The CurrenT Wednesday, OCTOber 24, 2012 21

About the Nov. 6 general election The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6. You may request an absentee ballot by mail through Oct. 30. Early voting began Oct. 22 at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St. NW, and will continue daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 3 except Sundays. Satellite early-voting locations — including the Chevy Chase, Columbia Heights and Takoma community centers — will be open Oct. 27 through Nov. 3, except on Sunday. Voters registered as of Oct. 19 are eligible to vote; if you are not registered to vote, you may register at an early voting location or on Election Day and cast a special ballot. The ballot will include the following offices: U.S. president and vice president; delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives; D.C. Council chairman; at-large member of the D.C. Council (two seats); ward member of the D.C. Council from wards 2, 4, 7 and 8; U.S. shadow senator; U.S. shadow representative; at-large member of the State Board of Education; ward member of the State Board of Education from wards 2, 4, 7 and 8; and advisory neighborhood commissioner. There are also three proposed charter amendments. For details, visit dcboee.org or call 202-727-2525.

About the Voters Guide The Current’s staff interviewed candidates running for the at-large D.C. Council seats, at-large member of the State Board of Education, D.C. Council chairman and D.C. delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. There are no contested races for the Ward 2 and Ward 4 seats on the D.C. Council and the State Board of Education. In the at-large D.C. Council races, two of the seven candidates — Leon J. Swain Jr. and A.J. Cooper, both independents — were not included because they were not party nominees and had not raised at least $50,000 in campaign funds for the citywide race. In the featured races, the interviews provided the basis for profiles detailing candidates’ biographical information and their top priorities, as well as charts offering brief positions on a variety of issues. Photos were provided by the candidates’ campaigns. A supplementary guide in next week’s Current will feature charts highlighting the positions of candidates for U.S. shadow senator and U.S. shadow representatives. On the front page of this week’s issue of The Current, there is an article on three proposed charter amendments on the ballot.

Mary Brooks Beatty Former Capitol Hill advisory neighborhood commissioner Mary Brooks Beatty is the Republican Party’s nominee for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council. Beatty, who served on Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A from 2004 to 2010, including stints as vice chair and chair of the alcoholic beverage commit-tee, has worked for three decades in legislative and policy formation. If elected, Beatty would focus most on ethics and transparency, economic development and quality-of-life issues. “I think there is a real problem ... in our ability to trust the government,” Beatty said. “It means we don’t have a vibrant democ-racy in D.C.” She pointed specifically to at-large Council member Michael Brown’s effort to stick an Internet gambling measure into a budget bill. That he did that “without public input or a committee hearing was shameful,” she said. Beatty backs Mayor Vincent Gray’s proposals for campaign finance reform, but she said council members should also be

See Beatty/Page 28

At-lArGe D.C. CouNCil seAt ■ VOTE FOR TWO

The CurrenT VOTers GuideNoVeMBer 6, 2012 ■ GENERAL ELEcTiON

Michael A. Brown Michael A. Brown is an independent running for a second term as an at-large D.C. Council member. In addition to his D.C. Council duties, Brown, who lives in Chevy Chase, lob-bies with Edwards Wildman Palmer for Fortune 500 companies and public enti-ties on Capitol Hill. The firm does no work with the District, he said. If re-elected, Brown would concentrate most on affordable housing, jobs and improving the safety net. “One of the first things I did after being elected was get the rent-control law extended for 10 years,” Brown said. “I strengthened our tenants’ rights laws to protect their ability to pur-chase a rental building when it is sold.” Brown said he improved the Rental Housing Commission by introducing legislation that sets qualifi-cations for members. And he strengthened the Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force by pushing legislation that requires the panel — which is dedicated to updating the city’s affordable-housing efforts — to undertake a comprehensive study. Brown also takes credit

See Brown/Page 23

David Grosso David Grosso, a former staffer for both D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and past Ward 6 D.C. Council member Sharon Ambrose, is running as an indepen-dent for an at-large council seat. To run for the post, the Brookland resident took leave from his position as vice president for public policy with the health-insurance company CareFirst. If elected, Grosso would concentrate most on ethics, education and economic development. In terms of ethics, Grosso is calling for a gen-eral ban on legislators hold-ing outside employment, because “it affects the entire culture of the council.” He said current members with other jobs should be grand-fathered in, while new members hoping to hold a second gig should apply for annual waivers, proving that there would be “very few potential conflicts.” Grosso would explore providing public financing for campaigns and banning sitting members from receiving donations. Challengers would be required to raise a certain amount of money to show

See Grosso/Page 28

Vincent orange Democratic nominee Vincent Orange is seeking re-election to the at-large D.C. Council seat he has held since winning the April 2011 special election. He chairs the council’s Committee on Small and Local Business Development. Orange, a certified public accountant who lives in Brookland, previously served as the Ward 5 council member, from 1999 to 2007. He has also been chief financial officer of the National Children’s Center and a vice president for Pepco. He unsuccessfully ran for council chairman in 2010 and for mayor in 2006. If he is re-elected, Orange said, he would focus on education, employment and economic development. “I think education is the starting line for a life of pro-ductivity and happiness,” said Orange, citing studies that predict prison popula-tions based on fourth-grade test scores. “And in the District of Columbia, we have had problems educat-ing our children.” Fourth-graders must be able to read for comprehen-sion and do basic math to be able to progress in the edu-cational system and ulti-

See orange/Page 27

Ann Wilcox D.C. Statehood Green Party nominee Ann Wilcox is running for an at-large D.C. Council seat. Wilcox, who lives in Scott Circle, is a lawyer who specializes in housing and First Amendment issues. She has also long provided legal services to protesters. If elected, Wilcox said, she would push for improvements in affordable housing and unemployment and work to secure the local safety net. “The Housing Production Trust Fund should be [fully] funded to develop and main-tain” affordable housing, Wilcox said, referring to the city’s pot of money for such projects. She also advocates implementation of the city’s inclusionary zoning laws — which requires affordable units in certain development projects — for “projects built by the city or on city land.” Tax breaks could also encourage developers to add affordable units to non-city projects, she said, noting that a lower income thresh-old should be established for applicants for those units. Wilcox also addressed the issue of gentrification. “We need to preserve diver-sity in neighborhoods,” she

See Wilcox/Page 27

22 Wednesday, OCTOber 24, 2012 The CurrenT

D.C. CouNCil At-lArGe seAts Mary Brooks Beatty

Republican PartyMichael Brownindependent

David Grosso independent

Vincent orange Democratic Party

Ann Wilcox Statehood Green Party

What would be your three major areas of concentration as a D.C. Council member?

