 businesses. “We could break up the ward into nodes of development,” he said. “Then we should support communities of small See Skolnik/Page 24
The Current
Ward 4 D.C. Council seat Democratic Primary
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
21
Muriel Bowser Governmental integrity, public safety, education reform.
Renee Bowser Education, job creation, constituent service.
Baruti Jahi Crime, education, economic development.
Judi Jones Education, statehood, smarter development.
Police, school construction, transportation infrastructure.
More housing inspectors; better job and apprenticeship training; people to check elderly abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Police, education and economic development.
Education; social services such as mental health and homelessness.
The Department of General Services. I also voted to limit the number of political appointments by the mayor, streamlining the 173 boards and commissions.
Eliminate extra spending that new ethics law will create. The existing agency with more resources would be more efficient.
Eliminate council member constituent funds; reduce council salaries; consider eliminating the deputy mayor for economic development when he, like the current one, is not doing a good job.
High-end business development things such as Office of Motion Picture and Television Development; council and executive staff; special education.
Which taxes would you like to see increased and which taxes decreased, given the city’s current budget situation?
Possibly reduce taxes and fees for seniors such as senior property tax relief effort; immediately eliminate pensioner withholding; possibly reduce rate for people earning less than $100,000. No increases.
Make income taxes more proAbolish taxes on pensions. No gressive like federal government. increases. No decreases at this point.
Council salaries and council members’ staff. I would also look at soft programs, but cannot be specific at this time. Homeless and other programs might well need restructuring if they are not producing results. Rescind increase in restaurant tax and 5-cent bag tax; have all parking meters stop at 6:30 p.m. These reductions can be paid for by the iGaming revenue.
Should developers get tax incentives to bring high-end stores into Georgetown and downtown in hopes of increasing tax revenue?
Yes, if the deal is in our best interest.
Only if there are concrete studies to show tax revenue from the developments would exceed the tax incentives.
Georgetown has high-end. We need high-end retail east of Georgia Avenue and along H Street.
No.
Should the city have opposed or encouraged Walmart to locate here? Why?
While I did not recruit Walmart, it’s my job to ensure the company offers us the best store and develops its sites in a way to enhance any neighborhood it enters. I favored a more dense project at the Missouri/Georgia Avenue corner including housing. Yes, the tax revision commission should consider ways to achieve parity with surrounding areas.
Opposed. There are studies showing a net loss of jobs in areas with Walmarts. They shift health-care costs to the jurisdiction and cause small- and medium-size retailers to close. The Georgia/Missouri corner will be a traffic nightmare. We must look at studies to see if Give businesses tax incentives to taxes really retard our business come to Georgia Avenue as well as competitors already there. growth. If so, we could have targeted tax breaks for specific types of business.
Six stores, or even four, are too many. There should have been one Sam’s Club and one mega Walmart. I like the one on Riggs Road better than on the one Georgia Avenue.
Opposed. Our main focus should be on small businesses.
Rehabilitation is important, but criminally involved juveniles must be rehabilitated in secure places.
Both are important. We need to look at studies to accomplish both goals.
We don’t have mentorship programs or job opportunities for ex-convicts. We need trade development programs.
It depends on the nature of the crime and the age.
It depends on the child’s age and lots of other factors.
Yes.
Public safety is the police department’s job. We don’t need more group homes. We might need more social workers. We should look at another but less restrictive juvenile detention center. Yes, especially if they are repeat offenders.
What would be your three major areas of concentration as a D.C. Council member? What departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s top priorities in terms of any new or additional spending, once the city can afford it? What departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s top priorities for spending reductions?
D.C.’s commercial real estate and corporate business taxes are by far the highest in the area. In future years, should D.C. make a major effort to reduce them in order to compete better for businesses? If yes, how? How can the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services resolve any conflicts that arise between protecting public safety and rehabilitating young offenders? What is more important? Should juveniles who commit felonies be treated as adults in most cases? What steps should be taken to improve education?
