BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Age: 47 Residence: Washington.

Married: Yes. Children: One.

Education: BA, Yale; MA, Kennedy School of Government; JD, Harvard Law School.
Occupation/Employer: Former chief financial officer of the District of Columbia.
Elected Offices: New Haven, Conn., Board of Alderman and Community Development Committee; Sierra Club; Audubon Society; Government Finance Officers Association; Association of Government Accountants; Boston Redevelopment Authority; Community Development Agency in St. Louis, Mo.; first chief financial officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Air Force.

Why should voters elect you?
"The District needs good government that protects our citizens, educates our children and makes our neighborhoods places where families flourish. We need a Mayor with vision, a record of effective management and the ability to fix a broken bureaucracy. I have a proven track record and the ability to deliver the services citizens deserve. As the city's Chief Financial Officer, I restored financial stability to the city. I stand ready to commit to make the government work for everyone-especially our young people who need quality education that will prepare them for the world of work."

What do you want voters to know about you?
"I will work with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton to command the respect we need to claim what is rightfully ours-self-government for the District."

Web site: williamsdc98.com
E-mail: vol@williamsdc98.com

POST COVERAGE

The Candidate's Record
In February, 1997, an audit showed the city's finances were a mess. As the District's chief financial officer, Williams gave himself precisely a year to straighten out the financial system and produce an unqualified opinion from the auditors, or he would resign his $115,000-a-year post.

• Williams Raises $1 Million   –   Oct. 14, 1998
• Williams: No Mass Firings   –   Oct. 13, 1998
• Democrats on Williams's To-Woo List   –   Sept. 17, 1998
• Williams Leads Rivals in Fund-Raising   –   Aug. 11, 1998
• 'Mr. Bow Tie' Becomes the Bull's-Eye   –   Aug. 7, 1998

ON THE TRAIL

Part of an online-only series chronicling a day with each major candidate for D.C. mayor.

  Photos from a day on the trail with Williams.

IN THE CANDIDATE'S WORDS

Where They Stand
Williams shared in writing his opinions on city government, schools, public safety, job market, the future of the city.

Coverage of Candidate Forums
• Candidates Debate City's Fiscal Recovery – July 15, 1998.
• Election Forum Focuses On Poor – July 1, 1998.
• Mayoral Forum a Yelling Match – June 25, 1998.
• Candidates Clash Over Fiscal Rebound – June 19, 1998.
• Tough Rhetoric Marks Mayoral Debate – June 10, 1998.

Transcripts of Candidate Forums
• Mayoral Debate: On Gambling and Race – July 30, 1998.
• Mayoral Debate: How to Keep City's Jobs – July 23, 1998.
• Views on Spending, Parking – July 2, 1998.
• Election '98: The Mayoral Debate – June 25, 1998.

CAMPAIGN FUNDING

Williams outpaced his three top rivals by raising nearly $400,000 in eight weeks, primarily through hundreds of small donations from District residents, according to an August campaign finance report.

Our campaign finance database shows who has contributed how much to the major candidates.

The Voters' Guide was compiled from staff reporting and information provided by the candidates in response to questionnaires from The Washington Post. Each candidate was asked to provide biographical information, a photograph and a brief statement about why the voters should elect him or her. Candidates' responses were edited for length and style.