Ethics and transparency, economic development, general quality of life.

Affordable housing, jobs, safety-net issues.

Ethics, education, smart economic development.

Education, employment, economic development.

Affordable housing, D.C. residents’ jobs, safety-net issues.

In looking over the upcoming budget, what spending areas, if any, would you like increased? Decreased?

I would avoid increases. Concentrate on cutting out waste through regulatory and contracting reform.

Increase affordable housing, job training and safety net. Unsure as to decreases.

Be more intentional with developer breaks. Control administrative spending, particularly in education, health and human services. Increase spending on affordable housing and on community college. Overall spending is too high.

Increase safety-net needs, particularly affordable housing. Can’t say area that needs cuts.

More money for affordable housing, safety-net programs and job creation. Can’t think of any reductions.

Which taxes would you like to see increased and which taxes decreased, given the city’s current budget situation?

No tax increases. Would study possibility of decreases.

Favored past increases for people over $350,000. Would like cut for teachers and other public-sector workers if they live in the District.

None until we have an adequate budget analysis. If possible, decrease sales and restaurant tax.

None. Given rising housing values, the tax base is secure. Possibly reduce sales and residential property taxes. No increases.

The DC Chamber of Commerce and some other groups have urged the council to use some of the District’s budget surplus to lower the recently passed increase in income taxes on the wealthy. Should we?

Yes. Not until I see evidence we are losing wealthy residents because of the tax.

Yes, probably. We must dig into it.

No, but we should examine it as there were no public hearings.

It should be considered to keep them in the District.

Should the District have a lower corporate-profits tax for firms in industries where it now has few firms — and thus not much to lose, such as the high-tech sector — but for which the city is an attractive location?

No. We should look at a lower corporate tax rate for all businesses, but not for specific companies or industries.

Yes, by industrial sectors. Yes, if done thoughtfully. Yes, so we can expand our tax base.

Yes, if they create jobs for District residents.

Should the city have opposed or encouraged Walmart to locate here? Why?

The role of the government should not be to attract specific companies, but to create a business-friendly environment.

Neither. They were coming no matter what we did as they want to grow in urban markets.

Encourage, if the city had gotten a better deal.

Encourage, but only if they commit to a community benefits agreement.

Encourage if they provide a living wage and employee health care.

Should the sales tax include services such as gym memberships?

No. No. Yes. No. Yes.

What steps do you believe the city should take to improve public education?

Emphasize improving all neighborhood schools with greater parental involvement. You can address issues of poverty through job creation and other means.

More per-pupil funding to classrooms and not administration. Better wrap-around services.

The council must continue educational reform and establish a long-term vision allowing Kaya Henderson to better succeed.

Continue reform; train 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten; ensure fourth-graders can read independently and add, subtract, multiply and divide; provide vocational training in high schools.

Increased technology, parental involvement and teacher training.

What line items in the school budget, if any, should be reduced, deleted or supplemented?

More money for special education.

Libraries, physical education, art teachers and nurses should be in every school. The administrative budget is too large.

Uncertain. More for basic goals such as reading, math and vocational training. Look for savings in central administration.

Reduce the central office and put it in the local schools.

According to the D.C. auditor, the city does not enforce its rules that city contractors hire local residents. Do you agree with this assessment? What if anything should be done about it?

Review requirements as there is a disconnect between skill levels of local residents and available jobs.

I do agree. That’s why I helped write the new First Source law.

I agree. We should do a better job providing qualified workers for them to hire.

I agree. We should penalize developers who do not follow the law after examining their claim that they can’t find suitable workers.

I agree. The city should fund inspectors to oversee the contractors on site.

Is the District’s present open-meetings law adequate?

No. Yes. No. It should be very hard to close the door.

Yes. No.

Should D.C. turn over citizenship information to U.S. immigration officials when suspects are arrested? When they are convicted? Just when convicted of a violent crime? Or not at all?

When arrested. Only after conviction. Not at all. If convicted of a violent crime. If convicted of a violent crime.

The CurrenT Wednesday, OCTOber 24, 2012 23

D.C. CouNCil At-lArGe seAts Mary Brooks Beatty

Republican PartyMichael Brownindependent

David Grosso independent

Vincent orange Democratic Party

Ann Wilcox Statehood Green Party

Do you think we have an adequate number of police officers on the force?

Yes. We can make better use of resources by changing the “catch and release” law and extending bail requirements for more crimes.

Yes, coupled with the other law enforcement branches operating here.

No. We are short of the authorized level and should be there.

Yes.

Is the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board generally too friendly to licensees, or to local residents, or is there a proper balance?

Too friendly to licensees. Proper balance. Too friendly to protesters. More people should have to be involved in non-advisory neighborhood commission protests.

Often too friendly to licensees.

Generally a proper balance.

Should D.C. allow residents to set up self-taxing districts where residents agree to pay extra taxes to receive extra services, similar to business improvement districts or Maryland municipalities?

Yes. No. Yes. Generally no, as it would allow the “haves” to have more services.

No. It’s a slippery slope.

Should D.C. Council seats become a full-time job, with a ban on members earning outside income?

Yes, to reduce conflict of interest.

No. Yes. Yes, due to unethical activities in the past. A council member once shared an office with a lobbyist.

