DC Dem Profiles: Mayor
This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. We are constantly working to build a comprehensive mix of candidate bios and election news. To find all our current DC Democratic Primary candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Primary Page. For all candidates, view our 2010 DC General Elections Page.
Mayoral Candidates Discuss Income Disparity
These are the Democratic Candidates for Mayor of the District of Columbia
 Mayor Adrian Fenty (incumbent)
From Mayor Fenty's official online bio:
Adrian M. Fenty was elected the fifth Mayor of the District of Columbia in November 2006. He has made quality public education for all and efficient and accountable government hallmarks of his administration....
Going forward, Fenty is committed to meeting the economic challenges facing the District by creating new jobs, spurring neighborhood economic development and investing in local infrastructure in an effort to stimulate the city’s economy. Improving education will also remain a cornerstone of the Mayor’s agenda, with special attention paid to improving graduation rates and reducing truancy. With encouraging progress surrounding the city’s congressional voting rights status, Fenty has committed to work with the Obama Administration to make a voting member of Congress for the District a reality.
Over the last year-and-a-half, local media has reported on numerous corruption issues facing Mayor Fenty. From Wikipedia:
Mayor Fenty and his administration came under increasing scrutiny in 2009 in local media, including the Washington Post, the Washington City Paper, and local news radio station WTOP. Of note are two "secret trips" taken by Fenty in early 2009.[45] According to WTOP, one of those trips was to Philadelphia and another was to an undisclosed location in the Middle East. The same article also cites city officials who say that Fenty did not disclose to anyone where he was going.
Fenty also came under scrutiny in November 2009 when WTOP reported numerous cases of use of police motorcades. These events include using them to protect him during bicycle rides on streets in and outside of Washington, some of which were on parkways which ban bicycles.[46]
Fenty came under national criticism during the snow storms of February 2010 for the District of Columbia's inadequate response to the historic snowfall, during which the United States Federal Government was effectively shut down for almost a week.[47]
Fenty has been embroiled in a number of additional controversies reported on by the Washington Post, including withholding skybox tickets to the Washington Nationals, despite not being legally entitled to them. He eventually handed the tickets over to the city council.[48] and allowing personal acquaintances to drive city-owned vehicles.
 Council Chairman Vincent Gray
From Chairman Gray's official online bio:
Vince’s dedication to his community and the residents of Ward 7 inspired a successful campaign for elected office in 2004 where he handily defeated the incumbent in the primary. During his first term as City Councilman from Ward 7, he chaired a Special Committee on the Prevention of Youth Violence, and created the Effi Barry HIV/AIDS initiative. Two years after joining the Council, Vince ran for the citywide office of Chairman of the Council. Running on the theme of “One City,” he continued his focus on uniting the disparate racial and economic groups in his hometown. He won the general election with 98% of the vote.
As Chairman, Vince has been a leader in efforts to improve the Council’s operations, transparency and oversight capacity, and has been a true champion for school reform. As Chairman, he spearheaded the Pre-K Expansion and Enhancement Act, which established a voluntary, high-quality pre-school program which will provide 2,000 new classroom slots for three and four year olds over the next six years.
Chairman Gray recently received the endorsement of DC police and firefighters, and endorsement that appears to be as much about their disapproval of Mayor Fenty as it is their approval of Gray.
"Mayor Fenty has done nothing to warrant the endorsement and support of D.C. firefighters," said Ray Sneed, president of the firefighters' Local 36. "From a labor standpoint, he is unreachable, unapproachable and our correspondence goes unanswered."
Chairman Gray took some heat recently when his proposed budget basically eliminated the popular streetcar line. By the end of the day, most of the the funding had been restored after the Chairman's office was inundated with calls from DC residents.
From an interview for the Washington Post, published on May 30th, 2010: In graduate school, I had a professor who said to me, "What do you know about mental retardation?" I was a clinical psychology major, and I said, "Well, to be honest, not a lot." She said, "I'm on the board of the Association for Retarded Citizens, and I would really like you to think about taking a summer job there and see what you think." So I did. They sent me to a conference at Forest Haven, a really infamous institution. I walked around the grounds, up to this really high chain-link fence. While I was standing there, this staff person literally herded about 20 women out who had absolutely no clothes on and started hosing them down. It was one of the most dehumanizing things I've ever seen. I stood there, I looked at it, and it was one of those defining moments. I said: I think I could do something that makes a difference here.
