8/2/2019 Washington City Paper 2012 Primary Endorsements

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Vote theAt-LArge

Sku BlIncumbent Vincent Orange got his seat in a special

election last year that elt more like a revenge plot

against his enemies who denied him an initial appoint-

ment to the job. Now he seems to have trouble with

such indelicate questions as, “Why should we

vote or you?” or, “What is your position on

this issue?” We preer the guy Orange unseat-

ed, Sekou Biddle. Yes, we wish he hadn’t played theinsider’s game that put him on the council last year.

But Biddle brings a long track record on education re-

orm, a progressive outlook on the city’s problems, and

a sense o how to balance the needs and interests o all

its residents. While opponent E. Gail Anderson Hol-

ness rightly laments corporate inuence in city politics

in her inimitable, intelligent manner, we think Biddle

has a more comprehensive vision or the job. And Pe-

ter Shapiro only recently moved to D.C. rom Prince

George’s County, where he served as council chairman;

we admire his enthusiasm or his new home, but aren’t

sure he’s quite ready or the Wilson Building.

 WArd 2Jack easJack Evans is even luckier than Barry in his oppo-

nents—he’s unopposed! That’s a shame, too. Evans

has been outspoken in his disdain or the D.C. govern-

ment’s status quo. But he’s been legislatively absent

when it comes to changing a sleazy political culture. We

also disagree with some o the places he’s exerting ac-

tual eort, like in the dubious plan to build a Redskins

practice acility on a tract east o Capitol Hill where

an actual neighborhood might otherwise rise. We pro-

pose a write-in: Residents should elect the Jack Evans

who called this the worst D.C. Council in 20 years. The

more conspicuous Evans who cozies up to Dan Snyder

and opposes limits on councilmembers’ outside em-ployment should be sent packing.

 WArd 4

Mul BwsWe’d really wanted to make this an all-challengers

endorsement. Then we met Muriel Bowser’s op-

ponents, who spent much o our recent candidates’

orum misstating the responsibilities and powers o 

any ward councilmember. For all the places we wish

the incumbent’s record were better (say, by actual-

ly banning corporate donations as part o her eth-

ics bill, or by resisting Pepco’s opposition to Public

Utilities Commission nominee Elizabeth Noel) she’sstill the rare independent voice on a D.C. Council

that’s been dominated by mediocrities like Chairman

Kwame Brown and crooks like ex-councilmember

Harry Thomas Jr. I you can’t abide the prospect o 

supporting any incumbent, we suggest checking out

Renée Bowser (no relation), a labor lawyer and ANC

commissioner whose debate perormance suggest

she’d do a stellar job grilling recalcitrant city ocials

at hearings. Otherwise, vote Muriel. Who knows: I 

the talk o her mayoral ambitions is true, you may get

another chance in just two years.

 WArd 7

tm Bw Just about every labor group, business organization,

newspaper, or website that does endorsements loves

Tom Brown in this race. We’re not sure how many

voters will pay attention to any o that, but sign us

up, too. Brown’s long résumé in workorce devel-

opment and education would help the D.C. Council

grapple with high unemployment, particularly east o 

the Anacostia River. And though he’s taken corpo-

rate contributions or this race, he calls or measuresthat would end some o the blatant conicts o inter-

est District law now allows. Rival Kevin B. Chavous

impressed us, as well, especially with his sharp ob-

servations about how incumbent Yvette Alexander

has allen short; in particular, Chavous highlights her

close ties to Walmart, which is bringing two stores to

Ward 7 with only minimal promises to hire local resi-

dents or pay living wages. But Chavous, even though

he’s only 28, doesn’t represent enough o a complete

break with D.C.’s recent political history—mostly

because his ather, ormer Councilmember Kevin P.

Chavous, is a prominent part o it (he lost the Ward

7 seat to now-Mayor Vince Gray in 2004). The ward

and the city could probably use better representation

than Alexander, though, as even longshot candidatesDorothy Douglas and the Rev. Bill Bennett point out.

At City Paper’s debate, Alexander claimed as her sig-

nature legislative accomplishment the technical law

the council passed in order to allow D.C. to comply

with President Barack Obama’s health care reorm

act; we’re glad to have that one on the books, but it

surely would have passed with or without Alexander’s

help. She also takes credit or bringing development to

the ward, but much o it was in the works beore she

even ran or oce.

 WArd 8

Jacqu PasLike any successul pol, Marion Barry benefts rom

lousy opponents: Over 30 years he’s aced toma-

to cans like Sharon Pratt and Sandy Allen. The cur-

rent challengers may are no better. That’s a shame.

Barry’s most recent term has been marked by per-

sonal scandals (earmark booboos, girlriend-in-Den-

ver booboos) and political betrayal (a longtime sup-

porter o gay rights, he waxed demagogic against gay

marriage). He didn’t show at our debate, where he

might have discussed issues like how a city should bal-

ance population growth against residents’ ear o be-

ing priced out. Sadly, would-be replacements didn’

cover themselves in glory: Sandra Seegars and Dar

rell Gaston came very close to endorsing universal gun

ownership, or instance; rival Jacque Patterson de

murred, saying it depended on what type o weap

on. Luckily, that’s not the only thing to set Patter-

son apart. A ormer Anthony Williams appointee, he’

one candidate who would actually seem like a pro in

representing a part o town that could use

some help.

ShAdoW SenAtorMcal d. BwThere’s no particularly good choice or this oce

which comes with no salary, no real budget, and no

actual responsibilities other than to highlight the Dis

trict’s lack o representation in Congress. (It’s not lik

the Capitol Police consider you a senator.) The incum

bent, Michael D. Brown, is best known or running

or a D.C. Council at-large seat last year with a strat-

egy that boiled down to: “Maybe voters will think

I’m the other Michael Brown!” Meanwhile, his op

ponent, Pete Ross, has dumped more than $200,000

o his own money into his campaign. We’re glad he’

so enthusiastic about the job, but given the numbeo ederal investigations into the D.C. government

we’re not sure someone who pleaded guilty to a eder

al elony is the city’s ideal lobbyist on the Hill—espe-

cially because the nature o Ross’s crime, tax evasion

directly undermines the District’s “taxation withou

representation” argument. Vote Michael D. Brown

but don’t be surprised to fnd that Michael A. Brown

remains on the D.C. Council dais.

ShAdoW rePreSentAtive

na B-Flm Ater his start to citywide elected oice, this race

most likely won’t be the last time you see Nate Bennett-Fleming’s name on a D.C. ballot. The energet

ic, young Ward 8 native is the only candidate or the

Democratic nomination, which means he’ll almos

certainly eventually join the man who beat him two

years ago, Mike Panetta, in pushing or D.C. state-

hood. It’s good to see he’s already learned one o the

frst rules o politics: Better to run unopposed!

deLegAte to U.S. hoUSe

ela hlms nLast time around, we backed Eleanor Holmes Nor

ton on the theory that a GOP Congress would mean

the District needed someone to play deense. Thesame theory holds true in the inverse now; Democrat

think they might be able to take the House, and Nor

ton—who’s tight with the leadership o the Congres

sional Black Caucus and has been in the non-voting

seat or 21 years—would be well-positioned to advo-

cate statehood’s cause. O course, or most o her ten-

ure in Congress, she’s been equally well-positioned

or that advocacy. But like many o her House col

leagues, she has no rival or re-election in this primary

Vote or her again this time, but grudgingly; it’s time

to deliver a ew wins, Del. Norton.

Way