No. We’d lose some good members. We should have stricter rules about conflicts of interest.

What do you think of Mayor Gray’s proposed campaign finance legislation, which he says is designed to restore trust in elected officials?

The reforms are very much needed. He might not be the best person to advance them.

It’s a good first step. I favor public financing for campaigns.

It’s a good start, but it won’t completely solve the problem.

If he would add a ban on outside employment for council members, I would sign on.

I would support it.

Have you ever received campaign contributions from Jeffrey Thompson, whose firm holds the city’s health-care contract; or Joe Mamo, who owns more than 70 percent of D.C. gas stations; or any of their business associates?

No. Yes to Thompson in past races; unsure about Mamo, but voted against his interests.

No. Yes to Mamo; yes to Thompson in past races.

No.

Should council members be allowed to keep constituent service funds? If yes, should they be larger, smaller or left as they are now?

No. Yes. They should be larger. There are lots of people in need.

No, there should be taxpayer-financed fund in the executive branch to help with needs.

Yes. I voted for the reduction from $80,000 to $40,000.

Yes.

Should these funds be allowed to buy sports tickets?

No. Yes. No. No. No.

Have you ever been convicted of any criminal activity?

No. Yes. I exceeded the campaign finance limit for Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994.

Yes. Twenty years ago I had a misdemeanor charge for marijuana possession.

No. No.

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

I want to put residents in control of government — and have the life, legislative and leadership experience to accomplish this.

My record reflects my commitment to making the District the most family friendly and business friendly city it can be.

Time for change on the council is now! We need full-time council members. Vote David Grosso for a better D.C.

I represent honest, effective and intelligent leadership we desperately need to address ethics, education, employment and the economics of D.C.

I believe my experience in D.C. government, including on the elected school board, and as a public-interest lawyer, qualifies me.

for restoring $50 million to the city’s affordable-housing budget. He said the money went to many programs, among them the Housing Finance Agency, for help with rent; the Housing Production Trust Fund, for producing and preserving affordable housing; the Home Purchase Assistance Program, for help with down payments; and the Local Rent Supplement Program. “I would like to try to figure out how to increase the available funds ... to stop the wave of diminishing affordable housing,” he said. Brown also highlights his record

on job training and creating. “I led the council … and co-wrote the new ‘First Source’ law establishing the highest resident-hiring require-ment in District history,” he said. “It mandates local hiring require-ments for projects that receive between $300,000 and $5 million in government subsidies and adds them for projects over $5 million.” City leaders must pay attention to industries that are likely to create jobs in the coming years, Brown said. “Construction may be the most visible form of job creation, but it actually is very small,” he said. “Tourism, hospitality, local univer-sities’ service side, weatherization, green jobs and [information tech-

nology] are where the jobs are.” He said he has “sat down with local university presidents ... to encour-age them to hire more D.C. resi-dents.” Light manufacturing — “such as assembling solar panels and modu-lar housing” — is another sector with growth potential, he said. Brown also said that he has helped improve the city’s troubled summer jobs program, making it “more efficient and cheaper” and ensuring that only D.C. residents use the program. Brown said he championed the new University of the District of Columbia Community College and helped increase its budget by $6.7 million for fiscal year 2013.

The incumbent touted his “lead-ership role” in reforming the District’s primary welfare program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. “I mandated a standard for robust upfront assessments for all participants, thereby identifying their barriers for work,” he said. Brown said the city should pay benefits for only five years, “the same as in 44 states. [Recipients could] still receive city funds for year six provided they do job train-ing.” Yet he noted that it’s crucial to fund his proposal, saying that with-out it, “6,000 families with 14,000 children will lose 25 percent of their benefits. The current payment for a family of three is $428 per

month. That’s why we have a spike in family homelessness.” Brown also takes credit for get-ting $20 million more from the fed-eral government for the city’s food stamp program; proposing pending legislation to update the low-income property tax credit; lobby-ing Congress for $17 million for “the chronically homeless” and disabled residents; and “successful-ly [pushing] for increased funding ... to cover 180 more children cared for by grandparents.” Brown, 46, is a third-generation Washingtonian. He is divorced with two children. Brown is an alumnus of Clark University and the Widener University Delaware School of Law.

BroWNFrom Page 21

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Calvin Gurley Native Washingtonian Calvin Gurley, who has served as the president of the Fairlawn and Takoma civic associations, is running to be chairman of the D.C. Council. The Takoma resident formerly worked as an auditor with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a position he left to seek election. If he does not win, he expects to return to the federal govern-ment, as he did after losing last spring’s primary race for the Ward 4 seat on the council. If elected, Gurley would focus most on restoring respect and dignity to the city’s leadership, addressing crime, and increas-ing job opportunities for residents. “The chairman has to lead by exam-ple,” Gurley said. He said that quality has been lacking in the current chairman, Phil Mendelson. Mendelson, the longtime head of the committee with jurisdiction over public

safety agencies, “has not done it in his at-large position or as chair,” said Gurley. “He has been invisible. He failed to fulfill the council’s oversight responsibilities over D.C. agencies and operations such as the breathalyzer test scandal, and the Pershing Park/World Bank demonstrators’ lawsuit.” Gurley emphasized that he is not accusing Mendelson of unethical behavior, but he said the council member “allowed The Washington Post to be the blood-hound” rather than himself scrutinizing matters related to the agencies under his purview. “I’m going to bring my auditing and accounting skills to improve the over-sight responsibilities,” Gurley said. On crime, the candidate also faulted Mendelson, saying the incumbent is push-ing legislation to “pardon out-of-state visi-tors who violate D.C. gun laws.” Gurley also said he will push the police department to put more officers on the streets. “I will request the police chief to reas-sign the 300 officers behind desks to street patrol until calm returns,” he said. “We could have police cadets and civilians do the desk work.”

