Carol Schwartz Republican nominee Schwartz announces her mayoral platform. (By John P. Martin - washingtonpost.com)   Schwartz says of her opponent: "This guy is more conservative than I am." Post Stories Carol Schwartz will face Democrat Anthony A. Williams in the general election for mayor on Nov. 3. • She Hits Mayoral Trail With Zest • No Primary Opponent • Third Mayoral Bid Begins • Schwartz Willing to Stand Alone • Life a Tale of Drive and Prejudice

By John P. Martin
Washingtonpost.com Writer
Wednesday, September 23, 1998;
1:30 p.m. EDT

Carol Schwartz, the Republican nominee for D.C. mayor, pledged this morning to fight to return authority to the city’s government, lobby for full voting rights for its citizens, and to keep job-rich federal facilities in the District.

In her first press conference since her nomination last week, Schwartz, an at-large member of D.C. Council, joined about two dozen supporters at the Sumner School, 17th and M streets NW, to outline the themes of her third bid for the mayor’s office.

Schwartz read a 2-1/2 page script in which she touted her record of service to the city and attacked her Democratic opponent, former D.C. chief financial officer Anthony A. Williams, echoing many of the charges tried by his primary opponents.

Her speech was short on detailed proposals, which she promised to unveil in the coming weeks. Schwartz also refused to take questions from reporters.

In a four-page platform released by her campaign, Schwartz, who rejoined the council in 1996, takes credit for helping to guide the city toward fiscal responsibility – praise some have heaped on Williams.

Schwartz (left) talked with Kevin Chavous campaign workers on primary day. (By Craig Cola – washingtonpost.com)

"For my opponent to try to take full credit, or be given credit, for our balance sheet is just plain arrogant – and wrong," she contends.

Schwartz also said she will "lobby fiercely" for the reinstatement of the annual federal payment – hundreds of millions paid to the District in lieu of taxes – that the city lost in the federal bailout plan.

She said she backs legislation that would require the federal government to prove a compelling need to move any substantial facility out of the District; supports the District’s attempts to win full voting rights for its citizens; and vowed to continue searching for funds for the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

Dressed in her standard bright yellow blazer, Schwartz delivered her message in a first-floor room at Sumner, a historic landmark she is crediting with saving from demolition in the mid-1980s. On a wall to her left were two dozen photographs of members of D.C. Women’s Hall of Fame.

Behind her, supporters wore yellow campaign T-shirts, stickers or carried signs with slogans including "Bring It Home" and "Democrats for Schwartz." Among them was Democrat and activist Lawrence Guyot, who said Schwartz was best suited to lead the city back to independence.

For the Record Carol Schwartz On ... The candidate's written response to questions from The Post. • The Structure of Government • D.C. Public Schools • D.C. Police • Creating Jobs • Handling a Vital Issue

Schwartz also tried to downplay her party label in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 10 to 1. She quoted Robert F. Kennedy and Bob Marley and said she has shown "a lifelong, progressive commitment to our people most in need" while Williams fired hundreds and proposed cuts in education and programs for the aging.

"I may be a Republican, but this guy is more conservative than I am," she said.

She described him as an outsider who hasn’t been accountable to voters through much of his professional career and a D.C. resident who failed to vote in four of the last five elections.

At another point, she referred to the "Barry-Williams" campaign, attempting to link Williams in voters’ minds to Mayor Marion Barry, against whom Schwartz drew 42 percent of the vote four years ago.

Williams’ campaign spokeswoman, Peggy Armstrong, said the candidate had no response to Schwartz’s comments, except that the campaign wanted to stick to the issues.

"Tony Williams is running for mayor; he’s not really running against anyone," she said.

John P. Martin can be reached at martinj@washingtonpost.com or by phone at 703-469-3179.