Voters Guide -- 10/20/2010

About the Nov. 2 electionThe polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2. You may

also request an absentee ballot by mail through Oct. 26. Early voting hasbegun at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St. NW, and will continue dailythrough Sept. 13 except Sundays. The Chevy Chase Community Center andthree other satellite early-voting locations will be open Oct. 23 through 30,except on Sunday.

Voters registered as of Oct. 4 are eligible to vote; if you are not registered to vote, you may register at an early voting location or onElection Day and cast a special ballot.

Information about voting places and other aspects of the election isavailable on the Board of Elections and Ethics’ website, dcboee.org.Election information is also available by calling the board’s office at 202-727-2525.

About the Voters GuideThe Current’s editors interviewed the major candidates in races within

our coverage area in the Nov. 2 election — the contests for mayor, D.C.Council chairman, two at-large D.C. Council seats, the Ward 1 D.C. Councilseat, the Ward 3 D.C. Council seat and the Ward 1 State Board ofEducation seat.

Laura McGiffert Slover is uncontested in her bid for re-election to theState Board of Education seat for Ward 3. The races for D.C. delegate tothe U.S. House of Representatives and shadow U.S. representative are notincluded due to space constraints. Advisory neighborhood commission candidates also are not included due to space constraints.

The interviews provided the basis for profiles combining candidates’ biographical information and a discussion of their top priorities, as well ascharts offering brief positions on a host of specific issues.

David CataniaIndependent

David Catania, who has held an at-large seat onthe D.C. Council since 1997 and chairs the council’sCommittee on Health, is running for re-election as anindependent.

He is a senior counsel at the law firm Akin, Gump,Strauss, Hauer and Feld.

If re-elected, Catania said he plans to focus hisefforts most on healthcare, education and jobopportunities.

Catania said he strong-ly supports continued edu-cation reform. A majorobjective should be tobuild a successful special-education system withinthe D.C. Public Schools,with exceptions for chil-dren with severe mentalhealth problems, who mayneed to be educated out-side the system.

To reduce the numberof children misdiagnosed as learning disabled and toensure provision of proper services, he would create a“first-of-its-kind” mental health screening and assess-ments program.

Since more than 90 percent of District children arecovered by a publicly financed health system thatincludes mental health benefits, such screenings andtreatment wouldn’t impose new costs for District tax-payers, he said.

Another major Catania priority is getting schoolfinances in order. “That goes hand in glove with mysupport for early childhood education,” he said.

Catania said that he has experience improvingfinances. When he became chair of the Committee onHealth, “we got a trust-but-verify budget system [forthe city Health Department]. ... You go through everysingle contract and line item. What is shocking is howoften we spend money on services and receive nobenefit — or none relative to the amount we werespending. I was able to save tens of millions.”

AT-LARGE D.C. COUNCIL SEATS ■ Vote for Two

See Catania/Page VG10

Inside Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page VG2

D.C. Council Chairman . . Page VG3At-large D.C. Council Seats

Q & A . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page VG6Ward 1 D.C. Council Seat

Candidate Profiles . . . . Page VG4Q & A . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages VG7

Ward 3 D.C. Council SeatCandidate Profiles . . . . Page VG5Q & A . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages VG8

Ward 1 State Board of EducationCandidate Profiles . . . . Page VG5Q & A . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages VG9

Phil MendelsonDemocratic Party

Phil Mendelson, a D.C. Council member since1999, is running for re-election for his at-large seatas the Democratic nominee. He chairs the council’sCommittee on Public Safety and the Judiciary,which has jurisdiction over police and the fire andemergency medical services agency.

Mendelson said that if re-elected, he would con-tinue aggressive oversight of those agencies, whichhe said have improved under his watch. Other prior-ities, he said, are fiscal stability and public educa-tion.

“There’s been a lot of progress in public safety,”he said in an interview before the primary. “We areat the brink of substantial improvement.”

But some areas still need lots of work: In additionto its muddled oversightof youth offenders, thecity has inadequate pro-gramming to help curbrecidivism and other illssuch as drug addiction, hesaid.

“This city still hasway too much violentcrime,” he said.

Mendelson cites as aparticular battle he haswaged the effort to bringthe D.C. Fire andEmergency MedicalServices Department budget in line. With agencyheads asked to reduce overtime spending, he said,Police Chief Cathy Lanier has brought down thosecosts by $16 million, while Fire Chief Dennis Rubinhas overspent by $100 million. Mendelson said thatif re-elected he would hold monthly hearings on thematter.

He also pointed to the juvenile justice reform billhe recently introduced, which, if passed, would addto the 300-plus bills that he has shepherded into law.

Just like most of this year’s candidates,Mendelson said that education reform is a top prior-ity. Before the primary, Mendelson said he preferred

See Mendelson/Page VG10

David SchwartzmanD.C. Statehood Green Party

David Schwartzman is the D.C. Statehood GreenParty nominee for an at-large seat on the D.C.Council.

Since 1973, he has worked as a professor inHoward University’s biology department.

If elected, Schwartzman said, he would focusmost on poverty reduction, the green economy andtax and revenue.

To reduce poverty, thecity must work to restorecuts in child care, afford-able housing and adulteducation, while workingto reopen and properlystaff social-service cen-ters, said Schwartzman.“We’ll afford it byaddressing the revenueside and corporate wel-fare.”

Schwartzman said theneed for such services isdire because “one out ofthree D.C. children live in poverty, four of 10 blackchildren.”

He said the privatization of social services haslargely failed and that poverty reduction should be“linked to creating living-wage job opportunities.”

He would ban employers from asking about crim-inal records on initial job applications “as it discrimi-nates against rehabilitated ex-offenders.” But banksand other institutions could require an answer in fol-low-up questionnaires, he added.

To foster a green economy, Schwartzman said,D.C. needs to start with schools. “We only have onevocational high school, but no apprenticeship pro-grams integrated with it,” he said. “We need pro-grams partnering with businesses, unions and non-profits emphasizing sustainable jobs such as greenenergy and food production.” Such programs shouldalso be “available to adults in areas with high unem-ployment.”

Schwartzman said the city should encourage solarSee Schwartzman/Page VG10

VOTERS GUIDETHE CURRENT

A Special Section in the October 20, 2010, issue of The Current Newspapers ■ NOVEMBER 2, 2010, GENERAL ELECTION

VG2 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2010 THE CURRENT VOTERS GUIDE

FaithD.C. Statehood Green Party

Faith, who legally has just one name,is the D.C. Statehood Green Party nom-inee for D.C. mayor. She has sought theposition — as well as the District’s non-voting seat in the U.S. House — severaltimes in recent years.

If elected, Faith said, she wouldwork to further empower advisoryneighborhood commissions, house thehomeless and achieve statehood for theDistrict.

She said that all advisory neighbor-hood commissioners should collectideas from each of the 2,000 residentsthey represent. Then, she said, the com-missioners should present those ideas tothe D.C. Council. Commissionerswould accumulate more power by con-tributing legislative ideas to the council,she said.

Faith said that commissioners shouldalso enlist artists to come to their sin-gle-member districts and teach studentsof all ages.

She believes that young people andthe homeless should have local commu-nity centers where they can be trainedin the performing arts. The neighbor-hood commissions should be encour-aged to use such centers, she said.

In terms of housing the homelessindividuals and families of the District,Faith pointed to many empty condo-minium and rental apartment develop-ments. She thinks the homeless shouldbe allowed to live in them “until theyget their feet on the ground.”

She advocates for the city to rent thespaces from building owners for about$2 million to $3 million a year. Doingso would not create a big item in thecity’s multibillion-dollar budget, saidthe mayoral hopeful.

Statehood, Faith said, is imperativefor D.C. “It must be implemented nowto keep Congress from interfering with

Vincent GrayDemocratic Party

In 2004, Vincent Gray was elected tothe D.C. Council to represent Ward 7, andtwo years later, he won a race to serve ascouncil chairman. Now he is running formayor as the Democratic nominee, hav-ing defeated incumbent Adrian Fenty.

If elected, Gray said, he would priori-tize education, economic developmentand fiscal responsibility.

To rein in spending, Gray would turnfirst to public safety, health and humanservices, and education. “With 80-pluspercent of our expenditures in thoseareas, there’s really nowhere else tolook.”

He didn’t rule out a tax increase tosolve the budget crunch; he called it “alast resort.” He wouldn’t say what taxeswould be targeted if the city needs addi-tional revenue.

Besides cutting spending, Gray said hewould promote economic developmentinitiatives. He said improved vocationaltraining, particularly for “emerging jobs”in environment-related industries, wouldprovide a major boost for the District.

A well-trained workforce could attractgreen companies to D.C. and grow thecity beyond hosting tourists and the fed-eral government, he said. This would

boost resident employment — and there-fore their contribution to the economyand the tax rolls — and the city wouldcollect taxes from the new businesses,Gray said.

He pledged to hire more enforcementofficers to oversee the District’s first-source law, which requires firms workingon city-funded contracts to hire D.C. resi-dents as more than half their workforce.

On his third priority — education —Gray said he is committed to maintainingthe reform momentum set by SchoolsChancellor Michelle Rhee.

He described, in his interview beforethe primary, an ideal chancellor as “some-

MAYOR

See Faith/Page VG11 See Gray/Page VG10

What are the three areas upon which you would concentrate the most asmayor?