D.C. CouNCil CHAirMAN ■ SPEciAL ELEcTiON

Phil Mendelson Phil Mendelson, who is serving as chairman of the D.C. Council on an inter-im basis, is running to retain the post. Mendelson’s political involvement began in 1975, when he joined the McLean Gardens Residents Association amid battles over proposed develop-ment and potential tenant displace-ment. He later served as an advi-sory neighborhood commissioner and worked for former Ward 3 Council member Jim Nathanson and former Chairman David Clarke before being elected as an at-large council member in 1998. Mendelson, who now lives in Takoma, became chairman this year by vote of his colleagues after Kwame Brown resigned. If elected, Mendelson would focus most on public safety, school truancy and restoring trust in the government. In terms of safety, Mendelson wants the city government to launch a campaign

to reduce gun violence. “We have enhanced penalties if crimi-nals use a gun, but we don’t remind ex-offenders,” he said. “The police have a gun tip hotline that is not properly adver-tised. There should be posters in the jail, and in schools to encourage children to report when they know of a gun.” He said prosecutors and police should get more training on the subject, and he pointed to special courts in New York City and Rhode Island that help send gun offenders to trial more quickly. “With a coordinated effort coupled with publicity, ... we could reduce gun vio-lence substantially,” he said. Mendelson also believes there should be more transparency surrounding prose-cutorial discretion, which can lead to reduced sentences. “There is no data so there can be informed conversation,” he said. He also wants to focus on truancy in D.C. schools. “Truancy should be looked at as a way of identifying children at risk of going into the juvenile justice system,” he said. “I’m not suggesting truancy be a crime. But it’s a way of identifying kids at risk.”

See Gurley/Page 27 See Mendelson/Page 27

D.C. CouNCil CHAirMANCalvin Gurley Democratic Party

Phil Mendelson Democratic Party

What would be your three major areas of concentration as a D.C. Council member?

Respect and dignity for council, addressing crime problems, full employment for residents.

Public safety, student truancy, restoring trust

Have you ever received campaign contributions from Jeffrey Thompson or any of his business associates, or from Joe Mamo or any of his associates?

No. Yes.

What do you think of Mayor Gray’s proposed legislation on political contributions, which he says is designed to restore trust in the District’s elected officials?

It does not address the full implications of corporate influence on the council.

Much of it is good. Prohibitions on some contributors is problematic when it comes to enforcement.

In looking over the upcoming budget, what spending areas, if any, would you like increased? Decreased?

Increase education funding and public safety. No decreases. Increase truancy enforcement and crime victims assistance. Improve efficiency in social service delivery.

Which taxes would you like to see increased and which taxes decreased, given the city’s current budget situation?

Decrease residential property taxes. No increases. No list of increases. If we can afford it, have more progressivity in income tax by reducing lower levels; cut sales tax from 6 percent to 5.75 percent; eliminate personal property tax for businesses.

Should the District increase income taxes on those with incomes of more than $250,000? $500,000? $1,000,000?

Must address government waste and fraud before answering. No, we’re already at 8.9 percent.

Should D.C. have a lower corporate-profits tax for firms in industries that are currently underdeveloped — and thus not generating much revenue for the city, such as the high-tech sector — but for which the city is an attractive location?

Yes. No, but we should look at other barriers to business development such as the personal property tax.

What approaches, if any, could decrease the likelihood of low-income, long-term D.C. residents being forced from their homes because of increasing real estate values and taxes? Or are our current policies generally adequate?

We should have a moratorium on increases in residential property taxes for everyone.

We have the lowest residential tax rate in the area, combined with a 50 percent senior credit if household income is under $100,000. These are generally adequate.

The District’s commercial real estate and corporate business taxes are the highest in the area. Should there be a major effort in future years to reduce them to compete better for businesses?

Yes, on a case-by-case basis. I’d like to see reduction of commercial real property tax. The franchise tax is more easily manipulated and reduced.

The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services has been criticized over the years for alleged lax supervision of juvenile offenders. Is the department overall doing a good job? If not, what should the council do?

We should conduct a total review and audit of its operations. I think the department can do much better, but the problem is larger than one agency. We must focus on school truancy. It’s a way to intervene before they become delinquent.

What steps do you believe the city should take to improve public education?

Increase teacher salaries and funding for classroom resources; open several vocational training schools.

Review high rate of turnover of principals and teachers. Give substantially more resources to underperforming schools, and move dollars from administration to the classroom. Find effective strategies to reduce truancy.

The CurrenT Wednesday, OCTOber 24, 2012 25

D.C. stAte BoArD of eDuCAtioNAt-lArGe seAt

Mary lord Marvin tucker

What would be your three major areas of concentration as a member of the D.C. State Board of Education?

Revising graduation requirements; improving science education; empowering students, parents and community groups as education partners.

Graduation requirements, special education, truancy.

What do you consider to be among the most important responsibilities of the D.C. State Board of Education?

Establishing what children must know and be able to do in every subject and at every grade level, in both public and charter schools.

Parent participation, teacher certification, student wellness.

Are “common core” (semi-nationwide) subject standards that are being developed with many other states a good idea?

Yes. They level the playing field worldwide, they move students from passive studying, and they emphasize critical thinking, writing and analysis.

No.

Should there be a foreign language requirement for high school graduation? If so, what languages?

Yes. Any major world language, as well as Latin. Yes. Spanish and Chinese.

What would you like to see in the next state superintendent? Someone who is collaborative, who knows our communities and schools, and who invites experts, board and community members to improve education together.

Someone who is local and knows the lay of the land and doesn’t have to take the time to find out how it works.

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

Continue focus on student achievement, teacher quality and using data to drive decisions. End narrow focus on annual test scores. Too much is spent on testing and not enough on arts, history, sports, science and other untested subjects.

The board should have more authority. There should be a collaborative effort among the board, the mayor and the city council, not just the mayor.

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

Yes, but not the D.C. Public Schools chancellor. Yes, as well as the D.C. Public Schools chancellor.

