Voting info:
- Nine Early Voting Centers: open October 25 - Nov 1, 8:30am to 7:00pm (Closed Sunday)
- Click here to find out which spot you can early vote at.
- If you don't early vote, Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
- You can register to vote at the polling location - just bring a proof of address
Notes:
- WAMU also has a voter guide based on their candidate questionnaire.
- I've highlighted in yellow the people I'm voting for/would support.
- Sorry in advance if you're a libertarian. At least we can all vote for weed legalization together.
The Ballot
●
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives: Natale Lino Stracuzzi (Statehood Green), Nelson F. Rimensnyder
(R), Eleanor H. Norton
(D), Timothy J. Krepp (I)
EHN is basically a living civil rights
legend/badass. Better vote for her.
●
Mayor: Nestor Djonkam (I), Muriel E.
Bowser (D), David A. Catania
(I), Faith (SG), Carol Schwartz (I), Bruce Majors (Libertarian)
Catania would be a disrupter by design. He
would battle with the council and shake up bureaucracies throughout the
government.
Bowser, a more traditional politician, would
probably settle for lesser achievements for the sake of consensus and to
protect her popularity.
--Washington Post
● District of Columbia Initiative 71 - Marijuana - Yes or No
This initiative, if passed, will make it lawful under District of Columbia law for a person 21 years of age or older to:
· possess up to two ounces of marijuana for personal use;
· grow no more than six cannabis plants with 3 or fewer being mature, flowering plants, within the person's principal resident;
· transfer without payment (but not sell) up to one ounce of marijuana to another person 21 years of age or older; and
· use or sell drug paraphernalia for the use, growing, or processing of marijuana or cannabis.
●
Chairman of the D.C. Council: Kris Hammond (R), Kyle Walker (L), G. Lee Aikin (SG), John C.
Cheeks (I), Phil Mendelson
(D)
We believe that Mr. Mendelson deserves to be reelected.
It would be difficult to find a council member more knowledgeable or
hardworking. While we have not always agreed with him, we admire his principled
approach. Promoted to the chairman’s seat following the resignation of chairman
Kwame Brown in 2012, Mr. Mendelson has become more confident and capable in
presiding over the often-unwieldy body and is well-suited to forge a positive
working relationship with whoever is elected mayor.
--Washington Post
--Washington Post
●
At-large council member: Pick 2 - Michael D. Brown (I), Frederick Steiner (L), Eric J. Jones (I),
Kishan Putta (I), Wendell Felder (I), Eugene Puryear (SG), Courtney R. Snowden
(I), Anita D. Bonds (D),
Brian Hart (I), Robert
White (I), Calvin H. Gurley (I), Elissa Silverman (I), Marc Morgan (R),
Graylan Scott Hagler (I), Khalid Pitts (I)
We respect Ms. Bonds’s devotion to the interests of senior citizens and her
willingness to listen to all sides of an issue, but other candidates have more
to offer this year.
Courtney R. Snowden (I), a principal in a government relations firm
with experience on Capitol Hill. Ms. Snowden grew up
in Ward 4, lives in Ward 7, works in Ward 2 and has a keen understanding of the need to connect neighborhoods if the city
is to thrive. She understands policy, is adept at building coalitions and is
both smart and passionate about education reform.
Robert White (I), a lawyer and
former legislative counsel to D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D). Mr. White is knowledgeable about transportation,
environmental issues and economic development, and he brings a balanced
approach. He understands the needs of struggling neighborhoods, having overcome
adversity to become the first person in his family to graduate from college. If
elected, he would hit the ground running.
●
Ward 1 council member: Brianne K. Nadeau (D), John Vaught LaBeaume (L), Ernest E. Johnson (I)
Local activist and communications strategist Brianne Nadeau has thoughtful ideas and
a collaborative approach. She is keenly in touch with the needs of Ward 1
neighborhoods, and the energy and smarts that have been a hallmark of her
campaign are a harbinger of how she would govern.
--Washington Post
--Washington Post
Ernest E. Johnson is a native
Washingtonian residing on ParkWood Place in Columbia Heights in the same house
for 45 years. He wants more accountability of charter schools use of $300
million dollars of DC tax money and when and where charters open new schools as
not to affect DC public schools feeder patterns. Ernest will ask Ward One
businesses to pay a 1% tax to launch DC Pride, (lol nothing to do with gay
pride) a volunteer to work program for unemployed residents. Ernest opposes
streetcars in Ward One and wants to keep Ward One diverse and affordable.
Making sure our rent control regulations are strong and enforced.
●
Ward 3 council member: Ryan Sabot (Libertarian), Mary M. Cheh (D)
(Yeah I just really don’t like libertarians.
Also Ryan Sabot is a current junior
at American University. Don’t think so bro. Mary Cheh seems meh enough.)