The mayor and council faced difficult challenges when preparing the 2011 budget. They increased “fees,” which some would describe as taxes; madesome budget cutbacks; and reduced the District’s reserve funds. Should the cityface similar problems in the next four years, would you favor increasing taxes,cutting expenditures, further reducing the amount of the reserve funds, or acombination?

As council chairman, Vincent Gray voted for a budget dependent on our cashingin on some reserve accounts, even after having criticized the approach. Was thecriticism insincere?

What approaches, if any, should be taken to reduce the likelihood that rising realestate values and taxes will force low-income D.C. residents out of their longtime homes, or are our current policies adequate?

What departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s three top priorities interms of any new or additional spending?

What agencies or programs, if any, should be reduced or eliminated?

Should the District turn over information on citizenship to the U.S. immigrationagency when suspects are arrested and booked for alleged serious criminal activity? Or convicted?

Should the city force universities to provide more on-campus undergraduate student housing? If so, how?

Should D.C. allow residents to set up self-taxing districts where residents agreeto pay extra taxes to receive extra services similar to Maryland municipalitiesand to business improvement districts here in D.C.?

In 20 words or less, explain why voters should elect you as mayor.

FAITH

Empower advisory neighborhood commissions, housing home-less, statehood.

Further reduce reserve funds, cut expenses in construction ofnew buildings.

Yes.

Initiate tax exemption for buildings that house low-income andhomeless residents.

Recreation, senior and youth centers.

Agency reviewing movies should be eliminated.

Only if they are convicted.

No.

Yes.

I would create a new state empowering ANCs and the revival ofRoosevelt’s WPA to bring a new arts economy.

VINCENT GRAY

Education, economic development and fiscal responsibility.

First focus must be on reducing expenditures. We cannot legallyfurther reduce the fund balances. I’d want to work with citizenson what should be reduced. Tax increases would be a last resort.At this time I don’t want to take a position on what taxes weshould look at. We can’t increase cigarettes, sales or gas taxes.On expenditures, we’d have to look at education, human ser-vices and public safety as they are over 80 percent of budget.

We had only 56 days to consider the budget. In all likelihood wewill be revisiting it very soon.

Continue rent control; enforce inclusionary zoning; continue homepurchase assistance for first-time home buyers; create a work-force housing fund for teachers, police officers and firefighters.

When we can afford it, investments in early-childhood education,career and technical education, enhanced community collegesupport and employment services.

We would have to work with citizens before making any decisions.

No.

Yes, it should be a part of their 10-year campus plans. If theydon’t have adequate space, they shouldn’t be allowed toincrease the university’s size.

The BIDs by and large work well. As a general policy, I would support it, but there is a downside that people will say theyalready pay taxes to the city. My own neighborhood, Hillcrest, hasexpressed an interest.

Vince Gray will put an end to cronyism, restore character, integrity, leadership and sound fiscal management to District government.

THE CURRENT VOTERS GUIDE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2010 VG3

Kwame BrownDemocratic Party

Kwame Brown, the Democratic nomi-nee for D.C. Council chairman, has beenan at-large member of the D.C. Councilsince 2004. He chairs the council’sEconomic Development Committee andthe Metropolitan Washington Council ofGovernments.

Brown’s priorities if elected councilchairman would be to continue theDistrict’s education reform efforts,improve its vocational training programsand ensure its financial well-being.

In an interview before the primary, hesaid he recognizes the need for improve-ments to the District’s schools — as anelected official and as a parent. “I believeI’ll be the first chairman of the council toactually have children in D.C. publicschools at a time when school reform is aNo. 1 issue that residents are concernedabout,” he said.

Brown said he’s pleased with theprogress in the city’s public elementaryschools, but the improvements need tocontinue into higher age groups. Theschool system needs “world-class middleschools,” Brown said.

“I believe that wherever you go, mid-dle schools are a big concern for middle-class families who are leaving the system

and leaving the city,” he said. “When westart to fix our middle schools, it will startto improve our high schools.”

In the middle schools, he would liketo see smaller class sizes, a teacher’s aidein every classroom, and Saturday andsummer classes available to all students.

It’s too early to tell whether schoolreform under Chancellor Michelle Rheehas been successful, he said. A progressreport is due in the next year or two.

Brown said he worries some educatorsmay feel left out of the reform process.“We need to move as quickly as possiblein ensuring that the education reformmethods are continued while bringing

Ann WilcoxD.C. Statehood Green Party

Ann Wilcox is the D.C. StatehoodGreen Party nominee for D.C. Councilchairman.

She works as an attorney concentrat-ing in criminal defense work and FirstAmendment defense for protest groups.

Wilcox said that if she is elected, shewould concentrate her efforts on afford-able housing, expanding the social safetynet and gaining statehood for the District.

“We’ve lost a third of our affordable-housing stock in the last 10 years,”Wilcox said. “Most of the new unitsbeing built are high-end buildings.

“Columbia Heights,” she said, “is aperfect example of an area being gentri-fied — long-term African-American andHispanic residents being replaced by yup-pies.”

Wilcox said she would push the city tofund down payments for tenants seekingto buy apartments under the city’s TenantOpportunity to Purchase Act, or tenants’right-of-first-refusal law. “The group as awhole would have to pay it back, butsome of the [payback] funds shouldcomes as grants [from the city],” she said.

The chairman hopeful also believesthat the city should ensure that there areenough apartment buildings to house the

disabled and the elderly. “We need todevelop more senior housing — buildnew projects,” she said. “There is a lot offederal money available ... . Now, thegovernment often doesn’t even fill outgrant applications.”

Wilcox favors group homes in stablesingle-family-home neighborhoods forthe mentally challenged, the elderly andrecent prison releases. She said, “Wemust educate people who would move if[new] neighbors are recent prison releas-es. Releases have an incentive tobehave.”

She continued: “You don’t want to putthem [releases] in the neighborhood

D.C. COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

See Brown/Page VG11 See Wilcox/Page VG11

What are the three areas upon which you would concentrate most as D.C.Council chairman?

What do you see as the main role of the council chairman, especially in relationship to the mayor, D.C. agencies and neighborhoods?

What specific skills and formative experience do you bring that would enable youto chair the council effectively?

Should Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry chair a committee?

The mayor and council faced difficult challenges when preparing the 2011 budget. They increased “fees,” which some would describe as taxes; madesome budget cutbacks; and reduced the District’s reserve funds. Should the cityface similar problems in the next four years, would you favor increasing taxes,cutting expenditures, further reducing the amount of the reserve funds, or acombination?

What departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s three top priorities interms of any new or additional spending once the economy recovers?

The city’s charter school supporters claim that far more taxpayer money isspent for the public school system’s buildings on a per-pupil basis than is available to charter schools. If you agree, what, if anything, should be doneabout it?

Should police officers be able to write tickets with large fines for underage drinking and for quality-of-life offenses so the officers won’t be off the street?

Should the city force universities to provide more on-campus undergraduate student housing? If so, how?

In 20 words or less, explain why voters should elect you as D.C. Council chairman.

KWAME BROWN

Move education reform forward, job training, city’s fiscal health.

To provide leadership and oversight, to work with and lead colleagues, and to be collaborative with the mayor for benefit ofDistrict residents.

Professional experience at Walmart, Citibank, First Union and theU.S. Department of Commerce and as chair of the council’sEconomic Development Committee.

Everyone should have a committee — perhaps a small specialcommittee. It will not be a major one such as economic development.

First, ensure expenditures are properly allocated and haveanalysts put together an income and program expense planthat can be presented in an open, transparent way. Spendingcuts come first, looking at areas we could consolidate. Wouldnot further cut reserve funds. We’ve lost $30 million a year inMedicaid reimbursements from the federal government foryears. Would consider cuts in everything except educationand public safety. Would introduce tax on online hotel reservations.

More funding for middle schools, summer schools and careertechnical education; push completion of neighborhood economicdevelopment projects.

I agree. There should be parity. My two kids have attended acharter school, and my wife works for one.

Yes.

Yes, by offering incentives that local advisory neighborhood commissions might approve, such as building-height incentives.

I will continue to fight for aggressive education reform, workingwith the mayor to create a world-class school system.

ANN WILCOX

Affordable housing, social safety net, statehood.

Oversight of budget and agency operations.

Have served on boards such as the D.C. Commission on Womenand the Board of Education; have chaired many committee meetings; have formulated agendas.

Not right now.

Increase luxury taxes on theaters, health clubs and other high-end services. I oppose increases in income and sales taxes.Possibly increase all property taxes. Reduce developer breaks.Delay some capital improvements. I have no problem going intothe reserves. We should use the rainy-day fund when it’s a rainyday.

Schools, libraries and recreation centers; public safety.

I don’t agree. They get really good deals on buildings, and theyget some of the better ones. They can do foundation fundraising.

No. It’s OK the way it is.

I don’t think we can.

I will use my experience to lead the council toward an economically diverse city that provides for all its citizens.


Jim GrahamDemocratic Party

Jim Graham, who has served on the D.C. Councilsince 1998, is again seeking re-election for the Ward1 seat as the Democratic nominee.

He chairs the council’s Committee on PublicWorks and Transportation and serves on the board ofthe Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority,which he chaired in 2003 and 2009.

If re-elected, Graham said, he would focus onquality-of-life issues, jobs and economic develop-ment, and public safety.

In an interview before the primary, Graham saidthe constituent service in his ward is “considered thebest in the city.”