What line items in the school budget, if any, should be reduced, deleted or supplemented? Would it be fair if magnet or vocational programs were to receive considerably more per student in D.C. funds than regular programs? Do you favor establishing a math/science magnet similar to Maryland’s Montgomery Blair or Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson aiming to send graduates to colleges like the Massachusetts and California institutes of technology, even if it means a higher cost per student than in other public schools?
Modernize buildings and playgrounds to produce atmosphere conducive to learning; have structured music, arts, foreign languages and science curriculums in every school; reduce “teaching to the test”; and teach concepts. Look for savings in central office; I am not familiar enough with the totality of the school budget. increase art, music, athletics and capital spending for middle We should look at successful outcomes nationally and and high schools. worldwide.
Improving resource parity across the city; invest more in middle and high schools; attract more families to publicly funded schools.
I support development in Ward 4 first. After all considerations, I would consider other areas. If you build it in Ward 4, they will come. Opposed. I favor taking them to court. In no other metropolitan area are two Walmarts within a mile and a half of each other.
Hire someone who has the qualifications in place for superintendent before they were changed for Michelle Rhee; have a Ward 4 PTA consortium to improve the weaker groups. Add funds for youth trade development as well as music and art.
No. We have to ensure parity across the system.
Yes. Any time there is a variety of Yes, as we want to encourage people, things are different. Look excellence. at the costs of football.
I support McKinley Tech to be our science magnet.
Only after we bring science education of all high schools up to a more advanced level.
Yes, and Banneker is just as good as those programs.
Max Skolnik Education and youth development, small businesses, governmental ethics. Programs dealing with youth and seniors, education, affordable housing for homeless, adult vocational training.
Make wealthy tax increase permanent and add brackets for over $500,000 and $1 million.
Yes, based on geographic We should look at it on an individual basis. The current policy is economic problems and community benefits. not working.
They are equally important. We must increase supervision and have more in-house programming, data sharing and discussions with community about the process of integration. No, except on a case-by-case basis for those close to 18.
Provide more teacher training support and opportunities for input for and from teachers; create a central youth office and more collaborative structures between parents, young people, nonprofits and other stakeholders. Ultimately decrease special Unsure of reductions; technology, capital infrastructure education transportation and some central administration and professional development oversight staff; increase funding should be increased. for nutritional, enrichment, wellness and arts programs. No. Not if they receive considerably more.
Have a graduation requirement that a student must have a certified marketable skill and be college-qualified even if it is for a special college for those with special needs.
No.
Yes. It would be vital to the city.
22 Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Current
Ward 4 D.C. Council seat Democratic Primary
Muriel Bowser Charter school advocates say We provide them a facilities that charter schools do not allowance. Our revenue bonds receive as much per pupil as the make their construction deals public school system does, since less costly. most charter schools have to fund their own buildings. Do you agree this is the case? If yes, what if anything should be done about it? Should police officers be able to We must protect due process write tickets with large fines for rights, so they should be booked. underage drinking and for quality-of-life offenses so they don’t have to take the time to formally book the accused? Should D.C. turn over citizenship Public trust in the police is paraor lack of citizenship informamount. We must comply with tion to U.S. immigration officials federal mandates in the case of when suspects are arrested? convictions for violent crimes. When they are convicted? Just when convicted of a violent crime? Or not at all? Should Klingle Road be reopened?
Yes, the recent closure of the Broad Branch Road bridge demonstrated a need for additional cross-park connections.
Would you support making the position of council member a full-time job, with a ban on legislators earning outside income? Would you have voted for the recently passed ethics law?
I am a full-time council member, but voters should have the right to choose council members with outside jobs. Yes, it is the most comprehensive restatement of ethics regulations since home rule. Yes. My ethics bill put uses and restrictions in place on the funds and restricted them to $40,000. I insisted on the creation of a board solely responsible for investigating and enforcing ethics violations — just as 37 states have.
Should D.C. Council members and the mayor be allowed to have constituent service funds? Do you agree with the council’s decision to create the new Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, or should the council have given more power and staff to the Board of Elections and Ethics instead?
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Renee Bowser I understand they do get a facilities allotment, so I’m not sure I agree. They also can send children back to the public schools in the middle of the year.
Baruti Jahi Yes. They do not receive as much, but our priority should be to improve our public schools.
