Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Anti-incumbency gives hope to D.C. outsiders Date: Wed, 28 Oct 92 15:01:10 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Anti-incumbency gives hope to D.C. outsiders \BY Jonetta Rose Barras and Vincent McCraw \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Traditionally, the fall primary is tantamount to winning election in the District, but an anti-incumbent movement has produced a number of Republican and independent challengers. "I'm trying to tell people in Ward 4 they can vote for an independent and not lose their citizenship in the United States," said Taalib-Din Uqdah, an independent challenging D.C. Council incumbent Charlene Drew Jarvis. "They need to ride the wings of change, not the Republican wings or the Democratic wings. The truth of the matter is they are both wings of the same bird," Mr. Uqdah said. His comments sum up the feelings of Republicans and other independents in next week's council elections. Such candidates are usually considered long shots in this Democratic-dominated city. No matter the issue or the difficulty of the challenge, however, Republicans and independents say the fat lady has yet to sing in any of the council races. Council member William Lightfoot, an independent, was in a similar position four years ago when he won his at-large seat. He said the number of residents registering as independents has increased "dramatically" since he took office. There are more than 30,000 people registered without party affiliation in the city, he said. "I don't have to adhere to any political dogma, nor must I be part of the partisan politics which has resulted in stagnation in Congress. On the local level it allows me to be a voice for the people without being beholden to the special interest," Mr. Lightfoot said, adding that his nonaffiliation makes it "difficult to organize for election because I don't have the party machine." Johnnie May Rice, a Ward 7 Republican challenging Democrat Kevin Chavous, said being part of a political machine can bring obligations after the election. "Kevin has all this outside money, but what is it getting us? . . . He is going to owe somebody across town. I don't owe anyone," Mrs. Rice said. Crime is a major focus of the campaign in Ward 7, where some leaders say violence is pushing out the middle class. Mrs. Rice is a victim of the city's drug epidemic. Her son, a recovering crack abuser, is in a treatment center. "I know the problem not just as a politician but as a parent," she said, adding that she wants to see more treatment centers in the ward and more police on the streets. "We need more community policing. The police need to go up to people's doors and say, 'Hi, I'm your neighborhood policeman.' " The challengers, like many voters, are dissatisfied with the incumbents' records. "The incumbent has shown his inexperience in his unambitious and politically apathetic voting record," said Nathaniel Adams, an independent who says Ward 2 council member Jack Evans is "soft on crime." Mr. Evans disputes the charge, pointing to his Safe Streets Forfeiture Act, which authorizes police to seize the vehicle of anyone caught soliciting prostitutes, and his support of other anti-crime measures. Asked what he would do differently, Mr. Adams' frequent response was "dialogue." "The way I intend to reduce violent crime is first establish a dialogue with the youth, from their perspective recognize what their moral and economic deficiencies are." But Brian Moore, an independent in the at-large race whom political pundits have dubbed the perennial candidate, said the real issues aren't crime, education or housing; they're process and accountability. In fact, the absence of accountability is mentioned in all the challengers' campaigns, including those in Ward 8, where former Mayor Marion Barry, who switched two years ago from Democrat to independent and back again, is the one to beat. "Every three or four years, politicians come out and take a stand on issues, but nothing ever gets done," he said, adding that he is someone who will "do and not simply take stands on issues." He said he wants voters to tell him what the issues are and then help him prioritize and redirect government money to those areas. ****BOX COUNCIL CANDIDATES Republican and independent candidates vying for D.C. Council seats AT-LARGE (2 SEATS) BRIAN MOORE, INDEPENDENT Background: Master's degree in public administration, bachelor's in philosophy. Mid-Atlantic sales director for Medical Data Source. Ran unsuccessfully for council in 1984 and for mayor in 1986 and 1990. Vice chairman of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2D in Southwest. On the issues: Calls for a change in the process and "not a stand on issues." WILLIAM LIGHTFOOT, INDEPENDENT Background: Incumbent. A personal injury lawyer. Chairman of the council Committee on Public Services, member of the Government Operations, Public Works, and Education and Libraries committees. Was staff director and counsel