He said he responds promptly to constituents’ e-mails, dedicating “several hours every day to givingmeaningful responses.Then, the staff followsup.”

On employment,Graham said the mostfrequent question hehears is, “Can you getme a job?” In manycases, he said, hisoffice has been able tohelp.

“I do work hard toincrease vocationaltraining and strengthenpeople’s opportuni-ties,” he said. “I wasbrought up saying thatall work has nobility.”

Graham wants to see more rigid enforcement ofthe requirement that 51 percent of jobs generated byD.C. government-funded projects go to city residents.“The contracts for construction in Columbia Heightsthat were not in compliance had no penalties,” hesaid.

He takes credit for helping to create “truly produc-tive properties” in Ward 1 that have yielded jobs. Adecade ago, U Street and Columbia Heights “wereabandoned areas,” he said.

In Columbia Heights, he said, a new IHOP offered110 jobs, and 85 percent of jobs at a new Giant werefilled from the immediate area.

Graham said he helped arrange in ColumbiaHeights the city’s first significant tax-incrementfinancing deal, which postpones property tax paymentto encourage development. He was the major authorof the $41 million financing bill, he said.

Graham identified the next “target area” in hisward as the lower part of Georgia Avenue around theHoward Town Center development at 8th and Vstreets and Georgia Avenue. The United NegroCollege Fund has taken 50,000 square feet there, hesaid, while an effort to restore the nearby HowardTheatre broke ground recently.

He also cited successes with transportation initia-tives in his ward. “Adams Morgan became a stationname. The Yellow Line was extended due to me,” hesaid. And the DC Circulator route he helped createhas been a “great success.”

He said he has also helped improve the publicsafety climate, including combating gangs.

“Nobody handed me a magic wand” to help targetentrenched gang problems, Graham said. “We con-nected with gang experts who provided us with intel-ligence.”

He speaks highly of the ProUrban Youth DC jobsprogram, which offers more than 1,000 positions inWard 1 and is now in its ninth year. “I authored themoney for people who were undocumented,” he saidof the program. “We have several thousand who haveno papers. They were the prime targets for thegangs.”

See Graham/Page VG11

WARD 1 D.C. COUNCIL

Marc MorganRepublican Party

Marc Morgan is the Republican nominee for theWard 1 seat on the D.C. Council.

He is director of development and strategic part-nerships for the American Council on RenewableEnergy.

If elected, he said, his three major priorities wouldbe jobs, education and fighting crime.

“We need more higher-paying, long-term, sustain-able jobs,” Morgan said. “The way to get them is towork on green technology because it requires skilledpeople and has a long-term future.”

To make sure D.C. residents get these green jobs,Morgan said, he would push high schools to offercourses in solar installation and recycling as well aslife-skills programs. “We must integrate sustainablepractices in the schools to pique [students’] interest,”he said, noting that green jobs can attract studentswith a range of academic skill levels.

Morgan also said he’s an advocate for tradeschools and strong mentoring programs.

He said Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee did“an outstanding job of putting us on a performance-based platform that lifts up our students and teach-ers.”

He praised her for being “very effective in holdingteachers accountable.” For example, he said he oncetold Rhee about his son’s lack of homework, and shetook initiative. “As aresult, some of hisclassmates are now inthe Shaw Librarydoing homework.”

However, Morgansaid, there’s “a lack ofemphasis placed onincreased performanceand higher education”at D.C. schools, whichcan be like factorieswith insufficient atten-tion to students asindividuals. He notedthat “there are manykids in my son’ssenior class ... who cannot read at an eighth-gradelevel.”

He said he disagrees with “teachers [who] say wedon’t have the money” to make improvements.

If elected, Morgan would “put more focus onadvanced education at a very young age: science,technology and mathematics,” he said.

Advocating a balanced emphasis on education andathletics, he said some kids need to focus less oninflated dreams “to make the NBA.”

Morgan said recent shootings and break-ins areevidence “that we have not paid enough attention topockets of crime.”

His solution would be not only to add moreMetropolitan Police Department officers on thestreets, but also to increase community engagement.“In my neighborhood, there are four police officers Iknow by name as they walk the neighborhood,” hesaid. “A lot of neighborhoods do not have that. If[police are] not out on the street, they are not effec-tive.”

He said police must work more with the businesscommunity, particularly in Columbia Heights and theU street area.

Morgan also addressed the problem of retention:“We need more officers, but we must keep them,” hesaid. “They get trained here and then go somewhereelse with higher pay and better working conditions.... Their talents are not utilized enough here.”

Morgan said D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier isdoing a great job but “does not have the support ofthe [D.C.] Council,” which has not fully funded the

See Morgan/Page VG11

Nancy ShiaD.C. Statehood Green Party

Nancy Shia is the D.C. Statehood Green Partynominee for the Ward 1 seat on the D.C. Council.

She has served as an Adams Morgan advisoryneighborhood commissioner since 2006.

If elected to the council, Shia said she wouldconcentrate most on statehood, childhood povertyand education.

She encouraged more activism for the D.C. state-hood effort. “Educate, agitate and organize” is hermantra: “Educate the kids, get them to agitatewhere the pressure must be put on other state gov-ernments, and organize to get them to put pressureon their Congress people.”

High-schoolers, for example, should get“involved in writing to kids in other states,” Shiasaid. “It will take arelentless drumbeat inCongress. ...Statehood is one fightwe will have to taketo the streets in everystate.”

She described theproblem of childhoodpoverty in D.C. as“all-encompassing,”noting that it involvesissues of “civil rights,living wages, badschools and gentrifi-cation.” It also con-tributes to crime, shesaid: “Children living in poverty are much morelikely to enter the juvenile justice system.”

Shia highlighted a racial backdrop to the prob-lem: 43 percent of African-American children inD.C. live in poverty, while only 2 or 3 percent ofwhite children do, she said.

Many poverty-stricken children have parentsstruggling to overcome criminal backgrounds, shesaid. “I would end housing and job discriminationwith people with criminal records. I would supportbanning the box where you check off if you have acriminal record,” she said. “I would support pro-grams that take people from jail to the halfwayhouses and from the halfway houses to a placewhere they can learn to have a living job.”

Shia said schools could help address some of theissues, by offering healthy food, parent training andfamily counseling. “The problems are not going tobe solved in the next 10 years, but you have to chipaway at it.”

To improve education in D.C., Shia encouragesstronger relationships between schools and theirsurrounding communities.

“The schools are locked up at night,” she said.“They have nice gyms and stages. The schoolbelongs to the community,” not to D.C. PublicSchools. “DCPS needs to relinquish some of itstight control.”

Shia said she would encourage advisory neigh-borhood commissions “to be active with their dis-trict schools” and help sponsor programs like a par-ent-of-the-month award.

If she becomes a D.C. Council member, Shiasaid, she would “get to know all the principals andfind out what they need.”

Engaging more with children’s families is alsocritical, she said. “We should recognize a parent ofthe year from every school and have more familynights with dinners. ... We should incentivize grand-parents. ... When grandparents are involved, thegrandchildren do much better.”

Absence of community engagement has been aparticular problem at H.D. Cooke ElementarySchool in Adams Morgan, said Shia, adding that the

See Shia/Page VG11


Mary ChehDemocratic Party

Mary Cheh, was was elected to theD.C. Council in 2006 as the Ward 3member, is seeking a second term afterreceiving the Democratic nomination inan uncontested primary.

She also teaches constitutional law atthe George Washington University LawSchool.

Cheh said that if re-elected, she willfocus particularly on quality-of-lifeissues, education and fiscal responsibility.

She touted her record over the pastfour years in tackling small issues thathave a big impact on constituents’ dailylives.

Visitor parking passes, street-pavingfunding on par with other wards, pedes-trian-safety initiatives, school renovationprojects accomplished or begun at DealMiddle School, Wilson High School andelsewhere, and amenities such as theWilson pool were initiatives from heroffice or benefited from her strong advo-cacy, she said.

But she acknowledged that thereremains much to be done and pledged tomaintain her focus on constituent issuesin a new term.

Cheh is also known for a citywide leg-islative record that includes bills — bothpassed and promulgated — promotinghealthy food in schools, clean energy, ahealth-inspection “grading” system for

restaurants and a tax on sugary drinks.She emphasized that her much-dis-

cussed mayoral endorsement of D.C.Council Chairman Vincent Gray was nota call to end school reform, as some haveinterpreted it. “I’ve supported everyaspect of the school reform movement,”she said. “Going forward, I want peopleto appreciate that the architecture ofschool reform is in place” including themayoral takeover, closed school build-ings, Allen Lew’s modernization office,strong principals in many schools and thenew teacher contract, she said.

But Cheh questioned the level of suc-cess the reform initiatives have achieved

Dave HedgepethRepublican Party

Dave Hedgepeth is a candidate for theWard 3 seat on the D.C. Council. Hereceived the Republican nomination in anuncontested race.

He is a litigation support specialistwith CACI International Inc., where hehelps manage cases for the U.S.Department of Justice.

If elected, Hedgepeth plans to pay par-ticular attention to education, fiscalresponsibility and small-business advoca-cy.

Calling himself a strong supporter ofoutgoing Mayor Adrian Fenty andSchools Chancellor Michelle Rhee,Hedgepeth said that if elected he wouldhelp ensure that school reform moves for-ward. The teacher ratings system knownas IMPACT, said Hedgepeth, is particu-larly important to preserve.