Judi Jones They should have first crack at closed school buildings, but should raise outside funds to fix them up so the government will not decide on the improvements.
Max Skolnik Per-pupil spending should be equal, but charters do have a responsibility to raise money. The city should provide a functional space for charter school students.
Taking the offender in may have No, it would be too subjective. more of an impact to discourage future action than simply fining him.
Yes for underage drinking and most quality-of-life offenses.
Yes.
Only if convicted of a violent crime. Otherwise, it discourages the public from giving police information.
When convicted of a violent crime.
Only if convicted of violent crimes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
No. It was a shameful toothless wonder.
No. Existing laws were not enforced.
No. It’s weak and toothless.
No, because only 12 percent of the funds go to needy constituents. No. More power should have been given to the Board of Elections and Ethics.
Yes. Their size should stay the same.
No. We should rely on a real social safety net.
The Board of Elections and Ethics was adequate. The new office is a waste of taxpayers’ money.
No. The Board of Elections and Ethics should have been strengthened.
When arrested.
I need to look at studies to see No, it would be too expensive. if the environmental problems are outweighed by the inconvenience of the residents and the environmental problems caused by additional traffic from detours. Yes. Yes.
Probably not, as it did not address outsized corporate dollars. It was a lot of show. No. It’s really a slush fund. The incumbent used only 8 percent for actual constituent services. More staff should have been given to the Board of Elections and Ethics.
d.C. Shadow Senator Democratic Primary
Michael D. Brown
Pete Ross
Do you support statehood as the only acceptable way to secure full rights for D.C. residents? Is D.C. statehood viable at present, given that the federal government pays for “state” costs such as prisons? Would you support full voting rights in the House and Senate as an interim measure? Would you support full voting rights in only the House as an interim measure? Should shadow senator and representative offices be taxpayer-funded?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes. We lose billions by not being able to tax income at its source.
Yes. A commuter tax would more than offset this cost.
Yes.
Yes, as long as it is an interim measure.
No, because this would likely become the permanent situation. Yes.
No.
What is the most important step that you have taken (or would take) to secure full rights for D.C. residents? Do you support civil disobedience as a way to advocate full rights for D.C. residents? Are you willing to be arrested for the cause? In 20 words or less, please state why you should be the District’s shadow representative.
I created Teach Democracy DC, a nonprofit, to share the lack of D.C. voting rights with teachers and students. Yes.
Yes. I would also support the positions being paid in the future, but I would not personally accept a salary. As a citizen, I have already protested for statehood and been arrested, and I am prepared to go to jail. Yes.
Yes, and I have been.
Yes, and to go to jail.
Five years as U.S. senator, 30 years in national politics, a record of many accomplishments and a passion for statehood.
I am ready to agitate, educate and negotiate: upsetting the status quo to get us statehood and move us forward.
The Current
ORANGE From Page 17
improvement in educational development for our young people is helping the young person find their skill,” he said. He said the school system should identify students who need special help and connect them with additional resources; it should also provide for more special-education students within D.C.-run schools rather than paying tuition to send them to private schools. On employment, Orange said the District needs a “jobs czar” — a central official who can align vocational training with available D.C. jobs. For instance, he said, the city knows that Walmart expects to hire hundreds of employees for its planned D.C. stores. Accordingly, Orange said, he wants the city’s community college to offer classes in “how to run cash registers, … how to manage inventory ... how to stock the shelves,” he said. “Now, instead of us having training dollars all over this government, we’re going to put it into this community college and we’re going to train for the job,” he added. With sufficiently trained residents, said Orange, contractors and agencies will have no excuses for avoiding city law that requires a percentage of local hires — which he said should be enforced more rigorously. On a smaller scale, Orange said he helped prepare residents for jobs when Home Depot
SHAPIRO From Page 17
corporate campaign contributions, a prohibition on outside employment for council members and the elimination of constituent service funds. Shapiro also said he stands apart from competitors Sekou Biddle and Vincent Orange. He faulted Biddle for his previous route to a D.C. Council seat — the Democratic State Committee named him to the interim post — and Orange for the stances he has taken. “I’m the only candidate who has a track record as a progressive and isn’t caught up in the D.C. political machine,” Shapiro said. On jobs, Shapiro said the city should incentivize certain businesses to locate in technology districts established in neighborhoods it hopes to revitalize, following the model of the arts district he helped create in Hyattsville, Md. The city should then organize its job-training efforts to prepare residents for employment in that field, said Shapiro. “We need leadership that states loud and clear what our priority is as a city around job creation and to have a very clear message about the kind of jobs we’re looking to create,” he said. Under Shapiro’s proposal, existing city employment services, the school system, higher education and nonprofit partners could collaborate on the types of job training required for a position in the tech-