Should experienced private school teachers who have never taken an education course be allowed to teach in the city’s public schools?

Yes. Absolutely. There are some good teachers, but they should go through the certification process.

Are opportunities for the District’s brightest students adequate across the city? If not, what should be done about it?

No. We should expand outside partnerships, such as studying and staging Shakespeare with professionals from the Shakespeare Theatre Company, and give credit for appropriate internships.

No. Give students opportunities to take Advanced Placement courses at other schools, or enroll in classes at local universities as School Without Walls students can do at George Washington University.

Mary lord Mary Lord, who represents Ward 2 on the D.C. State Board of Education, is run-ning for an at-large seat on the board. Currently a writer and editor for the American Society for Engineering Education, Lord has covered educational issues for years for various outlets, including U.S. News & World Report. If elected, she would concentrate on reforming grad-uation require-ments, improving science education and empowering students, parents and community groups as education partners. “We are in the middle of revising grad-uation requirements with an eye to giving schools more flexibility,” Lord said. Lord said the four-year requirement for science and math should remain, but she gave examples of appropriate areas for the added flexibility. “Varsity athletes and bal-let dancers should receive physical educa-tion credits,” she said. “Study abroad pro-grams should [translate to] foreign lan-guage credits. ... Playing in a youth orchestra could get an art credit.” Lord would expand the arts require-ment to two years. She also favors revis-ing the two-year foreign language require-ment to demand consecutive years and

possibly expanding it to three years. She said she would “use graduation requirements to compel high schools to offer more arts, improve science and expand history offerings.” Lord highlighted the importance of sci-ence education, particularly hands-on engineering and design. “Every leader in the country has said science, technology, engineering and math are vital to our eco-nomic and national security,” she said. “These are also where the great jobs are right here in the District.” Lord said empowering parents and the community is essential to educational suc-cess. “Every study says that involved par-ents and other caring adults are the miracle substance that raises student achievement and gets them excited,” she said. “The education reform act has shut out parents. ... Where do parents take their concerns? “Let’s at least follow the law and have an ombudsman,” Lord added. “Let’s cre-ate a parents’ bill of rights ... and responsi-bilities.” She said she would “love” to see the school system adopt a satisfaction survey for students and parents. “That dovetails with DCPS’ plans of having 90 percent of students liking the school they attend.” There’s a payoff to ensuring student satisfaction, she noted. “Engaged students will not drop out and will graduate.” Dupont resident Lord, 58, is married and has two children. A cum laude Harvard College alumna who majored in East Asian studies, she moved to D.C. after college.

D.C. stAte BoArD of eDuCAtioN At-lArGe seAt ■ NON-PARTiSAN

Marvin tucker Marvin Tucker, a retired plumber and football coach, is running for an at-large seat on the D.C. State Board of Education. For 25 years, Tucker was an offensive line coach for the Anacostia High School football team. He is executive director of the One City All-Star Extravaganza, which helps local high school athletes get college scholar-ships. If elected, Tucker would con-centrate most on graduation require-ments, special edu-cation and truancy rules. Tucker said there are now “too many different entities setting graduation requirements” in the city. The rules the board approves, for example, might con-flict with rules set by the D.C. Council, he said. The candidate said D.C.’s requirements “should be in alignment with colleges and universities around the country so our stu-dents can qualify to go to college if they want to,” but he also noted that students who are not interested in college should be able to graduate from high school. On special education, Tucker com-plained that the buses assigned to take stu-dents to class are often late or absent alto-gether.

He also said the school system needs more special-education teachers. Tucker has no problem with sending children who need special-education ser-vices out of the city for schooling “if we don’t have the services.” He noted, though, that it would “save us a lot of money if we had more programs in the city” because of transportation costs. He believes the school system could improve its truancy rates by becoming less rigid on certain rules. For example, many schools won’t allow students to enter the building if they are late. “We need to find why schools are not allowing students to enter if they are late. We need to go back to a homeroom sys-tem to verify students’ attendance,” he said. At Ballou High School, he noted, secu-rity checks at the entrance can often delay students. “When you are not there in the first-period class on time, you are marked absent for the whole day,” he said. Tucker also believes the school system needs to move away from suspensions, and should place such students elsewhere within their schools — such as in the prin-cipal’s office or a separate classroom — rather than shutting them out. Brookland resident Tucker, 54, is mar-ried and has four children. He was born in North Carolina but moved to D.C. with his family when he was 2. Tucker attended Watkins Elementary, Hine Junior High and School Without Walls before switch-ing to Eastern High School to play foot-ball.

26 Wednesday, OCTOber 24, 2012 The CurrenT

Bruce Majors West End resident Bruce Majors is running as the Libertarian Party candidate to fill D.C.’s non-voting seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Majors is a real estate agent working for a local boutique company. If elected, he would focus on repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, decriminalizing drugs and eliminating the federal income tax for District residents. Majors said he objects to the 1996 marriage law, which pro-hibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage; he called it a “states’ rights issue.” He noted that the law prevents same-sex couples who married legally in states that allow it from getting federal tax benefits available to other married couples. In addition, surviv-ing spouses and children don’t get Social Security or other government benefits. He noted that all other marriages are recognized by the federal government and other states — even states that would not allow the marriage, for instance because one spouse was underaged. Majors favors decriminalizing drugs, particularly marijuana, in order to save police time and prevent the dangers of illegal sales. “Scarce police resources should not be devoted to [fighting drugs],” he said. “I think the danger is in cre-ating black markets where criminals get involved, just as in the days of prohibition.” He noted that legalizing drugs would allow for bet-ter regulation. “You might not know what you’re buy-ing on the black market as you would if you’re buying from a dispensary,” he said. And he also said that drug laws are enforced unevenly. “Young African-American men are more

u.s. House of rePreseNtAtiVes ■ D.c. DELEGATE

eleanor Holmes Norton Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton is running for re-election as the District’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, a position she has held since 1991. Before her election, Norton chaired the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Capitol Hill resident is currently a part-time professor at Georgetown University’s law school. If re-elected, Norton would focus most on gaining budget autonomy, bringing jobs and economic development to Washington, and keeping Congress from overturning District laws. “I believe we can get budget autonomy [in the next session of Congress], as we have support from three of the top Republican leaders,” she said. She said eliminating congressional oversight of the city’s local budget would remove the opportunity for members to add troublesome riders. “Some members of Congress try to amend our bud-get in order to overturn some of our laws,” she said. “Getting budget autonomy will keep these riders out. ... We will get rid of the mechanism most used to defeat District legislation.” On jobs and the economy, Norton said national problems threaten local strength. “We are facing a structural change in the U.S. econ-omy that is bad news for the District,” Norton said. “The recent growth of the District has been essentially because of the dot-com and the housing bubbles. They let loose a lot of capital.” She said her seat on the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management “will be very important for