“I’m fearful that the new mayor wouldselect a chancellor who is willing to gutthe IMPACT system,” Hedgepeth said.“And that’s the key to making the systemwork.”

Robust teacher evaluation is also a fis-cal concern, he said. “Salaries are goingto be high. … We want to make sure weget what we pay for.”

Hedgepeth said he’s particularlybuoyed by the momentum of educationreform in Ward 3, and not only in hisward’s popular elementary schools. Ever

since Deal Middle School received athorough renovation and launched anInternational Baccalaureate program,more and more parents are choosing tosend their children there instead of — ashas traditionally happened — to a privateschool after the elementary grades, saidHedgepeth.

He also said principals should begiven more flexibility to determine what’sright for their schools, such as the longerschool day that incumbent Cheh has pro-posed for the D.C. Public Schools. “Iwouldn’t do it on a citywide basis,” hesaid. “Let the people on the grounddecide.”

WARD 3 D.C.COUNCIL

Patrick MaraPatrick Mara is a candidate for the

Ward 1 seat on the State Board ofEducation.

He runs a consulting business infundraising and political and business ser-vices, which he started in 2009.

Mara said that if elected, he wouldconcentrate on developing the school sys-tem’s science standards, collecting stu-dent data, and improving services forthose whose native language is notEnglish.

In terms of science standards, Marasaid, “We must see that [we] are in linewith high-performing jurisdictions suchas Massachusetts, as eventually they willbe included in the common core stan-dards being developed by most of thestates.”

There should be separate science stan-dards for biology, chemistry and physics,he said, noting that the board has alreadystarted working on them.

“It’s very important,” Mara said, “thatany science standards are aligned withthe standards of other states so we canbetter see how well we are doing relativeto others.”

Mara said the District currently lacksan adequate system for collecting data onits schools. “We need to start identifyinghow children do at the pre-K level andfollow them all the way. It is important tocompare children who have not had the

benefit of pre-k with those who have atall levels.”

He said teacher data should be publicas well. The big flaw of the federal NoChild Left Behind program is that it doesnot measure growth. It just measures pro-ficiency.”

For example, he said, “A fifth-gradeteacher who has students reading at thesecond-grade level and brings them up tothe fourth-grade level is doing a fabulousjob, but because the youngsters are not atthe fifth-grade level, the teacher is oftenconsidered unsatisfactory.”

He said the state superintendent isreviewing proposals from different ven-

Dotti Love WadeDotti Love Wade is running for re-

election for her Ward 1 seat on theState Board of Education.

Before joining the board, she servedfor four terms on an advisory neighbor-hood commission in Columbia Heights.

Wade said that if she is re-elected,she would focus most on ensuring fullimplementation of the recently passedEnglish language, arts and math stan-dards, developing strong assessmenttools and working on community rela-tions.

In terms of implementing standards,Wade said that the board’s authority liesin developing assessment tools — notactually implementing the new guide-lines.

She also spoke of the board’s limitedability to act on results. “The resultscome back to the board from the Officeof the State Superintendent. We, as aboard, cannot do anything, as we don’thave enforcement powers,” she said. “IfI find that a school in Ward 1 is not upto standard, I would report it to thestate superintendent and ask her or himto look into it and find what we can doto help the school.”

If no action is taken, Wade contin-ued, “then we have the bully pulpit of[having our meetings on] live televisionto let the public know. We don’t have astaff, so we don’t send releases to the

papers.” Wade said her major concern is how

youth violence, dropouts and lowachievement can lead to high unem-ployment and gang violence.

As for developing assessment tools,she said the Ward 3 board member,Laura Slover, is leading that effort. “Weneed strong [tools],” said Wade. “Theyhave to be closely aligned to the cur-riculum and to the new science, tech-nology and math standards that arebeing developed. I’m going to be push-ing that those assessment dollars areequally formulated for all of ourschools.”

WARD 1 D.C. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

See Cheh/Page VG10 See Hedgepeth/Page VG10

See Wade/Page VG11See Mara/Page VG11


What are the three areas you would concentrate on the most as acouncil member?

The mayor and D.C. Council faced difficult challenges in preparingthe 2011 budget. They increased “fees,” which some describe astaxes; made some budget cutbacks; and reduced the District’sreserve funds. If the city faces similar problems in the future, howwould you react?

Should the District increase income taxes on residents earningmore than $250,000?

Should the council’s ban on earmarks remain?

What approaches, if any, should be taken to decrease the likelihood that increasing real estate values and taxes would forcelow-income D.C. residents out of their longtime homes, or are ourcurrent policies adequate?

The District’s commercial real estate and corporate businesstaxes are by far the highest in the area. Should there be a majoreffort in future years to reduce them in order to compete better forlocal businesses? If yes, how should it be done?

Which departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s threetop priorities in terms of any new or additional spending? Whichshould be cut?

What line items, if any, should be struck from or added to theschool budget?

Should there be funding for pre-kindergarten for very young children from the moment of birth?

Should police officers be able to write tickets with large fines forunderage drinking and for quality-of-life offenses so they don’t haveto take the time to formally book the accused?

Should the District turn over information on citizenship status tothe U.S. immigration agency when suspects are arrested andbooked for alleged serious criminal activity?

How would you get better enforcement of laws on jaywalking, bicycle riders ignoring moving vehicle laws, drivers ignoring yieldsigns, drivers on cell phones and drivers blocking the box? Orwould you eliminate some of these laws?

In 20 words or less, explain why voters should elect you to theD.C. Council.

DAVID CATANIAIndependent

Education, health care, job creation.

My committee reduced the budgets of agencieswe oversee by eliminating waste while preserv-ing core services. Ultimately I would support abalance of expense reductions and revenueenhancements. On taxes, we should lookwhere we are lower than the suburbs, such asresidential real estate, to stay competitive. Anyincreases should be modest and temporary. Ifwe increase income taxes, I would look atsomething very small across the board — say,$25 on every $1,000, which would almostclose the gap. There could be waste to cut inspecial-education transportation and privatetuition.

Any increase should be across the board, pos-sibly slightly higher on higher earners, but onlyif absolutely necessary.

Yes.

We should offer incentives for homeownershipamong low-income residents to protect themfrom rent increases. A 30-year mortgage doesnot increase. I support increases in the HomePurchase Assistance Program and allowing useof rental allowances as mortgage assistance.

Yes, without question, but it is not possible atthis point as it would lead to a short-termreduction in revenue. We have to make parity apriority — especially with the expansion ofMetro in Northern Virginia, which could result inour losing office and retail tenants.

We should look at possible increases for theDepartment of Employment Services, theDepartment of Human Services and theDepartment of Mental Health. Would look forreductions by reforming the pension system,special education and the Office of the ChiefFinancial Officer, which has an enormous staff.

Would enhance District-based special educa-tion to solve over time out-of-state tuition andtransportation costs. Would also improve public health education as we are paying forlow health literacy many times over. Specialeducation transportation and out-of-state tuitionshould be cut.

Yes, generally, but I am unsure of exact time tostart.

Would favor it on a limited basis to study itseffectiveness.

Generally not, except for conviction of a seriouscrime.

These are not trivial issues. However, there isa problem of how to use police officers, givenmore serious problems.

As council member, I’ve worked for honest,accountable government. With your support, I’llseek common-sense solutions to our manychallenges.

D.C. COUNCIL AT-LARGE SEATS(Vote for Two) DAVID SCHWARTZMAN

D.C. Statehood Green Party

Poverty reduction, green economy, tax and revenue issues.

We need to enact a progressive tax structure,curb corporate welfare received through taxabatements, and establish a D.C. municipalbank like North Dakota’s to hold our revenuesso we can invest them in green jobs. We mustcampaign for payments in lieu of taxes fromuniversities and semi-governmental organiza-tions such as the World Bank.

Yes, modestly and up to 1.5 percent more afterthe federal deduction for those with much higher incomes.

There are earmarks and earmarks. A broad banmisses some valuable expenditures.

Lower the cap on property tax increases for theless affluent and raise it for multimillion-dollarhomes.

No for the foreseeable future. Our vacancy rateis lower than the suburbs, so we can justifytaxes as they are.

Affordable housing, adult education and childcare should be considered for increases.Corporate tax abatements and exemptions thatdo not deliver real community benefits shouldbe looked at as well as city contractors who donot fulfill the requirement to hire 51 percentDistrict residents.

Cut the bureaucracy of deputy mayor for educa-tion Victor Reinoso’s office. We should get ontop of special education and bring it in house,which would cost more now and save a greatdeal later. We should also cut back on “teach-ing to the test” instead of nurturing criticalthinking. We should stop buying selectionsfrom books rather than the books themselves.

Yes, and we could seek federal funding for it.

No. I favor fining based on one’s ability to pay,as is done in Scandinavia. Booking them canbe a start to treatment.

No.

In Finland a speeding ticket can cost a multimillionaire hundreds of thousands. Weshould look at large fines for wealthy people.

I will empower D.C.’s working-middle-classmajority to create a more just community and abetter life for all.

PHIL MENDELSONDemocratic Party

Public safety, fiscal stability, public education.

Completely oppose reducing reserve-fund bal-ances. Would look first at budget cuts such asreducing summer jobs program to the $10 million it used to be. Move out of rental spacesuch as $12 per square foot we were payingfor police evidence warehouse to 225 VirginiaAve. SE, which we now own. Spend the moneyto recoup hundreds of millions in Medicaidreimbursements from federal government. As alast resort, raise income taxes for the verywealthy.

