Michael A. Brown
Office Sought: D.C. Mayor
Age: 41
Residence: Chevy Chase.
Education: BA, government, Clark University; JD, Widener University.
Occupation: Managing partner, Alcalde & Fay government relations and consulting firm; part-owner, several District businesses.
Web site: www.brownformayor.com
E-mail address: infohost@brownformayor.com
Elected offices/civic activities:
Board member, Boys & Girls Club; board member, Comcast Communications; member, Council on Foreign Relations; past board member, Whitman-Walker Clinic; past vice chairman, D.C. Boxing & Wrestling Commission; member, DCPS superintendent search committee; surrogate speaker, Democratic Party; founding board member, Ron Brown Foundation; past finance vice chairman, DNC; board member, Community Academy Public Charter School.
Why should voters elect you?
"As mayor, I will secure a seat at the table for all District residents and champion economic empowerment from Anacostia to Georgetown."
What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
"Everyone can agree that fixing our education system is paramount and that doing so would then solve problems relating to housing, public safety, homeland security, employment and crime. The umbrella issue, however, is the much-needed attitude adjustment among city leaders. When I am mayor, the District will operate based on a citizens-first agenda, rather than spending immeasurable time and resources on a new baseball stadium and other irresponsible and non-inclusive development deals. A Brown administration will focus on addressing the core needs of all citizens of the District."
"In order for D.C. to be a vibrant, diverse and prosperous city for all residents, we must address how education, housing, health care, public safety and employment are interconnected. Every day is a crime emergency in certain parts of this city, and the recent crime wave has again demonstrated that D.C. must implement a comprehensive approach to addressing crime and the precursors to criminal activity. It is imperative that we provide hope and opportunity for our youth through a viable public education system and vocational and technical training to give them the skills to become self-sufficient and contributing members of society."
How would you maintain affordable housing for lower-income and working-class residents during a time of gentrification?
"The current development boom has brought tremendous benefits to a segment of our population; yet many of our citizens are facing a housing crisis.
"I propose a comprehensive plan to increase the availability of affordable housing. We should consider some innovative approaches, such as adapting inclusive zoning policies to address affordability at the time of property development and requiring developers to include a minimum number of affordable housing units in each development by providing creative financing to minimize the need to pass along housing costs to home buyers and renters. Additionally, I support aggressive rental-control legislation."
A federal court monitor says the District has shown a "pattern of neglect" toward mentally retarded citizens in its care. What are your plans for improving their care?
"I am profoundly disturbed by the findings released by The Washington Post this past June. The current city administration has exposed some of our city's most vulnerable citizens to victimization. Any and all individuals found complicit in altering records at [the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration] should be terminated immediately. That is the first order of business.
"Second, as mayor, I will create an independent oversight committee to ensure that these things don't continue to happen. Our No. 1 priority as leaders is to ensure the protection of the neediest among us."
Should the city build a new central library on the site of the old convention center or rehabilitate the current Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library?
"D.C. absolutely needs a major central facility such as it now has with the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. The New York Mid-Manhattan Public Library has become a central landmark and meeting place for New York residents and tourists visiting the city. The same goes for Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit. As a major metropolitan city and the nation's capital, it is our responsibility to do the same here in the District."
-- The Washington Post