and other large retailers were readying to open in Ward 5. Orange said the city should also incentivize new job-creating industries to operate in the city, such as filmmaking, garment production and automobile sales. Orange said these two top issues — education and employment — combine to make his third priority: economic development. Residents who are educated can get the available jobs in the District and attract more employers to the city, both of which would improve local financial well-being. A clear plan should also drive economic development, Orange said. When he was the Ward 5 council member in 1999, he said, the city set distinct goals after years of deficits. “We had something to prove: that we could dig ourselves out of that hole and get rid of the [financial control board].” Today, he said, the issue is different. “I think very soon, the city is going to be flush with cash, and it’s going to be a question of how we utilize it,” he said. Orange, 54, lives with his wife in the Brookland neighborhood in Northeast; they have two adult sons and a teenage daughter. Orange grew up in Oakland, Calif., and received a scholarship to attend boarding school in Colorado. He earned a bachelor’s degree from California’s University of the Pacific, a law degree from Howard University and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University. nology sector, which he said includes many entry-level career positions. “We have so many resources we can bring to bear if it’s organized around a common vision,” he said. On education, Shapiro said he would encourage the school system to devise more variables for evaluating teachers beyond test scores, but to ensure that performance is still carefully monitored and to reward successful instructors. “It’s really about teacher quality; teacher quality is a result of accountability and training and support,” he said. Shapiro also called for additional leadership training for principals. “The role of the principal, at least in part, is to create the kind of environment that encourages and supports teachers to think beyond the test,” said Shapiro. Shapiro, 49, lives with his wife and her two children in the Ward 4 section of Chevy Chase. Born in Rockville, Shapiro moved to the District at age 5 and attended Murch Elementary School and Washington International School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, where he resumed his studies as a sophomore 10 years after leaving Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. He most recently worked as a leadership consultant, but said he has put his job on hold during his council bid. Shapiro served on the Prince George’s County Council from 1998 to 2004 before moving into the District.
BIDDLE From Page 17
anything else is there are enough examples of what works, and we continue to explore what doesn’t,” Biddle said. Biddle further called for merging the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to streamline operations and save money, and for equalizing per-pupil spending between the school system and public charter schools. On employment, Biddle said the District needs to help train its residents for the jobs that are already available here, as well as work to attract additional employers. “There are more people working in the city on a daily basis than there are working-age residents, yet we have dramatic unemployment in the city,” said Biddle. Biddle said the city currentlyfunds too many job-training programs whose participants aren’t becoming employed. “Right now,
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 we pay for process,” he said. The District needs to redirect its spending toward job training and placement programs able to show that their participants subsequently get jobs, said Biddle. Biddle said it recently became clear that ethics should be another priority — interviewed last April, he named the city budget as his third top issue. Asked last month about the change, he said, “Last year at this point, we were under the impression we were running potentially into a $300 million deficit or shortfall. It turns out not to have actually been the case, and it was not the case [then] that several elected officials were under federal investigation.” To help restore faith in the council’s integrity, Biddle advocated a ban on corporate contributions, which allow individuals to use multiple entities they control to skirt donation limits. “What concerns me and certainly a lot of other residents is you have elected officials getting large sums of money from people with a clear interest on cer-
HOLNESS From Page 17
On education, Holness said the school system needs a greater focus on extracurricular athletics and arts activities. Students who are more engaged in school are more likely to be successful academically, she said, noting that the city should increase its school spending. Holness also said she favors a greater push for parental involvement in their students’ academic activities. “When parents are engaged in the process, students have a tendency to perform better,” she said. The school system should establish a pilot program to issue “a compelling fine” to a parent who doesn’t attend conferences with a teacher, she said. Holness also said the council should be responsible for reviewing a school’s curriculum to ensure it will provide a suitable education for its students, rather than simply preparing them for standardized tests. “I think the council’s role is as integral as the Board of Education’s role to participate, because we set the budget,” she said. Holness said the city is giving too much attention and resources to charter schools rather than the traditional public school system. While she favors school choice, she said the city is “overrun” with charters. On fiscal efficiency, Holness said the council should review agency budgets to root out “frivolous