Only as last resort to balance the budget.

Yes, but grants for which applicants competeare appropriate.

Tools are in place but are not utilized. For exam-ple, the Housing Production Trust Fund wasraided by the mayor to balance the budget.

The commercial property tax rate must comedown, but we can’t afford it next year. I wouldlike to eliminate the personal property tax andrestructure utility taxes so institutions like thefederal government would pay more and businesses less.

I am not thinking about increasing spending.There might be some budget shifting. Reducesocial programs such as summer jobs to previous levels.

Unsure on cuts; would like more vocational andextracurricular activities.

We can’t afford it, and it’s not one of my goals.

Offenders should be formally booked andbrought into the station, but the forfeit andrelease process should be reformed.

Only when they are convicted, as doing sowould put community policing at risk.

Police need to dedicate resources. Parkingenforcers could write tickets for blocking thebox if they have adequate training, but not forcell phone and moving violations.

I’m experienced, thoughtful and accessible,with strong grass roots, and I’m willing to takeprincipled positions even when unpopular.


What are the three areas upon which you would concentrate themost as a council member?

The District was suffering from a major potential budget shortfallwhen the D.C. Council considered the 2011 budget. The chieffinancial officer now sees an additional $175 million shortfall. Tomeet this challenge, would you favor increasing taxes, cuttingexpenditures or a combination of both?

Should the District’s fiscal 2011 budget have been passed, giventhe reliance on reserve funds to balance it? Some claim it willresult in higher interest rates and a lower bond rating.

The District’s commercial real estate and corporate businesstaxes are the highest in the area. Should we make a major effortin future years to reduce them to compete better for local businesses? If yes, which taxes?

At what point — stop, arrest or conviction — should the Districtcheck the immigration status of people suspected of illegal activities and turn the information over to federal immigrationauthorities, or should the District not cooperate with immigrationauthorities at all?

Should there be areas of the city where gang members are notallowed to go?

Do you support the continuation of the city’s rent control law as itis? If not, what changes should be made?

Should the District try to attract more high-income taxpayers tosolve its long-term budget problems, or should it seek to slowdown the process of gentrification to protect low-income longtimeresidents and the area’s diversity? How would you do so?

What departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s threetop priorities in terms of any new or additional spending?

What agencies or programs, if any, should be cut?

Charter school supporters claim that far more taxpayer money isspent for the public school system’s buildings on a per-pupil basisthan is available to charters. Do you agree? If so, what should bedone about it?

Should extra tax dollars above the regular per-pupil spending beallocated to magnet programs such as the Duke Ellington Schoolof the Arts due to their additional costs?

Should there be funding for education services for children fromthe moment of birth? If yes, how should it be financed?

Should police officers be able to write tickets with large fines forunderage drinking and quality-of-life offenses so they don’t have totake the time to formally book the accused?

Do you think we have an adequate number of police officers on theforce? If not, how can we afford more?

Would you favor or oppose legislation that would allow slotmachines or their equivalents to be installed in the District?

In 20 words or less, explain why voters should vote for you.

JIM GRAHAMDemocratic Party

Daily quality-of-life issues, jobs and economicprosperity, public safety.

A combination of both. Would restore 8.9 per-cent income tax rate for those with more than$500,000 taxable income; make real effort tocollect Medicaid; reorganize Department ofChild and Family Services; make progress inreducing special-education costs.

Reserve funds are for a rainy day. We have oneof the strongest reserves in the country. Butwe can’t spend all the money and must replenish the accounts when things improve.

If we were to do that, what budget items wouldwe cut to provide a more inviting atmospherefor business?

Local and national agencies should be separated. Our police have enough to do.

Attorney General Peter Nickles had a proposalmaking it easier to arrest gang members. Youhave court orders that can ban people fromcertain areas. I agree with the idea.

I authored legislation making it permanent without a sunset provision.

We need to increase our tax base by providingquality schools. The Ward 1 demographicchanges have been primarily among single-family homes. We have preserved affordability of almost all large buildings.

Job creation and job training, collectingMedicaid.

Special education. The amount we pay lawyersand out-of-state services is staggering.

I agree. We should be looking more at co-location to benefit both. When E.L HaynesPublic Charter School couldn’t co-locate, it builta brand-new school within a block of a publicschool that was later closed. We would havesaved millions.

Yes, if we can afford it.

Yes. The earlier the better. They are dollarswell-invested. It should have a high priority inthe school budget.

Yes.

Our authorized strength is 4,200, but the cur-rent number is 3,900. More would be better ifwe could keep quality up. It’s a top priority.

Favor them, if properly policed.

I have a solid record of delivering for people —for quality of life, jobs, public safety, prosperity,diversity and housing.

D.C. COUNCIL WARD 1 SEAT NANCY SHIA

D.C. Statehood Green Party

Statehood, childhood poverty, education.

A combination of both. Increase auto-ownershiptaxes. Decrease tax exemptions for developers.Reduce salaries for upper-income bureaucrats.Schools chancellor shouldn’t receive a salaryof more than $200,000. Reduce councilsalaries.

No.

No. They can be the highest as it is thenation’s capital.

Only if convicted of a violent crime. They shoulddo their time and then be deported.

No, it’s far too vague.

Yes. I have not studied what changes shouldbe made.

Attracting high-income residents need notcause gentrification. We do need to attractthem. District should create more affordableunits for gentrification victims.

Youth basketball leagues.

Busing of special-education children and of children to swing space when schools arebeing renovated.

I agree. What should be done depends on theindividual charter school.

It depends on what funds would be used for.Duke Ellington gets a great deal of privatemoney.

I’m unfamiliar with the program. I do believe inday care for them.

Yes, particularly for littering.

I think we have an adequate number of officers, but they need better education.

Oppose.

I have substantial community experience andwill be a strong voice for statehood, human services and environmental sustainability.

MARC MORGANRepublican Party

Jobs, crime, education.

Cut expenditures such as overspending onparks and recreation. Reduce upper-level andmid-management staff positions. Look for out-side sources such as foundations for privatefinancing.

No.

Yes. Commercial property taxes and businesslicensing fees.

Upon arrest.

Yes, to deter illegal activity.

Yes, but we must ensure housing conditionsare and remain adequate.

We do need to attract more wealthy people, butwe should study the strategies in place in citiessuch as Chicago and Portland, Ore., that do agood job of protecting their elderly low-incomeresidents.

Education, fighting crime and affordable housing.

Parks and recreation as there is outside moneythat could cover a shortfall.

I don’t agree.

No. There are other sources of funding.

Yes, but there are foundations that would help.

No.

No. Reduce spending in other unspecifiedareas.

Favor them.

To continue progress in our educational system,promote job creation, spur business develop-ment and leverage funding to offset taxes.


What are the three areas you would concentrate on most as a council member?

The mayor and council faced difficult challenges when preparing the 2011 bud-get. They increased “fees,” which some would describe as taxes; made somebudget cutbacks; and reduced the District’s reserve funds. How would you reactto similar situations in the future?

Should the council’s ban on budget earmarks remain in effect?

Should D.C. offer builders tax incentives for super-luxury rental and condominiumapartments in Georgetown and the downtown area to attract more high-incomeresidents, with the hope of increasing income and property tax collections?

Many of the area’s new luxury stores are located in Tysons Corner and onWisconsin Avenue just across the District line. Would you support incentives tobring such stores into Georgetown and other parts of the District to increase ourreal estate and sales tax revenue? If yes, what should the incentives be?

What approaches, if any, should the city implement to reduce the likelihood thatlow-income D.C. residents would be forced from their homes by increasing real-estate values and taxes, or are our current policies generally adequate?

D.C.’s commercial real estate and corporate business taxes are the area’s high-est by far. Should the city make a major effort over the next few years to reducethem in order to compete better for businesses? If yes, how should it be done?

What departments or areas, if any, should be the District’s three top priorities interms of any new or additional spending? Which should be cut?

Did the administration act appropriately when it sought to speed parks andrecreation construction projects by having the housing authority handle contracts in excess of $1 million without D.C. Council approval?

Some educators say that per-pupil spending in areas where there is a great dealof poverty, such as the District, ought to be higher than in areas where studentscome from well-educated families, such as Montgomery and Fairfax counties. Doyou agree?

What line items, if any, should be reduced, struck from or added to the schoolbudget?

Should there be funding for education services for children from the moment ofbirth?

Should police officers be able to write tickets with large fines for underage drinking and quality-of-life offenses so they don’t have to take the time to formally book the accused?

Should the District turn over information on citizenship to the U.S. immigrationagency when individuals are arrested and booked for alleged criminal activity?

How would you get better enforcement of laws on jaywalking, bicycle ridersignoring moving vehicle laws, drivers ignoring yields, and drivers on cell phonesand blocking the box? Would you eliminate any of these laws?

Should D.C. allow residents to set up self-taxing districts where residents agreeto pay extra taxes to receive extra services similar to Maryland municipalitiesand to business improvement districts here in the District?

Should Klingle Road be reopened?

In 20 words or less, explain why voters should vote for you.

MARY CHEHDemocratic Party

Quality-of-life issues, quality education, fiscal responsibility.