for the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs, 1979-1980, and the Committee on Employment and Economic Development, 1977-1979. On the issues: Crime: Supports reform of the juvenile justice system, creation of a prison industry. Voted for the bail reform act and life imprisonment. Supported recent carjacking legislation. Education: Would eliminate the Board of Education's budget autonomy, reform the school system. Economic development: Wants to improve minority contracting set-aside programs to focus on businesses in the District. Would make it easier for telecommunications firms to operate in the city, an area "wide open for employment opportunities." WARD 2 NATHANIEL T. ADAMS, INDEPENDENT Background: Owner, DC Only Courier Services Inc. Graduate, Banneker High School; attended Hawaii-Pacific University in Honolulu. On the issues: Crime: Supports the death penalty. Economic development: Would emphasize neighborhood business corridors. Housing: Supports efforts to build affordable housing, including programs that link development with the construction of low-cost housing in certain wards. Education: Supports teacher raises, restructuring the school system. HERBERT COLES, REPUBLICAN Background: Write-in nominee. Graduate of New York University, was president and chief executive officer of All American Automobile Leasing & Limousine. Also president and chief executive officer of Coles Insurance Agency in the District. On the issues: Housing: Would put senior citizen housing into the private sector. Education: Would publicly fund college and private high school educations. WARD 4 PAUL BROWN, REPUBLICAN Background: Retired policeman, fourth-generation Washingtonian. On the issues: Opposes statehood, saying it will be costly and create more government. TAALIB-DIN UQDAH, INDEPENDENT Background: Washington native, co-owner of Cornrows & Co. Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4C chairman. Vice president, Greater Carter Barron Citizens Coalition; past president of Carter Barron East Neighborhood Association. President of Justice Denied, which focuses on political prisoners. On the issues: Crime: Has supported taking pay telephones used by street drug dealers. Housing: Supports using ward residents to repair abandoned and senior citizen housing. Economic development: Would turn former Hechinger's on Georgia Avenue NW into a roller rink, encourage opening of a family restaurant and book store in the ward. Would also create a Post Office of Washington, D.C., to compete with the U.S. Postal Service and create jobs in the city. Education: Supports curriculum changes to keep pace with new technology, advocates greater involvement of residents as mentors. WARD 7 JOHNNIE SCOTT RICE, REPUBLICAN Background: Washington native. First vice chairman of the National Political Congress of Black Women, vice chairman of the D.C. Black Republican Council, treasurer of D.C. Citizens to Save Our Streets, political outreach chairman of the Marian Martin Women's Republican Club. A 20-year Democrat who switched two years ago. On the issues: Crime: Supports the death penalty, greater police presence and citizen anti-crime brigades. Supports community policing and more drug rehabilitation centers for the ward. Housing: Wants to reopen vacant property and renovate East Gate public housing project. Economic development: Supports enterprise zones, would locate one on Sheriff Road and Division Avenue NE with jobs there exclusively for ward residents. Education: Wants another high school in the ward, more vocational education. WARD 8 RICHARD MILLER, INDEPENDENT Background: Born in New Bern, N.C., moved to Washington in 1969. Former assistant manager of Field's Insurance Agency. Aide to former Mayor Marion Barry in 1979 for the summer jobs program. Former aide to D.C. Council member Wilhelmina Rolark. On the issues: Education: Establish self-esteem school at the old police 7th District to offer prenatal classes and behavioral courses for disruptive students. Supports an Afrocentric curriculum in ward schools. Economic development: Require Ward 8 businesses to donate to self-esteem school or help finance new businesses giving ward residents hiring preference. Create a ward financial investment pool to allow for small business creation. ANTHONY MOTLEY, INDEPENDENT Background: Washington native, attended University of Detroit and Howard University School of Divinity. Associate minister, First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church. On the issues: Education: Motivate students to seek higher education through a career directions program sponsored through ward churches. Economic development: Develop Camp Sims as an industrial park. W. CARDELL SHELTON, REPUBLICAN Background: Construction contractor, former ANC commissioner. On the issues: Education: Would establish a vocational training center for young and older residents. Economic development: Would tax real estate holdings of nonprofit groups. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM