Orange Offers Contract to Voters
Candidate Outlines Plans for Education, Housing and Safety

By Elissa Silverman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 2, 2006

D.C. mayoral candidate Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D) has mailed a "contract" to more than 100,000 registered Democrats in the District in which he outlines sweeping budget priorities in the areas of education, affordable housing, public safety and health care.

The six-page, orange-tinged brochure is reminiscent of the "Contract With America," a plan of legislative actions agreed to by Republicans running for Congress in 1994 that was credited with helping the party take control of the House of Representatives.

In "My Contract With You," Orange, a D.C. council member who represents Ward 5, promises to put money in the budget for universal pre-kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds; to facilitate the construction of 36,000 houses and 19,000 apartments and to establish a community policing division of 800 officers. He also pledged to push educational policies that ensure that students read independently by third grade and understand the fundamentals of mathematics by fourth grade.

"I think with all the negative materials and mudslinging that has been sent out to D.C. residents, it's time to see a positive plan for D.C. residents," said Orange, who has also bought time on cable TV to air two ads promoting the contract.

Trailing badly in the polls, Orange hopes the action agenda will impress undecided and wavering voters. He has tried to attract attention at candidate forums by attacking the legislative records of fellow council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4) and council Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D), who are considered the front-runners in the race.

Orange, as well as lobbyist Michael A. Brown and former telecommunications executive Marie C. Johns, have lagged in the polls and in campaign fundraising.

An ambitious politician who ran unsuccessfully for local office several times before winning the Ward 5 seat in 1998, Orange began his quest for higher office more than 20 months ago at a breakfast in which he characterized himself as a "man on a mission."

A key supporter of the public financing package for a new baseball stadium, Orange has stressed his economic development triumphs. During his time on the council, several large businesses, including Home Depot and Giant, have opened in his retail-starved ward, and a large mixed-use project named New Town is slated for the area next to Gallaudet University.