First, look for cuts and efficiencies. I’ve cut tens of millions ofdollars in agencies I supervise. With schools we have to cut spe-cial education, but we may have to invest in order to cut. We’relooking at a $400 million shortfall for 2012. Raising taxes wouldbe the last resort. The area where we are lower than neighborsis residential property. If we raised it a penny, we would still bebetter than our neighbors. Increasing business taxes would beself-defeating. I would look at payments in lieu of taxes from non-profits such as universities. I’m not going to vote for any fees.

Given a choice between not doing it at all and having the risk ofabuse the way we did it, I would not do it at all.

I would go along if the developer includes affordable housing.

Theoretically, yes. Perhaps a delayed or graduated property tax. Itwould help if we had a constellation of these stores.

The biggest thing people need is a job.

We are not able to do so right now, but we should do so as soonas we are able.

Special education with an eye to future savings by bringing stu-dents back home. Across-the-board cuts are foolish as we oftenget matching funds or produce revenue, as with speed cameras.Hiring people may reduce overtime and actually save money. Idoubt there is a single agency that can’t give up something.

No.

Money per child is not the litmus test for quality education. Wenever seriously worked on wrap-around services for connectedbut non-school problems. In many cases the government shouldbe the maestro, not the supplier.

We should lengthen the school day although it may cost moremoney under union contracts.

I would like to see education start early, but in the near term, Idon’t think we can afford it. The number of words a child isexposed to at age 2 is a fair predictor of success in school.

I’d consider that. If doing it would result in more enforcement, Iwould like it.

Only when convicted of a violent crime.

I try to get police to do sporadic, unpredicted, targeted enforcement, which seems to have an effect. I like speed cameras. A bike is a vehicle and should adhere to the rules ofthe road, but I don’t always do it myself.

It exacerbates economic division. Affluent areas can tax themselves and have more services. Business improvement districts are one thing. But beyond that, it invites division.

No. To reopen and maintain it would cost too much money. Italso is too narrow, very dangerous and subject to flooding.

My priorities will be to energetically pursue quality-of-life issues, afirst-class school system and fiscal integrity.

D.C. COUNCIL WARD 3 SEAT DAVE HEDGEPETH

Republican Party

Education, small-business development, fiscal responsibility.

First we would have to cut spending, probably following Ward 2Council member Jack Evans’ lead with an across-the-board percentage cut. I would want to exempt police and fire. There isnot always adequate time to go line by line. It could be seen asunfair to well-run departments, but a well-run department is goingto be more able to handle the cut. I would have opposed taxincreases and fee hikes.

Yes.

No.

I don’t like breaks for individual businesses. We need to be morecompetitive with our neighbors overall. However, if a retailerwould be considered an anchor tenant, we should say yes.

We should means-test residential property taxes so they wouldbe progressive, based upon income.

Absolutely, but it needs to be phased in over at least three to fiveyears so we can adapt to its effect on revenue. I would reducethe corporate income tax before reducing property taxes.

Given our fiscal realities, there should be no areas with increases. There are no particular agencies I would target forcuts.

No.

Yes. Students in economically disadvantaged areas have different needs than do others. I would support longer classdays, tutoring and more focus on basic education such as mathand reading.

To reduce special-education costs, bring more kids into the publicschool system by providing the services locally. It will eventuallysave money.

I would look into it.

I’d look into that. I’m concerned about circumventing the judicialprocess.

Yes, at the time of arrest.

I would be open to raising the fines. Use cameras or deploy morepolice officers where this is a problem.

Am open to the idea.

Yes.

Ward 3 deserves a council member who is more accessible andin touch with the issues they care about most.


What would be your three major areas of concentration as a member of theState Board of Education?

What do you see as the most significant responsibilities of the State Board ofEducation?

Charter schools have many of the same performance standards, assessmentsand accountability measures as regular public schools. What ought to happen ifthey are not met?

Do you agree with the District’s adoption of the “common core” subject standards developed with many other states?

Should the District require competency in a second language for high schoolgraduation? If so, what language should it be?

There is a two-year foreign language requirement now, but the years need not beconsecutive. Should we make immediate changes?

In what fields, aside from math and English, should the District adopt common-core standards?

Do you approve of the truancy standards we now have?

What should be the state board’s role in administering the Race to the Topfunds?

Kerri Briggs recently resigned as state superintendent of education. What wouldyou like to see in the next state superintendent?

Are there areas currently outside the state board’s jurisdiction over which itshould have oversight?

What elements of the reform effort over the past three years should be continued, and what areas should be reworked?

Should the board be responsible for hiring and firing the state superintendent?

Should preparation given by third-party organizations such as Teach forAmerica’s boot camp continue to count toward teacher certification?

Should experienced private school teachers who have never taken an educationcourse be allowed to teach in the public schools administered by the city?

Are you personally happy with the job Chancellor Michelle Rhee did? Should shehave been encouraged to remain?

Does the school system, generally speaking, place too much, too little or aboutthe right amount of emphasis on test scores?

Is the $15,000 salary for positions on the school board adequate? Should it bezero?

Should education services be available from the moment of birth?

Should the state board write vocational education standards?

What can we do to strengthen the teaching of math and science in the middleschool grades?

PATRICK MARA

Science standards, collection of student data, improving servicesfor those whose native language is not English.

Setting standards and graduation requirements; providing a vehicle to support fact-based education reform; helping parentsunderstand options; serving as a soapbox to help people understand our role.

They should be reviewed by the D.C. Public Charter School Board.

Yes. It puts us on a more level playing field with other school districts.

Yes, but the specific language should be up to students and parents.

It depends on the new chancellor’s plan.

Science and possibly social studies and history.

We need to identify students who need extra services at an earlier age.

It will all depend on the new chancellor.

Somebody who fixes the data system.

It depends on the overall plan of the new chancellor.

The teacher-evaluation standards should continue. The processshould be more transparent with greater community participation.

Not now, but possibly in the future. It depends on the new admin-istration’s direction.

Yes, as well as other alternative means of certification.

Yes.

Yes to both.

About the right amount, but we need a faster turnaround on theresults.

We should look at lowering it in these tough budget times.

Yes. It should be available.

It should be considered.

Look at best practices of similar jurisdictions.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WARD 1 SEAT DOTTI LOVE WADE

Implementing recently passed English, language, arts and mathstandards; continuing community interaction and outreach; developing strong assessment tools.

Reviewing and passing policies and standards affecting publicand charter schools, which are implemented by the chancellorand the charter board; strengthening school nutrition programs;implementing federal government’s “Race to the Top,” especiallyin terms of professional development and assessments.

The schools are responsible for carrying out the standards. If astandard is not followed, the Office of the State Superintendentof Education is obligated to take action. Furthermore, the children will not meet graduation requirements.

Absolutely. Forty-three states are adopting them. It allows comparisons with other states and for us to share resourcessuch as textbooks, assessment tools and models for professional development.

Uncertain, but it is worth considering. I would favor Latin or achoice of one of several specific languages, but the board majority would go for Spanish.

Not at this time, as so many students are far below grade inmath, English and science.

Foreign languages, science, nutrition, student health, physicaleducation.

Yes. If you are truant for 24 days, you are referred to the courtsystem. The number used to be 13. We didn’t want to put ouryouth in the criminal justice system for truancy. There are intermediate required steps.

Our role is to make sure the school systems, both public andcharter, receive appropriate funding and implement the program.

I’d like to see a more inclusive individual who is good at planning.

Special education is one. We also should have independent budget authority, and the ombudsman should work for us socharter schools could be covered.

The relationship between the chancellor and the board shouldbe reworked so there is a direct link. We shouldn’t interfere inday-to-day activities. We should be treated as an elected governmental body independent of the state superintendent’soffice.

No. It should continue to be at the pleasure of the mayor.

Uncertain.

On a short-term basis, but they must be certified within the timelimit.

I like her personally. Whether or not she did a good job is not mycall as long as the standards are enforced.

About the right amount, but we are developing different assessment models.

It should be increased given the amount of time and work that isrequired.

No. I favor it from 3 years old.

Yes, in conjunction with appropriate technicians.

Establish strict teacher certification and enhanced professionaldevelopment; encourage use of outside guest presenters; integrate math into all other courses.


for Schools Chancellor MichelleRhee to stay but wanted to see amore inclusive approach.

“There needs to be morerespect of parents as crucial to thesuccess of the school system,”said Mendelson, whose daughterattends a D.C. public school.

And while some schools haveimproved recently, Mendelsonsaid it is important to rememberthat there are “two different sys-tems” in the city, with too manyschools still performing as poorlyas ever. For the latter, Mendelsonsaid, “we need to bring in addi-tional resources,” including moreafter-school programs.

As with public safety,Mendelson said his fiscal worriesextend to the school system aswell.

“Special education remains ahuge drain on the school system,”he said. The costs of transporta-tion alone to ferry students tonon-District programs are sub-stantial enough that the city“could buy cars for each” of thechildren’s families, he said.

Mendelson also worries aboutthe District’s overall financialhealth. Although he voted thissummer to approve Mayor AdrianFenty’s fee-increase-filled budget,Mendelson said he disapprovedof the mayor’s strategy, whichalso dropped the city’s reserve

funds. “The timeline is tough,” he

said of the window given tocouncil members to analyze themayor’s budget. Although thecouncil did move to eliminatesome of Fenty’s proposed cuts,Mendelson said there’s simplynot enough time to develop analternate budget and gather sup-port from fellow council mem-bers.