Natale ‘lino’ stracuzzi Natale “Lino” Stracuzzi is the Statehood Green Party candidate running to be the District’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. An auto mechanic by trade, he is also a representa-tive for high-end Chinese furniture manufacturers. Stracuzzi, who lives near Congress Heights in Southeast, said if he’s elected he will focus on Social Security and Medicare, employees’ rights and health care. The candidate believes there’s a need to restructure both Medicare and Social Security “so they will be there for us in the future.” One way to increase funds for Social Security, Stracuzzi said, would be to allow the federal government to receive dividends from the investments it makes in energy and medicine. For example, if a pharmaceutical company develops a drug based on National Institutes of Health-funded research, the government should get a share of the profits, and part of that money could go to Social Security. He opposes raising the age for recipients. “Our retirement age is our decision, not the government’s,” he said. Employment conditions in the U.S. need to improve, Stracuzzi said. “Employees in this country have no rights unless they are members of a labor union,” he said. “They are paid minimally. Some com-panies take away vacation time when they have to pay employees for overtime.” He thinks there should be government-set wage guidelines based on type of work. Employers should have to provide 401(k)s to all workers, with a one-year vesting period. Employees should also not face punishment for cir-

See Majors/Page 27 See Norton/Page 27 See stracuzzi/Page 27

D.C. DeleGAte to tHe u.s. House of rePreseNtAtiVes Bruce Majors

Libertarian Partyeleanor Holmes NortonDemocratic Party

Natale lino stracuzzi Statehood Green Party

What would be your three major areas of concentration as D.C.’s delegate to the House of Representatives?

Terminate Defense of Marriage Act, decriminalize drugs, end income tax for D.C. residents

Budget autonomy; jobs and economic development; keeping Congress from overturning laws such as needle exchange and marriage equality.

Social Security, employee bill of rights, restructuring health care.

As delegate, would you introduce a D.C. statehood bill in the next Congress?

I would, but also a bill to end the federal income tax in D.C. as we don’t have a vote.

I’m going to put in three bills in order to get an informed conversation about options: one granting D.C. statehood, one giving us a House and Senate vote, and the other giving us just a House vote.

Yes.

As an interim measure, should the District go for territorial status, which would exempt residents from federal taxation but not provide a vote in the House or Senate?

If D.C. voters approve of the approach in a plebiscite.

No, as we would lose current federal per-capita appropriations.

No. It would close the door to statehood.

Would you support a voting rights bill that would provide the District with a vote in the House, paired with another state so that both Democrats and Republicans would probably pick up one seat?

Yes, if it would make our seat more likely to pass.

Yes. I would. No. I would prefer us to become the 51st state.

Do you agree with the decision not to move forward with the last voting rights bill due to the inclusion of a gun-rights rider?

No. I would have voted for it with the rider attached.

Yes. It was mandatory. The rider said you could carry guns in the streets.

Yes. I would have opposed the bill even without the rider.

Would you pursue legislation to give D.C.’s elected officials the right to ease building height limitations?

Yes. Yes. We had a hearing this year. The chair and I have asked the District to prepare a master plan to see if it would be feasible in some parts of the city.

No. We don’t want to look like New York.

Is it appropriate to spend time and energy on getting the District budget and legislative autonomy, or should efforts focus just on statehood or full congressional representation?

Yes. It is appropriate. Yes. I have gotten out of committee a bill providing budget autonomy for money we have raised for the first time in 200 years, and I predict it will happen.

No. We should just push on our becoming the 51st state.

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keeping the District’s economy sta-ble, as [the committee] controls the government’s construction budget … and where federal jobs go.” She said that even as a member of the minority party, she has man-aged to push through several mea-sures, including bills that paved the way for redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront and the river frontage near Nationals Stadium. She also won approval to locate the Department of Homeland Security in the District “instead of in Maryland or Virginia.” Norton is also extremely con-cerned about preventing Congress from overturning District laws.

“This year some members of Congress went even further than in the past and proposed two stand-alone bills that would have limited abortion rights to just the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, but doing it only for the District,” she said. “Another proposal would have per-manently kept the District from spending its own funds for abortion services for low-income women. We defeated both of them.” Norton, 75, is divorced and has two grown children. Norton, was born in D.C. An alumna of Antioch College, she earned a master’s degree and a law degree from Yale University. While in college and graduate school she was an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