23
tain issues,” said Biddle, pointing to incumbent Vincent Orange’s positions on gas stations and taxicabs, which he said align with those of Orange’s donors. “We’ve so significantly damaged the public trust, it’s hard for people to believe that the council is beholden to the residents instead of the people who write big checks,” Biddle added. He also said the council should eliminate constituent service funds and study additional ways to tighten controls of elected officials’ conduct. Biddle, 40, is a D.C. native who lives in Shepherd Park with his wife and two sons. He earned a business administration degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta and a master’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia State University. Before working for the Jumpstart and KIPP programs, Biddle was a public school teacher in Atlanta, New York City and the District, and trained Teach for America instructors.
spending.” She cited examples from the University of the District of Columbia that she said demonstrate a waste of taxpayer dollars, and said she wants an opportunity to find where that is occurring elsewhere. “Having not been exposed to the budgets of all the agencies, I think there needs to be an overall review of all District agencies,” said Holness, adding, “When nobody’s looking, people have a tendency to do whatever.” Holness said the city needs to increase revenue to pay for some incentives and spending initiatives, perhaps through commercial real estate taxes and income taxes on residents earning $500,000 or more. The unique appeal of living or operating a business within D.C. is enough to offset the impacts of any additional cost, she said. Holness, 55, lives in the Columbia Heights/Pleasant Plains area just off Georgia Avenue in Ward 1. A native of Columbia, S.C., she is divorced and has a 24-year-old daughter. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Clark Atlanta University, a master’s degree from St. Mary’s Ecumenical Seminary & University in Baltimore, and law and ministry doctorates from Howard University. A diverse résumé includes a long history of community involvement. Besides serving as pastor of the Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Petworth, Holness is also president of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and manager of a faith-based educational consulting firm.
24 Wednesday, March 14, 2012
M. BOWSER From Page 20
joined the council. “Enrollment growth at Brightwood [Education Campus] and Lafayette [Elementary School] has been strong. ... We’re very proud of our ability to totally renovate Takoma [Education Campus] after one year. I was very proud to support the way we incentivize our teachers,” she said. When asked why other wards have received more school renovation money than Ward 4, she said, “Our turn is now,” including “the total renovation of Roosevelt and Coolidge” high schools. Bowser also noted that a lot has been spent to “stabilize” Roosevelt, including upgrading the boiler sys-
R. BOWSER From Page 20
if the city puts more “focus on apprenticeship training, people will have jobs.” Bowser also urged more emphasis on the city’s first-source law, which requires companies with government contracts to hire locals. And she noted that many city agencies “don’t favor small and disadvantaged businesses,” vowing to fight for “procurement laws that allow local small businesses their fair share of city contracts.” Bowser said the city should also withhold subsidies when businesses fail to deliver as promised. And while she emphasized the importance of offering “certain business incentives” to get District residents jobs, she said a general decrease in
The Current tems, making electrical upgrades and replacing hallway lighting. Yet, “What’s needed is total modernization,” she said. “It is funded to begin this year. The mayor wants to postpone it, but the council would have to approve that.” She also pointed out that some recently modernized Ward 3 schools, such as Wilson High, serve a number of Ward 4 students. A D.C. native, 39-year-old Bowser has a master’s degree in public policy from American University and a bachelor’s degree from Pittsburgh’s Chatham College. Before joining the council, Bowser worked as assistant director of Montgomery County’s Silver Spring Regional Center, which works to coordinate community needs with government services. corporate tax rates is unnecessary. She said she opposes Walmart “because of its record of poor treatment of workers, destruction of small businesses and a net loss of jobs in communities where it locates.” Bowser has been involved with Ward 4 Thrives, a grass-roots group fighting against the company’s entrance into the ward. On her third campaign focus — constituent services — Bowser said the phrase has many meanings, including ensuring that “absentee rental building owners maintain their properties.” Muriel Bowser, she said, has not done that. Bowser, 62, was born in Philadelphia and received a bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr College and law degrees from North Carolina Central and the University of Wisconsin. Single, she moved to D.C. in 1983.