But if the body is able to revis-it the budget this fall, he said, hewould work with other membersto alter the financial plan. Cuts toprograms like summer jobs wouldbe a primary strategy, he said. It’scritical that the city “stay at itsdebt-service cap” and adopt a“pay-go” budget, he said.

Raising taxes on the city’s topearners, those who make morethan $250,000 annually, would bea “last resort” to raise revenues,Mendelson said.

Mendelson, 57, lives in FoggyBottom. He came to Washingtonfrom the Cleveland area in 1970to attend American University,where he received a bachelor’sdegree in political science.

He worked on the staffs ofD.C. Council member JimNathanson and the late CouncilChairman David A. Clarke.

Before his election to thecouncil, Mendelson he served asan advisory neighborhood com-missioner in McLean Gardens for20 years. He spent several termsas the commission’s chair.

MENDELSONFrom Page VG1

Parents should also have morechoices, he said; lower-incomechildren should be able to accessprivate schools through a targetedvoucher program.

Fiscal flexibility is also key forfurthering education reform, hesaid. “In this environment, we needto be more creative,” he said, citingpublic-private partnerships thatRhee used to raise funds.

Those funds are even moreimportant given the city’s mountingbudget woes, said Hedgepeth.

“We can’t keep raiding thepiggy bank” of the city’s reservefund, he said. “We have to address

the spending side … and adapt tothe new normal” after the mid-decade boom years, he said.

Across-the-board cuts would bethe most equitable way to trimspending to sustainable levels,Hedgepeth believes.

He also supports targeted taxcuts for businesses as a way toregain the city’s fiscal health. Asmall-business advocacy group hasrated the District as having theworst business-tax system in thenation, Hedgepeth noted. “It’s oneof the reasons I got in this race. …We have to address the tax imbal-ance between us and our neigh-bors.”

The discrepancies in businesstax rates within the metropolitanarea have caused too many busi-

nesses to leave or locate elsewhere,he said. And those absences have inturn cost huge numbers of jobs,contributing to the polarized natureof wealth in the city.

“We have a very small middleclass; we need to address that,” hesaid. Lowering business-tax ratesand examining the cost of the city’sregulatory structure is one way todo that, Hedgepeth said.

Hedgepeth, 42, is a New YorkCity native and graduate of publicschools in the Bronx. He studiedhistory at Colgate University andreceived his law degree fromCatholic University.

Hedgepeth lives in NorthCleveland Park with his wife andtwin daughters, who attend firstgrade at Murch Elementary.

HEDGEPETHFrom Page VG5

so far. “Some of the testing results [are due to] high-performing kids … coming back. They’re raising thescores, but you have a bigger division by income andrace.

“I’m not so sure we’re such a big success, [but]we’re on the right path,” Cheh said.

And she predicted that “there is no going back. …Gray has committed to [hiring] a strong chancellorwho is prepared to make the hard decisions.”

Cheh said she will continue to focus on finances.“Everything is on the table” for possible cuts in orderto close an existing budget gap, she said. The city’slargest spending areas — education and social services— will be the target of some of those cuts, she said.

The budget-busting cost of sending special-educa-tion students to schools outside D.C. has been a popu-lar criticism for many politicians this election season— Cheh included. But she noted the city “will have to

invest” in its own system in order to educate those stu-dents properly before realizing those savings.

Revenue-raising measures should also be on thetable, said Cheh, though “raising taxes would be thelast thing I want to do.”

One possibility, she said, would be payments in lieuof taxes from universities and large nonprofits. Thefees — paid by institutions such as Harvard and theMassachusetts Institute of Technology, which funnelmoney to the Cambridge, Mass., coffers — could beappropriate in D.C., Cheh said.

Large institutions “can degrade the quality of lifefor residents [and add to] transportation and socialissues,” Cheh said. “Universities need things from us,[like] tax-exempt revenue bonds. … You can’t haveislands of activity that aren’t contributing.”

Cheh, 60, lives in Forest Hills. She and her husbandhave daughters who attended Murch Elementary andGeorgetown Day. Cheh earned law degrees fromRutgers University and Harvard University. Shereceived a bachelor’s degree in political science fromDouglass College, now part of Rutgers.

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He noted that in someinstances, the Health Departmentspent “as much as 70 percent of aproperty’s assessed value in rent.We got these leases renegotiated orcanceled. ... The same thing has tobe done in education.”

On health care, Catania said hewants to continue reforms he start-ed when he took over the HealthCommittee in 2005.

“I have re-engineered theDistrict’s publicly financed healthinsurance programs. As a result, ...along with Massachusetts, we havethe lowest rate of uninsured [resi-dents] — 3.2 percent” — in thecountry.

To bring medical professionalsand facilities to underserved areas,Catania said, “I authored legisla-tion that invested over $240 mil-lion in health-care facilities acrossthe city.”

He also helped rescue the strug-gling Greater Southeast Hospitalfrom closure three years ago byarranging a public-private partner-ship. The city took over its opera-tion this year.

Catania said that in terms of jobopportunities, “the legacy of poorpublic education is evident in thiseconomic downturn,” with manyresidents unable to compete foravailable jobs.

He said the city must invest inadults, helping them “obtain skills

for meaningful employmentthrough the new community col-lege.” He also said the city shouldspend to supplement the federalWorkforce Investment Act, whichprovides funds to train unem-ployed and underemployed citi-zens.

Catania cited examples of suc-cessful programs that “died on thevine from lack of resources,” suchas a certificate employment pro-gram at Georgetown Universitythat trained people to manage doc-tors’ offices, emergency rooms andthe like. “At Southeastern, wetrained medical technicians, labtechs and coding and billing spe-cialists,” he added.

Catania said the city shouldalso focus on implementing alter-native energy sources for officebuildings and training residents todo the work. “If it is a govern-ment-assisted project, we can pri-oritize hiring them.”

First elected to the council as aRepublican, Catania left the partyto become an independent whenPresident George W. Bush pushedfor a constitutional amendmentbanning gay marriages. He hassince spearheaded a successfuleffort to legalize gay marriage inthe District.

Catania, 42, is also a formerchair of the Sheridan-Kaloramaadvisory neighborhood commis-sion. He received his bachelor’sand law degrees from GeorgetownUniversity.

He lives in Dupont Circle.

CATANIAFrom Page VG1

co-ops, making them more affordable “by financingboth landlords and renters.” A D.C. municipal bank,staffed largely with city residents, could help accom-plish this.

The District could also take a cue from cities likePhiladelphia, where “rain gardens and … permeablesurfaces” are economical solutions for storm-waterrunoff, Schwartzman said. In D.C., “the water author-ity plans to spend over $5 billion to send storm waterinto the Potomac.”

And Schwartzman said the city could look toLondon as a model to “push a congestion charge forcar commuters to downtown, affecting residents andnon-residents,” with certain exemptions. He suggest-ed that the revenue from the charge could fund busand Metrorail improvements.

Schwartzman called D.C.’s tax structure “regres-sive.”

“If people make $30,000 or more, the share offamily income going to local taxes decreases steadilyas income increases,” he said. After accounting forthe federal deduction for D.C. income taxes, “the top1 percent of our earners paid about 6.4 percent oftheir incomes in D.C. taxes in 2007, the latest yearinformation is available, less than everyone else

except the bottom 20 percent of earners.”Schwartzman said he wants to “lower taxes for

people whose family income is below $100,000,while the top 5 percent would pay more.” The taxrate for the top 5 percent could increase from 8 per-cent to 9.7 percent, while the rate for the top 1 per-cent could be 9.9 percent.

He pointed out that Maryland’s top tax rate is 9.4percent. “The differential with Maryland would be sosmall,” he said, “that few if any would move there forthat reason. The revenue increase would be fargreater than the loss from any migration.”

Schwartzman also advocates higher real estatetaxes for people who don’t pay D.C. income taxes.

To help people with low incomes, deductions inmortgage payments, rent and possibly condo/co-opfees could help, along with sales-tax credits,Schwartzman said.

He suggested curbing corporate tax exemptions“where there is no real community benefit” and urg-ing universities and other major landowners such asthe World Bank to make payments in lieu of taxes.

Schwartzman, 66, has been a D.C. resident since1976 and now lives in Brightwood.

Schwartzman was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Heearned his bachelor’s degree in geochemistry at theCity College of New York and his master’s degree inscience and doctorate, also in geochemistry, at BrownUniversity.

SCHWARTZMANFrom Page VG1

body who’s committed to educa-tion reform … and who would do itin a fiscally responsible manner.”

Gray pledged to continue hiscommitment to public pre-kinder-

garten programs, pointing to theimportance of ensuring childrenenter school ready to learn. Hewould work to “empower” teachersand principals by involving them inthe reform process.

Gray, 67, is a widower with twochildren and two grandchildren. Helives in Hillcrest. He grew up in

Northeast, graduating from DunbarHigh School and GeorgeWashington University.

His past jobs include headingthe D.C. Association for RetardedCitizens and Covenant HouseWashington. From 1991 to 1994,he directed the D.C. Department ofHuman Services.

GRAYFrom Page VG2


And despite the growing pros-perity of some neighborhoods, “wehaven’t sacrificed our diversity,”Graham said. “We rehabilitated3,000 units of low-income hous-ing. All those big buildings on14th Street have been preserved.This is the true achievement of alot of people working together butwith my shoulder at the wheel.”

Graham, 64, was born in

Scotland and grew up in Detroitand Hyattsville, Md. He receivedhis undergraduate degree in politi-cal science and law degree fromMichigan State University, and amaster’s in law from GeorgetownUniversity.