Cheh has authored several
comprehensive reform measures including the Healthy Schools Act of 2010 which makes
breakfast free and healthier for all DC public school students; the Omnibus
Election Reform Act of 2009 which allows for pre-registration for voters who
will be 18 on Election Day and provides for early voting. She also authored a
bill creating the DC Sustainable Energy Utility.
Cheh recently introduced a law to
make taxis use GPS, credit cards, and more uniform lights/colors. She also introduced
emergency measures to keep Uber and Lyft legal.
●
Ward 5 council member: Preston Cornish (Libertarian), Kenyan McDuffie (D)
Since his election in 2012, Mr. McDuffie has emerged as a leader.
He demonstrated his commitment to improving the council’s integrity with his
able direction of its censure of member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and his
championing of long-needed campaign finance reform.--Washington Post
Preston Cornish: I oppose
efforts to raise the minimum wage, as I believe it has a strongly negative
effect on the ability of low-skilled and entry-level workers to obtain
employment. I am 100% opposed to any expansion of the streetcar network in D.C.
I believe that streetcars offer zero advantages over buses. We should fight for
a repeal of the Height Act, allowing for taller building, which would increase
supply and put pressure on rents to drop.
●
Ward 6 council member: Charles Allen (D), Pranav Badhwar (Libertarian)
Mr. Allen most recently as an aide to
Mr. Wells and is focused on schools, affordable housing and encouraging
business growth. Mr. Allen has a keen knowledge of neighborhood issues, the
complexities of D.C. government and how to bring about solutions to its
problems. His sensitivity to ethical concerns would be valuable.
Pranav Badhwar: Each year the
budget increases to pay for social programs that don’t work, raising taxes and
regressively driving up the cost of living. Local control over educational
resources is far more effective than DCPS control. Charters need equitable
funding. Eliminate or reduce licensing burdens on 41 low and moderate income
occupations that tilt the playing field against entrepreneurs. Re-focus police
on real crimes of violence, theft, fraud. Expunge criminal records for all
*victimless* crimes, which stunts people's ability to work.
●
Attorney general: Karl A. Racine, Lateefah Williams, Edward “Smitty” Smith, Paul Zukerberg,
Lorie Masters (all are Democrats)
Mr. Racine, as we detailed when we endorsed him, has the legal and
management skills that will be needed to run the 556-employee office. He is an
experienced trial lawyer who has worked in both private and public sectors; a
longtime resident of the city, he has a rich understanding of its people and
the issues.
Lorie Masters - As attorney general, I
would use the independence of the office to eliminate corruption, ensure laws
are fairly enforced and make sure the laws work for the people. My entire
career, I’ve fought for equal treatment for all. I support the ballot
initiative that would legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
(Mr Racine has also expressed recent support for weed legalization - "It is 'high time,'
so to speak, that marijuana be legal.”)
--WAMU
●
“Shadow” U.S. senator: David Schwartzman (SG), Paul Strauss (D), John
Daniel (L), Glenda J. Richmond (I)
The incumbent, Mr. Strauss
lobbies Congress on behalf of the
citizens of D.C. in their attempt to gain full Federal representation, self-determination,
and eventually admittance to the union as the 51st State. Strauss opposed
efforts by various members of the United States Congress to overturn the District's ban on handguns,
institute school vouchers in the District, and institute a flat tax in the District.
● “Shadow” U.S. representative: Franklin Garcia (D), Martin Moulton (L), Joyce Robinson-Paul (SG)
Franklin Garcia is the President
of the DC Latino Caucus and the Corresponding Secretary for the DC Democratic
State Committee. Cutting edge technology has been the career focus for
Franklin. From designing websites for politicians, to developing a bilingual E-training
application, Franklin has been effective in using technology in his work. His
recent focus has been on increasing Latino presence in local city government
and local elected office.
●
Ward 1 member of the State Board of Education: David Do, Scott Simpson, E. Gail Anderson Holness, Laura Wilson Phelan,
Lillian Perdomo (nonpartisan)
Gail Holness - I believe my training as a
lawyer and 25 years in the Education field coupled with my community outreach
efforts will contribute immensely to my success as a Member of the State Board
of Education.
Holness - “Growing up in a transitioning, integrated neighborhood,
community and school helped to mold me into the affirming and inclusive person.
Instead of revving hate and divisiveness that was in my environment, my parents
taught love and acceptance”.
Scott Simpson - Opportunity for All Students
– Students of all income-levels and races, English language learners, LGBT
students, and students with disabilities should not have their right to a
quality education undermined simply because of who they are or where they live.
Every child should have access to safe and supportive elementary and pre-schools
and every teen and adult should have the chance to thrive in a college
preparatory or workforce development program.
● Ward 3 board member: Stephanie Blessey Lilley, Tricia Braun, Phil Thomas, Ruth
Wattenberg
Don’t care you
look it up
● Ward 5 board member: Mark Jones
I guess he’ll
probs win
● Ward 6 board member: Mark Naydan, Joe Weedon
Don’t care - watch this instead
● Advisory Neighborhood Commissions: A list of candidates is available at dcboee.org.