JAHI
From Page 20 Jahi also believes the city should increase funding for music and art, as well as for vocational programs for various in-demand trades. He also supports programs for high-performing students. “We should be pushing for more ‘gifted and talented’ programs, as we need to reward excellence,” he said. Jahi said increased parent participation is essential, and he suggest-
ed creating a Ward 4-wide PTA. On economic development, Jahi believes the city should have coordinators in each ward “whose sole responsibility is to foster” growth in their area. He faults the incumbent council member for Ward 4’s lag in business development compared to H Street, where he said Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells used revitalization funds originally allocated for Georgia Avenue. Funds slated for Georgia Avenue also went to other projects, he said.
JONES From Page 20
“To turn it down, thinking they wouldn’t push the gun laws anyway, is ludicrous.” Jones said she would be in favor of the District accepting territorial status “as a temporary measure and a step towards statehood.” This method, she said, would exempt the District from federal income and corporate taxes and also bring in more businesses. To encourage development, Jones advocated the drafting of a plan specific to Ward 4. “We must develop a comprehensive plan with the consensus of Ward 4 residents about how their ward should look and how
SKOLNIK From Page 20
businesses in these different areas.” The city now imposes too many hardships on business owners, he said. “It’s a very difficult process to get licenses and permits.” Skolnik said the city can help grow businesses through seed-money grants, incubators and lower tax rates in some cases. “Some strategic tax abatements can be effective,” he added. “But there must be no appearance of impropriety as to
If elected, Jahi would lobby for a Ward 4 skills registry for residents who are unemployed or seeking better jobs. He supports using tax breaks to recruit businesses to Ward 4, and said businesses already established in the ward should also get such deals. Jahi, 42, was born in New York City and came to the District to attend Howard University, where he earned a doctorate in political science. He is married and has a 4-year-old son.
the plan should be implemented,” she said. Jones emphasized that the city must consider alternatives to Walmart. “I agree with … the Upper 14th Street Uptown Business Association’s proposal for a boutique grocery store like Harris Teeter, Wegmans, or Trader Joe’s at Georgia and Missouri rather than a Walmart. The development would include entrepreneurs who live [or own] businesses in the District.” Jones, who did not give her age, is a District native. She grew up in the Brookland area and now lives in Lamond Riggs. She graduated from Drexel University, where she got her degree in business and marketing. Single, she holds graduate degrees from the University of the District of Columbia in international business, computer science and education.
how they were achieved, such as campaign donations. ... There should be significant community benefits and clawback and sunset provisions. “I hope to bring some honesty, some reformer ethic to our government, some humility and a sense of service,” Skolnik said. He said corporate contributions have become a growing influence in local politics. “I would propose eliminating corporate, LLC, subsidiary and partnership donations [plus] lobbyist and contractor donations,” he said. Also, “I would abol-
ish the constituent service funds.” Although Skolnik noted that it’s possible such bans would simply shift contributions to political action committees, “we would at least disconnect the direct contact between donors and candidates,” he said. Skolnik, 36, is married with a 16-month-old son. He was born in the New York City suburbs and majored in political science at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He came to Washington to get a master’s degree in Latin American studies at George Washington University.
Perhaps the greatest right that we all have as United States citizens is the right to vote! Being an informed voter is important and we urge you to take the time to review the positions candidates take on the myriad of issues that can help to improve our region both at the local and the federal level. As a long-standing corporate citizen of the metropolitan Washington area, we hope you will indeed become informed and then exercise your right to vote in the upcoming elections. Giant is commited to continuing our long-standing tradition of being an involved corporate citizen of this community. Please join us in becoming involved too!
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