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mately prepare for the next stage of their lives, he said. “We need to ensure that we produce a high school graduate that has a diploma of value that indicates that person is either ready for college or a vocational trades job or a business opportunity,” Orange said. The school system should offer programs designed to give students a taste of different careers, Orange added, such as the wood-shop courses that persuaded him not to go into carpentry. “One of the glaring areas of improvement in educational development for our young people is helping the young person find their skill,” he said. He said the school system should identify students who need special help and connect them with additional resources; it should also provide for more special-edu-cation services within D.C.-run schools rather than pay-ing tuition to send students to private schools. On employment, Orange said the District needs a “jobs czar” — a central official who can align vocation-al training with available D.C. jobs. For instance, he said, the city knows that Walmart expects to hire hun-dreds of employees for its planned D.C. stores. Orange said the city’s community college should offer classes in “how to run cash registers, teaching [students] how to manage inventory, ... how to stock the shelves,” he said. “Instead of us having training dollars all over this government, we’re going to put it into this community college and we’re going to train for the

job,” he added. With sufficiently trained residents, said Orange, con-tractors and agencies will have no excuses for avoiding city law that requires a percentage of local hires — which he said should be enforced more rigorously. On a smaller scale, Orange noted that he helped pre-pare residents for jobs when large retailers were ready-ing to open in Ward 5. He said the city should also incentivize new job-cre-ating industries to operate in the city, such as filmmak-ing, garment production and automobile sales. Orange’s two top issues — education and employ-ment — combine to make his third priority, he said: economic development. Residents who are educated can get the available jobs in the District and attract more employers to the city, both of which would improve local financial well-being. A clear plan should also drive economic develop-ment, Orange said. When he was the Ward 5 council member, he said, the city set distinct goals for itself after years of budget deficits — and fulfilled them. “We had something to prove: that we could dig ourselves out of that hole and get rid of the [financial control board].” Orange, 54, lives with his wife; they have three grown children. Orange grew up in Oakland, Calif., and received a scholarship to attend boarding school in Colorado. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific, a law degree from Howard University and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University. A version of this article ran in The Current’s primary election Voters Guide.

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said, adding that rent control and help for seniors to perform home improvements are some ways to accomplish that. She would also seek to expand credits for low-income homeowners, particularly in rapidly changing areas such as Columbia Heights and Capitol Hill. Wilcox said the city should finance the continuation of afford-able-housing leases provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “When the HUD leases expire, the city should pay for the development of proper-ties where [residents] can move” or find ways to entice developers to do so, she said. On employment, Wilcox believes a mix of job creation and job training is necessary, along with enforcement of existing hiring pref-erences for D.C. residents. “We must have enforcement of the hire D.C. first [rule] on projects that the city is helping with financ-ing,” she said. “I agree with Vincent

Orange that all the people working at the new Center City Marriott [should] be D.C. residents as we’re paying for some of the develop-ment.” The D.C. government should also find creative ways to create jobs, she said. “Have the city finance a civilian conservation corps to give jobs cleaning parks,” she suggested. And while job training is essen-tial, the city must “make sure there is a job at the end of training. Otherwise [participants] may lose hope and get involved in crime.” Wilcox also advocated in some cases removing drug testing as a requirement for employment, say-ing that the tests should be given only when necessary. As with affordable housing, tax breaks could be tools to encourage job creation, Wilcox said. The city should “give tax breaks or subsidies to businesses if they hire D.C. resi-dents.” Companies that provide training for high school graduates in labor-intensive fields should be especially encouraged, she said. Wilcox said she is most con-

cerned about the city’s safety net for homeless families. The government should “place people first who have a history of being in the District. You put them in housing and then you provide them with the wrap-around services,” including child care, drug treatment and counseling. The availability of food for the poor and homeless is a bright spot in the city, according to Wilcox. The Capital Area Food Bank is a well-run program, she said, but such pro-grams should be protected. “If nec-essary, the food bank should get a subsidy.” Wilcox, 57, lives near Scott Circle, and has been a D.C. resident for more than 30 years. Divorced with no children, Wilcox was born in Columbus, Ohio, and attended Wittenberg University, where she majored in history and political sci-ence. She attended law school at American University. In addition to serving as a member of the steering committee of the D.C. Statehood Green Party, Wilcox is a former member of the D.C. Board of Education and a past member of the D.C. Commission for Women.

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likely to be prosecuted for doing the exact same thing as Caucasians. Caucasian women are much less likely to be prosecuted than black men when both smoke pot in the open.” On federal income taxes, Majors said that District residents — like inhabitants of Puerto Rico and Guam, which also do not have vot-ing rights in Congress — shouldn’t have to pay. “I like Eleanor [Holmes Norton’s] 1995 bill coupling us

with Puerto Rico and Guam,” he said. “Most of D.C.’s problems are due to runaway spending, and both the federal government and D.C.’s having less money is probably a good thing.” Majors, 53, received his bache-lor’s degree from American University after doing most of his undergraduate work at the University of Chicago. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University, and he went to Catholic University to earn a doctorate but did not write a dissertation. Majors is single and has a 14-year-old son.

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cumstances beyond their control. For example, he said, “We are dependent on our public transporta-tion system. But employees are sometimes sent home without pay when the bus does not get them to work on time. The same holds for traffic delays. They should be able to punch in late. People are depen-dent on their paychecks.” On health care, Stracuzzi believes a federal system modeled after the Veterans Health Administration should be offered to everyone. There should be a tax of about 2 percent paid into this fund. Private health-care programs would

have to compete with the federal system based on quality of service, but even subscribers to private sys-tems would still pay the tax to the government system. “The Europeans do it,” Stracuzzi said, and “Japan has the world’s most cost-effective system.” Stracuzzi, 47, is a single father whose daughter is in a Montgomery County high school. He spent his childhood living in Prince George’s County and Silver Spring before his family moved to the District. Stracuzzi served as a member of the Montgomery County Action Board for four years and now serves as co-chair of the Parent Policy Council for Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

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And he hopes to discourage court leniency for many criminals, urging that the system not “release on bail or their own recognizance repeat offenders or those accused of serious crimes,” he said. Finally, Gurley said he wants to strengthen school bullying laws and ensure that police officers undergo annual training to address hate crimes. Jobs are another focus for Gurley, who said that each year D.C. is denied statehood he would ask Congress for hundreds of posi-tions. “Our request for jobs ... would be on the same premise as the federal government

giving us money since we cannot tax their property,” he said. He said he would use federal Housing and Urban Development funds to make rents affordable for graduating college and univer-sity students to provide a stronger labor force to lure businesses into the city. And he pro-posed hiring unskilled elderly residents as teachers’ aides and establishing a GED-based vocational training program for dropouts. Gurley, 54, is married with two children. He was raised in the Capitol Hill area and graduated from Eastern High School and Bowie State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He has also taken graduate business administration cours-es at the University of the District of Columbia.

