Election '22

ELECTION 22 ELECTION 22

COVID from Page 5

“We are still holding events and reaching out to voters but in different way from the past,” she said.

Campaigns in the District have had to adapt, utilizing virtual tools and following the city’s anti-coronavirus measures to reach voters with outdoor activities. However, these virtual tools have been combined with more traditional modes such as knocking on doors and canvassing neighborhoods in an effort to increase public awareness about the candidates.

Ades said the White campaign has used Zoom meetings to connect their candidate with supporters and voters.

“We hold meet-and-greet events on Zoom almost every night,” she said. “Robert talks about his vision for the city and what he wants to do as the next mayor and people get the chance to ask questions and offer comments.”

White, an at-large councilmember, also canvasses neighborhoods with volunteers while distributing literature to voters. Ades said the campaign has had success with door knocking, adding that people seem eager to engage with White on issues while remaining on their front porches or in their yards.

Political observers note that White has emerged as one of the major challengers to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Meanwhile, in a statement obtained by the Informer, the Bowser campaign said it constantly communicates with voters asking them why the mayor should be re-elected for a third term.

“We are working hard to engage voters about Mayor Bowser’s achievements and vision and we have been encouraged by the response,” the statement said. “We continue to find ways to engage volunteers and voters virtually ahead of the June 21st primary.”

Political observers have also labeled Trayon White, Sr., who serves as the Ward 8 councilmember, as another major challenger to Bowser.

Trayon White’s campaign didn’t respond to an inquiry regarding his outreach strategy for voters at press time despite our speaking to a campaign aide about the request.

In his bid to replace Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Gordon Fletcher said he has knocked on a lot of doors while maintaining his interactions with voters in accordance with recent COVID-19 mandates.

“When I approach a resident’s house, I make sure I stay about six feet away when I am speaking with them,” Fletcher said. “I wear masks, along with my volunteers, to respect their space.”

Fletcher said he uses social media, Zoom events and phone banking to reach voters.

Patricia Briscoe serves as the chair of the Friends for Zachery Parker organization. Parker also wants to win the Ward 5 seat. Briscoe said the Parker campaign has focused much of its energy on canvassing neighborhoods.

“We walk the neighborhoods to talk about what Zachery wants to do if elected to the city council,” she said. “When we walk, we make sure that masks are worn.”

Briscoe said when they’re door knocking, they make it a point to greet residents at their doors and not go into the homes. Like many campaigns, social media has become a primary mode of communicating Parker’s message, she said.

“We would like to do more outside but it has been so cold,” she said.

Chuck Thies serves as the manager for McDuffie’s campaign for D.C. Attorney General. Thies said the McDuffie campaign has been both digital and virtual.

“We have done a lot of meet-andgreets online via Zoom,” he said. “We find the virtual events to be more convenient. People don’t have to leave their home and drive across town or across the ward to attend. They can just log-in instead.”

He said McDuffie and his volunteers have done extensive door knocking throughout the city and stand six feet from residents when interacting. But the McDuffie campaign hopes that as the omicron wave continues to wane, more face-to-face interaction will be possible soon.

However, he notes the McDuffie campaign has held an outdoor event despite the chilly weather.

“It was in December and we had 35-40 people in a large yard,” Thies said. “People wanted to come talk to Kenyan and the weather wasn’t going to stop them. We had outdoor heaters to keep everyone warm and had hot tea and cider to serve. The event was great and Kenyan said he was glad we did it. I will be glad when the weather gets better and we can really go out and campaign among the people.”

WI @JamesWrightJr10

Cheh’s Departure Creates Opening for Ward 3 Seat

James Wright WI Staff Writer

Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh’s decision not to seek re-election to a fifth term has opened the door for some activists who wish to succeed her.

On Feb. 11, Cheh cited a “revaluation” of her life during the coronavirus pandemic and her desire to spend more time with her family, particularly her granddaughter.

“The past 16 years as the Ward 3 councilmember have been some of the most rewarding and valuable of my life, serving as your representative has been an honor,” Cheh wrote in a statement posted online.

“With your support, the District has become a national climate leader and we have seen outstanding advances in our schools, expanded nutrition access and protections for the health and safety for all of our residents. It is time for someone else to pick up the mantle and I am excited for the possibilities and future of Ward 3.”

The D.C. Board of Election website reported three candidates, advisory neighborhood commissioner Monika Nemeth, former commissioner Deirdre Brown and Tricia Duncan, have each filed to run in the June 21 Democratic primary as of Feb. 13.

Political activist Matthew Frumin declared for the seat hours after Cheh left the race.

“I am excited to get in the race to represent Ward 3 on the D.C. Council,” he tweeted. “I am joining this race late after learning that Mary Cheh, who has so ably represented the ward for 16 years, has decided not to run.”

Ward 3 remains the only ward in the District which has not been represented by an African American on the city council.

Brown and potential candidate Phil Thomas, who chairs the Ward 3 Democrats, are both Black.WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Attorney General candidate Kenyan McDuffie. (Courtesy photo)

At-Large Candidates Challenge to Challenge Incumbent Anita Bonds

James Wright WI Staff Writer

D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds wants to serve on the council for a third four-year term but she will have to defeat a field of eight candidates to secure the Democratic nomination on June 21.

Bonds has served on the D.C. Council since 2012. She received the support of the D.C. Democratic State Committee in December 2012 to serve in the place of At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson, who won a special election to become the chairman of the legislative body that November.

Bonds won the position permanently in a special election in 2013. She won re-election in 2014 and in 2018. On her website, Bonds said she wants to serve another term on the council “because I know there is still work to do.”

“Every day I problem solve and develop reasonable solutions and opportunities to help neighborhoods, young families, seniors, businesses and workers move forward in our rapidly changing city,” she said.

Bonds’ challengers include: former Ward 8 advisory neighborhood commissioner Sharece Crawford; 5E advisory neighborhood commission chair Bradley Thomas; former D.C. shadow representative Nate Fleming; 3G01 advisory neighborhood commissioner Lisa Gore; former 7C04 advisory neighborhood commissioner Leniqua Dominique Jenkins; Ward 7 health care activist Ambrose Lane, Jr.; resident Charles Oh; and former D.C. Council staffer Dexter Williams in the Democratic primary. Giuseppe Niosi stands as the only candidate in the Republican Party primary.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the Republican and party candidates as well as independents in the November general election for the two at-large council seats.

WI @JamesWrightJr10