Voters will elect two at-large D.C. Council members on Nov. 4, and 15 candidates are vying for those two spots. These are their stories, edited for length and clarity.
Notable endorsements: Hart said he has the backing of some ANC commissioners and small-business owners but declined to specify. “I’ll just leave it general,” he said.
Total funds raised: $165,744.29, including $100,900 in personal loans from Hart
So, who are you? I’m a son, a brother and a friend. I believe deeply in fairness, equal opportunity and honest government. I also teach and mentor students at Anacostia and Ballou high schools. I’ve seen first-hand the challenges the city is facing, and I will bring collaborative, honest leadership to the council.
What’s the one personal or professional experience that has best prepared you to be a D.C. Council member? I would say my parents’ teaching and guidance has prepared me. My father has worked at John Deere for 40 years, and my mother has directed elder services nonprofits in Rutland, Vt., for about 20 years. The three qualities they have most instilled in me are integrity, compassion and commitment, and I would bring those qualities to the D.C. Council.
What’s the one thing the council should be doing on affordable housing? I think better oversight of properties and investments. The government has $100 million to invest in the Housing Production Trust Fund. The council should ensure those funds are being used effectively on mixed-use development, inclusionary zoning and public-private partnerships that make our city affordable for more residents. It really goes to oversight first. That’s what I’ve taken away from what I’ve seen as an ANC commissioner and in the community.
And on education? I think we must help our struggling schools. The D.C. Council has a significant role to play in allocating resources through the budget process. We should be willing to fund our struggling schools at higher levels. But it’s about more than money. Per-pupil spending in the District is relatively high. We must work with parents, principals, students and educators to address specific needs in the schools and implement strategies that are proven to work. This is a complex challenge, but we can continue to make progress.
Where’s a third area you want to be impactful? I would like to see continued job and small-business growth in our city. The District still has the perception of being not small-business friendly. The unemployment rate is still high in Wards 5, 7, and 8. We can work with our local businesses, nonprofit partners and government agencies to improve workforce development that aligns with future opportunities, streamlines government bureaucracy and brings more jobs to the District for residents.
What is the first bill you plan to introduce? Honest and transparent government remains an important issue for the city. I would the introduce my Clean Government Act, aimed at ending pay-to-play politics by removing contract approval authority from the council, eliminating constituent service funds, and I would consider open primaries for independent voters.
You’ve been serving on an ANC for two years. It’s a big leap, as I’m sure you’re learning, to run for citywide office. What makes you ready to represent an entire city of 650,000 residents and diverse neighborhoods, not just one ward or one ANC district? I would say that I’ve been in D.C. for over a decade. I came here originally for law school at Georgetown and a job. I’ve worked both in the private sector and the public sector, and I’ve served as ANC commissioner in local government, and I’ve mentored students in public schools for six years. I believe I will bring a fresh and fair voice to the D.C. Council that can provide honest and collaborative leadership.