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He said schools should do more to keep track of truants, and the city should develop a referral process so the proper services are available to them. “A kid may be truant because of domestic violence. Because he’s truant, we would find there is domestic violence, so the Child and Family Services Agency could help the child,” he said. “If a kid is truant because of mental health issues, the Department of Mental Health could intervene.” Finally, Mendelson spoke about the local government’s need to re-earn the confidence of local citizens. “Government needs the pub-

lic’s trust to function,” he said. While “there is no single gesture or move that will make everybody behave ethically,” Mendelson said, he would “lead by example and continuously look out for measures that will improve dis-closure, increase transparency and remove the suspiciousness that we’ve invited.” Mendelson said as chairman, he can work well with other members to address concerns. “As chair I need to talk to members individu-ally where there is a potential problem and urge them to get advice from our general counsel about a proper course,” he said. Mendelson, 59, was born in Cleveland. He moved to D.C. in 1970 to study at American University, where he majored in political sci-ence. Separated, he has a daughter at Deal Middle School.

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28 Wednesday, OCTOber 24, 2012 The CurrenT

they’re viable. They could use public money “from that point forward,” while the city would provide incumbents with the same amount. “The goal is to keep incumbents [from] ... getting into positions of conflict of interest,” he said. Educationally, Grosso said the city must provide not only “high-quality schools in every neighborhood,” but also wraparound services for children in need. He said all areas of government must address the education problem. “Government must fill the gap when parents have multiple jobs or are simply not involved,” he said. “It’s not going to be solved overnight.” Other educational needs, he said, include addressing Ward 3’s school overcrowding problems. He supports investing in a highly selective math and science program along the lines of those offered at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria. “Kids will rise up to the challenge,” he said. In terms of paying for such educational programs, Grosso said the city should be able to provide the same quality of education as private schools “at a far lower cost. ... I don’t think we need to spend more money to create better results — not counting wrap-around services.” He also called the University of the District of Columbia Community College “vital.” “It offers an opportunity to take people who are unemployed or underemployed and align them with available jobs,” he said.

While the traditional components of the uni-versity should be successful, he said the District’s focus should be on the community college as well as primary and secondary education, to battle unemployment problems. Grosso’s third area of emphasis is eco-nomic development, for which he thinks the council should have a dedicated committee. He favors large residential development projects with affordable units partially fund-ed by the city’s housing trust fund. He thinks apartments built near Metro stations should be required to include park-ing spaces — but fewer than those that are located farther from transit. “No parking doesn’t make a lot of sense. Limited parking does make sense,” he said. Grosso also said that developing a street-car network is “extremely important.” He also endorses the use of subsidies to draw businesses to underserved areas. “We ought to explore tax increment financing and other subsidies to get busi-nesses into the community, especially in wards 7 and 8 around Metro stations,” he said. He supports tax deals for businesses on a “case-by-case basis,” but opposes the special tax rate for high-tech companies recently pushed by Mayor Vincent Gray. “I’m not against giving a deal, but it shouldn’t be with an open book,” he said. Married with no children, 42-year-old Grosso was born in the District. He spent his early years in Virginia, moving back into the city with his family, to Petworth, when he was 16. After finishing at Fairfax’s Paul VI Catholic High School, he graduated from Earlham College, where he majored in phi-losophy. An alumnus of Georgetown Law School, Grosso is a member of the D.C. Bar.

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excluded from contract negotiations. “The council as a whole through its attor-ney would still have oversight,” she said. “Perhaps even the mayor should not be allowed to pick the winner of a contract.” She advocates for government contracts with local businesses that use residents as workers — “but only if it is the best net value, including city profits and employee taxes, for the District taxpayer.” On economic development, Beatty point-ed to her experience helping revitalize the H Street NE corridor. “As an ANC commis-sioner I looked at the root cause why the area was not developed. There was a lot of street drinking and drug dealing, which kept businesses from investing.” She said she “seized upon the idea” of putting a moratori-um on sales of single containers of alcohol. “We were successful after a two- or three-year effort. … It had an immediate impact and opened the door to businesses coming in.” In general, businesses in D.C. face too many hurdles, Beatty said. She believes solutions could come through lower taxes and fewer regulatory burdens. “Going through the [Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs] process can add 30 percent to the cost of opening a business. It can take a year and a half to get a permit, but meanwhile, they’re paying for a lease,” she said. Beatty said the Internet-deals company Living Social “should not have needed spe-cial treatment,” and she’s opposed to the special tax rate Mayor Gray proposed for

high-tech businesses. The District could encourage more busi-nesses to come here by making its corporate taxes comparable to Virginia’s, she said. “Lower taxes would need to be phased in.” Beatty is also concerned with general quality-of-life issues for D.C. residents. “We need a government that performs efficient-ly,” she said. “We should serve families with good choices for education, have affordable housing, and ensure people have no fear of walking on the streets.” To help achieve these basic standards, she said, the District must improve its neighbor-hood schools and allow the charter system to foster improvements citywide. She also said more funds should go toward Advanced Placement classes and vocational programs. For affordable housing, Beatty suggested regulatory reform and lower tax rates. In general, she said, “the government should be more responsive to its citizens. There is a real sense of frustration right now. Many residents feel that the city is not look-ing after their interests.” Married with two children and four grandchildren, Beatty, 61, has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, where she majored in history and education, and holds a master’s in social science from the University of Oklahoma. She moved to D.C. in 1999. Beatty previously served as president of Women in Government, which represents female state legislators, and as executive director of the National Environmental Policy Institute. She has also worked in state government affairs for a Texas energy com-pany, and as a teacher of American history and civics to public high school students.

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