 Leo Alexander
From Leo Alexander's official online bio:
In 1999, Leo Alexander became a Ward 4 resident homeowner and an active member of the Brightwood Civic Association. He exhibited leadership and tenacity in helping the Association wage its successful campaign to block construction of a transfer station in Brightwood, a largely middle‐class African‐American community. This empowering experience launched his commitment to community and political activism in the District. He volunteered in a full range of campaigns; from President Obama’s historical win, to local races for mayor and council chair.
He chaired the public relations committee for the DC Federation of Civic Associations and in these duties; he produced and moderated the last major candidates’ forum for the 2006 local mayoral election. That same year, he was named the Delegate of the Year for the DC Federation of Civic Associations. Since 2005, he has served as an executive board member of the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights (DCCH). The DCCH is responsible for spearheading most of the affordable housing and commercial redevelopment projects along the 14th Street corridor; i.e., The Tivoli theatre, Giant Supermarket and DCUSA shopping mall.
Sulaimon Brown (not scheduled to appear at DC4D meet n' greet)
 From Sulaimon Brown's official online bio:
Sulaimon Brown, born 07/31/1970, Sulaimon Maurice Brown in Charleston, SC to parents Melvin Brown and Alverda Brown. Sulaimon’s father served in the United States military as an Army Ranger and is a veteran of the Korean War. His mother is a nurse who worked for many years at Howard University Hospital. He was given the name Maurice after his maternal grandfather who served as a Master Sergeant in the US Air Force during World War II and served in Guam in the pacific.
He attended Mayor Marion Barry’s youth Leadership Institute where the motto was “If it is to be, then it is up to me”. He found his first job in the DC summer jobs program.
Sulaimon Brown attended Kelley Miller Junior High school in NE where he ran track and field, Calvin Coolidge High School, and Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts where he studied Literary and Media Arts.
Sulaimon Brown graduated from the University of the District of Colombia with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting.
 Carlos Allen
From his official online bio:
Throughout his career Carlos has owned and operated several companies, including credit - financial consulting, mortgage lending, real estate investing, and a philanthropic internet magazine.
His most endearing business venture, HUSH Society Magazine, started from humble beginnings in 2009 when Carlos and his team committed their efforts to uplift individuals and organizations whose sole objectives were to help others. Today, HUSH Society Magazine is world recognized and still focused on working and helping people receive the exposure they deserve.
After a successful twenty-year career in private business, and as a long standing D.C. Resident, Carlos became aware of the political problems plaguing The District., specifically, he was troubled, as were many D.C. residents by ineffective career politicians with self-fulfilling special interests. These politicians never worked with the interest of the District’s residents at heart. Carlos now wants to transform that.
Carlos’ platform includes a strong advocacy for investing in youth entrepreneurial leadership, education, enabling children to reach their full potential, the promotion of early childhood health, and initiatives to aid children, and young adults. Carlos’ record shows that he is a lifelong champion of social, racial and economic justice.
Ernest E. Johnson
 From his official online bio:
I am a native of Washington and an alumnus of Cardozo High School and American University. Skilled in community organizing, I also own a small real estate firm, Johnson&Johnson Realty, the license for which has been placed on inactive status during my campaign. Additionally, I have resigned from all Boards of Directors that receive funding from the District of Columbia.
I am Executive Director of Obama for America online faith based social networking group. I have just finished my first book, "Doolum the Mind of Christ - A Life Redeemed".
 Dennis Sobin
From his official campaign website:
Long-time political activist, foundation director and justice advocate Dennis Sobin is running for the office of Washington DC Mayor because he wants “to end the arrogance and bullying of the Fenty administration.” Sobin is founder and director of the Safe Streets Arts Foundation that operates the Prison Art Gallery in Washington,DC, and produces the annual “From Prison to the Stage” music-drama program at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage Festival. He is also a classical guitarist with 11 CDs to his credit who performs regularly in local church services and teaches guitar as a volunteer at a senior center.
Last updated by Will Urquhart on June 4th 2010 |
