Question 1:
Age: 39
Occupation: At-Large Councilmember
Education: I am DC native and a graduate of DC Public Schools, where my children are now students. I attended Stevens and Eaton E.S., Alice Deal J.H.S., and Woodrow Wilson S.H.S. I have a B.A. in Business from Morehouse College and a Master's in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University with a focus on urban education. I have also completed advanced studies in education policy at Georgia State University.
Qualifications for office sought: I was born and raised in DC's Columbia Heights neighborhood and have spent my adult life working to improve public schools. I have over 18 years of experience in urban public education reform. As Executive Director for Jumpstart for Young Children, I partnered trained adults in year long relationships with preschool aged children to prepare them for success in school and was elected to Board of Education in the Spring of 2007. I served on the Board for nearly 4 years. That's why I'm fighting to give teachers the resources they need while holding them accountable to the highest standards.
I previously served as the Director of Community Outreach for KIPP DC. Prior to this I trained and supported first and second year teachers as a program director with Teach for America, the national teacher corps. I have also been a classroom teacher in New York City, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. While in the Atlanta Public School System, I provided science professional development for elementary school teachers through the Elementary Science Education Partnership (ESEP), sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
As chair of the DC Council's Special Committee on School Safety and Truancy, I am working to help protect our students and keep them in the classroom. In addition to my chairmanship, I am a member of the Council's committees on Housing and Workforce Development, Aging and Community Affairs and Libraries, Parks and Recreation.
I've also authored the following legislation since being appointed to the Council in January.
- District of Columbia Community Schools Incentive Act: Establishes a Community Schools Fund to fund the operation of the initiative and to ensure the District of Columbia becomes eligible to receive federal and private dollars in support of community schools.
- Sunshine Employable Skills Act: Requires DOES to make a list of all the skills available from unemployed workers in the District to attract businesses and fill job openings.
- Automobile Lease, Procurement and Disposal Reform Act: Requires the Mayor to provide a public list of all the leased District government vehicles.
- Condition of Employment Act: District government workers who live outside of the city to will be offered positions with the condition that they pay 3% on their income back to the District.
- School Transit Subsidy Act: Establishes free public transit for eligible to students to ensure they get to school and help end truancy.
My wife Cara, a pediatrician at Children's National Medical Center, and I live in the Shepherd Park community with our two sons. I was the chair of the Shepherd E.S. Local School Restructuring Team for school year 2006-2007 and co-editor of the Shepherd Park Citizens Association newsletter.
Question 2: How to increase tax revenues? We can't start the process of addressing our budget challenges by putting taxes on the table up front.
If we operate from the premise that savings and reduction in waste will allow us to balance the budget then we are likely to find the will to make the changes. If we start with the idea that we can tax residents for the revenue to operate the government irresponsibly, then we will. As responsible stewards of the city's finances, the Council has an obligation to provide the kind of oversight that delivers excellent government services without spending beyond the District's current revenue base.
An audit of the District's budget, also known as the CAFR, revealed that there are numerous examples of waste in the government. The Council should share the burden of fixing this problem by considering cuts to its own budget.
If we make the right decisions today, we will be in a much stronger position to make important investments when the economy rebounds and we finally return to the days of budget surpluses.
Questions 3: How to reduce spending? Our budget gap is now just over $320 million. In my review of the budget, I'll be guided by the following principles:
1. Government decisions must be fiscally responsible;
2. The government's core commitments to residents must be preserved; and
3. No one citizen or group should bear a disproportionate burden of our budgetary challenges.
During the past three budget cycles many agencies reduced the number of funded vacant positions. As I've visited rented government agencies I frequently see desks and equipment that are no longer in use. We must reexamine our agencies' needs for facility space and equipment as one step to cutting costs.
We are also paying approximately $35 million per year in temporary disability payments to District employees who have been injured while working. Some have been receiving temporary disability for over ten years. The District self-insures for temporary disability insurance. The program may be poorly managed and as a councilmember I would encourage the District to consider purchasing private temporary insurance for its employees. This would be more efficient, provide the employees with better coverage and assist those who qualify for federal disability insurance to receive such coverage.
We are also losing money because of our ongoing inability to file paperwork with Medicaid so that the District can receive reimbursement for Medicaid eligible expenses. I would propose giving those that complete the paperwork a 5% bonus, this would allow for Federal Medicaid monies to come in and prevent us from paying Medicaid expenses using local money.
Questions 4: Will Council salary be your only employment income? Yes.
© Copyright
League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia. All rights reserved.
![[LWV]](images/lwv76.gif)