Previously, Graham worked asexecutive director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic in D.C. He also heldadjunct law professor positions atGeorgetown and GeorgeWashington universities andclerked for Supreme Court ChiefJustice Earl Warren.

GRAHAMFrom Page VG4

police department and has there-fore hindered its ability to serve.

He also criticized the councilfor rejecting Mayor AdrianFenty’s crime bill.

Morgan, 37, is a 10-year D.C.resident who lives in LeDroitPark.

He received his undergraduateand master’s of public administra-

tion degrees from MiamiUniversity of Ohio.

In the past, he worked as adirector of development for theCincinnati Zoo and director ofdevelopment for Equality Arizona,a gay and lesbian advocacy non-profit. As finance director for theMaryland Republican Party, hedrew dollars from foundations forstate environmental services, hesaid.

Morgan is a single father of asenior at Cardozo High School.

MORGANFrom Page VG4

where they came from. If somepeople leave as a result, that’s aconsequence. There must be super-vision and programs.”

Speaking of the importance ofbroad social safety nets, Wilcoxsaid programs that support fostergrandparents, kinship parents andfoster children “are not huge … butare very important.”

“Unless you support these popu-lations, there will be greater prob-lems,” Wilcox said. “Foster chil-dren who are not cared for canbecome criminals or a weight onsociety. Grandparents taking careof children are at least keeping thefamily together for relatively smalldollar amounts. You can help main-tain the fabric of society and help

prevent crime.”She added, “You are talking at

the most about $40 million to $50million worth of programs. ... Eachone is perhaps one million. Theysupport vulnerable populations.”

She said she also favors city-financed meals for low-incomeseniors.

On the issue of D.C. statehood,Wilcox said, “I’m not a huge fanfor our just having voting rights. ...The issue is really self-determina-tion. ... We’re told we can’t havegun control.”

Wilcox said elected officialsneed to take as strong of a stand aspossible in their efforts to gainstatehood; they need to be lobby-ists. She suggested that D.C.’selected officials could even with-hold their taxes as a last resort.

She said she thinks “retroces-sion would be OK” and seems

like a valid option, though shesaid it’s not her first choice forD.C. She also added: “I don’tthink Maryland wants us. Theydon’t want a power shift from theBaltimore area to the Washingtonarea. [But] I think it’s better thannothing. Both Democrats andRepublicans might go for it.”

Wilcox, 55, moved to D.C. 30years ago and now lives in LoganCircle. She was elected to theWard 2 seat on the old schoolboard in 1994. She ran for a D.C.Council at-large seat in 2006 asthe D.C. Statehood Green candi-date.

Wilcox grew up in Ohio andearned her bachelor’s degree fromWittenberg University in Ohio,with a major in history. She thengraduated from the AmericanUniversity Washington College ofLaw.

WILCOXFrom Page VG3

dignity and respect to those teachers and administratorswho are working in our system,” he said.

When asked how that would be best accomplished,Brown deferred to experts.

“Sometimes I don’t think that the legislative branchshould be that far in the weeds … when we have allthese other layers of government,” from the mayor andchancellor down to the principals, he said.

Brown spoke enthusiastically about his plans forjob-training initiatives to combat unemployment inD.C. “We don’t lack jobs. We lack the ability to trainour residents for those jobs, and no one has done any-thing for this more than I have,” he said. He cited hiswork toward boosting vocational options at Phelps,Cardozo and Hospitality high schools and others.

Training should focus on weatherization and other“green jobs,” as well as teaching and nursing, Brownsaid.

Having more skilled residents would make it easierto enforce D.C.’s first-source law, which requires thatfirms working on city contracts hire at least 51 percentD.C. residents, Brown said. But regardless of the law,“If people don’t have the skills, they’re not going toget a job.”

On the city’s fiscal health, Brown said he wouldcontinue his record of scouring the budget for possi-ble cuts or other savings that don’t “paralyze thegovernment,” such as making sure the federalMedicaid program properly reimburses city healthspending. He also pledged not to draw deeper intoD.C.’s reserve funds.

Brown, 39, lives with his wife and their two chil-dren in Hillcrest. He grew up in D.C., graduated fromWilson High School, and earned his bachelor’s degreefrom Morgan State University in Baltimore. He alsocompleted business executive programs at DartmouthCollege and Harvard University.

Brown was active in the campaign of President BillClinton, who appointed him to posts in the U.S.Department of Commerce.

BROWNFrom Page VG3

principal ignored many of thelocal residents’ suggestions forcommunity projects.

Shia said the recently renovat-ed elementary school is “great,”thanks more to the efforts of D.C.Council Chairman Vincent Graythan those of the mayor. “Fentydidn’t help to do anything forH.D. Cooke, but he took creditfor it,” she said. Despite theschool’s “state-of-the-art” condi-

tions, “we are still in the DCPSsystem, a nonresponsive bureau-cracy,” she said.

Shia, 63, received her lawdegree from the Antioch Schoolof Law in D.C. and her bache-lor’s from the City College ofNew York.

For many years, she worked asa reporter and editor for theFederal News Service, coveringCongress and the administration.Before that, she worked for theUnited Negro College Fund andas a newsletter editor for theCoalition for the Homeless.

SHIAFrom Page VG4

Wade also favors developmentof standards for foreign lan-guages, school nutrition, science,health and physical education.

She said she’s concerned thatthe charter schools that did notsign on to the federal “Race tothe Top” competition may not getexpected funds unless they arewilling to adopt the board’s stan-dards. She is still unsure whatshould be done about it, since theboard has not yet developed allthe tools. “We are just beginningto look at them.”

In terms of the board’s com-munity relations, Wade said, “Weare planning to hold town-hallmeetings in addition to ourmonthly board meetings and spe-cial hearings. I have been work-ing with organizations that serveWard 1 youth in areas of educa-tion, to require excellence.”

Wade said she has studiedefforts other communities havetried. “We went to a gang-ridden,crime-ridden school in Baltimorethat was turned around usingcommunity organizations.”

But because Ward 1 doesn’t

have as serious a problem as theBaltimore neighborhood did,Wade wants a different approach.She wants to have public hear-ings that would be open to groupsserving Ward 1 and possibly city-wide youth.

“We have churches, youth col-laboratives, teachers and othereducators. All of us must worktogether to address these prob-lems as they impact the schools,”she said. “We also have varioussocioeconomical cultures andtherefore different ideas.”

Wade, 68, is a nativeWashingtonian who has lived inWard 1 almost her entire life. Sheserved as interim executive direc-tor of D.C. Lottery andCharitable Games Control Board,and previously as deputy director.

Prior to that, she was theadministrative office manager fora company that worked with agovernment agency.

She and her husband of 47years have two children, twograndchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Wade attended the District’spublic schools and took collegecourses at the U.S. Department ofAgriculture Extension Servicesand the University of Missouri.

WADEFrom Page VG5

dors to improve data collection. Some of the federalgovernment’s Race to the Top funds that the city wonwill pay for the system, according to Mara.

“With better student data, it will be easier to seehow well a teacher is really doing as well as the defi-ciencies of whole grades in a school and in the systemas a whole. We should be able to do these things rightnow, but we can’t,” he said.

About his quest to improve services for thosewhose native language is not English, Mara said thatlast spring, new standards along those lines were put inplace. Under one program, he said, non-native speak-ers who had gone through the system as a group areactually outperforming native English speakers.

“Since the city is becoming increasingly diverse,we must do a good job of keeping an eye on them.Perhaps we can transfer some of their best practices tonative English speakers,” Mara said. “The key is tokeep one’s eyes on constituents who are not native

English speakers.”Mara, 35, lives in Columbia Heights. He graduated

from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., majoringin environmental and political science. He also earneda master’s degree in business administration fromBabson College in Wellesley, Mass.

He serves on the board of two education groups:One World Education, which focuses on studentslearning from the writings of other students; andCollege and Career Connections, which works withmiddle school students, particularly those from disad-vantaged backgrounds, on college and career opportu-nities. He is also on the board of Columbia HeightsInitiatives, which hosts Columbia Heights Day.

Prior to starting his consulting business, Maraworkded for a consulting firm as an advocate on ener-gy, telecommunications and technology beforeCongress and the executive branch.

In 2008, Mara defeated incumbent Carol Schwartzin the Republican primary for an at-large D.C. Councilseat. Kwame Brown, a Democrat, and Michael Brown,an independent, ultimately won the two seats availablein the general election.

MARAFrom Page VG5

our lives,” she said. To achieve this goal, the city

should first hold a plebiscite toshow Congress that District resi-dents demand it, she said.

Then, said Faith, “if Congresssays no, we should secede. If wecan’t secede, we should try again.

No way should we go back toMaryland.”

Faith said the National Mall,the White House, the Capitol,adjacent museums and officebuildings should comprise a sepa-rate entity under the authority ofCongress.

Faith, 87, was born in NewYork City and attended New YorkUniversity, where she studiedphysical education. She then

studied art at ColumbiaUniversity for two-and-a-halfyears.

She said that she studied forsix years at Actors Studio in NewYork and appeared in severalBroadway shows.

She was elected as an advisoryneighborhood commissioner inAdams Morgan in 2000. Her hus-band is an arts teacher for spe-cial-needs students.

FAITHFrom Page VG2

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Voters Guide -- 10/20/2010

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