here's a question: what would you do as councilmember to ensure accountability from ANC members in your ward? basically, how are things like the leadership mess in ANC2C allowed to happen?

by IMGoph on Jul 8, 2008 3:06 pm • link • report

I'd argue that the Ward 8 race that may or may not re-elect Marion Barry is pretty high on the "most interesting race" list, as well.

And the thing that stinks is that it is Barry vs. 7 other candidates. I would just be for "Anybody But Barry", but unfortunately in order for him to not get re-elected there needs to be some consensus and let only One other person run against him...

by DG-rad on Jul 8, 2008 3:13 pm • link • report

You're right, my west-of-the-river-centricity shows through. Sorry. I've updated the post, and definitely want to cover the Ward 8 race as well. Will And Now, Anacostia be making an endorsement?

by David Alpert on Jul 8, 2008 3:26 pm • link • report

I'm not a resident of the district. However, i'd probably ask them for their take on a Georgetown'ish metro stop (other than Foggy Bottom, as some might claim) and how it would be paid for, if they support it.

A better question in general is why is there another primary election months after the presidential one? Double your cost, double your vote? I understand local races are much lower in money, mostly counting to tens of thousands vs. millions, but one could argue that puts every reason to hold it with the presidential primary.

by Big Money Tony on Jul 8, 2008 3:32 pm • link • report

@IMGoph,

Technically, the ANCs aren't accountable to ward councilmembers or even associated with any single ward or ward councilmember. They were created by the Home Rule Charter of 1973 as totally separate entities, and while the councilmembers (who head redistricting in the District every 10 years after the census) try to keep them within a single ward, that is not always the case ... nor does it need to be under the law.

That said, Councilmember Catania holds oversight hearings on a yearly basis where each ANC reports in in a manner similar to the Agencies reporting in. (The Council funds the ANCs, so I guess that is the justification for this oversight.) Additionally, they must submit quarterly financial reports to the District Auditor ... who also conducts periodic audits.

The specific role of the advisory neighborhood commissions, as defined by the D.C. Election code, is to advise the district government " ... on matters of public policy including decisions regarding planning, streets, recreation, social services programs, health, safety, and sanitation in that neighborhood commission area." (D.C. Code, Section 1-251(c)(1))

I've seen way many ANCs forget that (1)their scope is limited to "advising" and (2) that their advising is limited to their own "neighborhood commission area." And when they do so, things do tend to turn into a mess. Incidentally, I'm NOT inferring this applies to ANC2C as I haven't a clue as to their functionings ...

by Lance on Jul 8, 2008 3:58 pm • link • report

lance: thanks for the background on the ANCs, but i am familiar with their oversight. i guess what i'm looking for here is a way for someone to come up with better wording for my question, which would basically be along the lines of "why, mr. evans, are you willing to watch the level of government closest to the people in part of your ward languish, and what would you, mr. silverman, do to keep that from happening if you are elected.

by IMGoph on Jul 8, 2008 4:02 pm • link • report

I just moved to ward 2 last week. I want to know what Silverman would bring to the Council other than his full time attention to the job. Full time is only meaningful if it comes with something else. As far as I can tell, though, his campaign is based entirely on that one commitment.

by NotInTheCoolCrowd on Jul 8, 2008 9:20 pm • link • report

I would ask Jack Evans why he is not more attentive to small business owners in his ward. The big boys downtown get LOTS of attention, but not the smaller ones on commercial strips such as 14th and 17th Street. D.C. is a terrible place for entrepreneurs and small business owners; the D.C. government seems to take delight in torturing them. Council Members simply ignore them.

by Matty on Jul 8, 2008 10:01 pm • link • report

At the DNA meeting tonight I asked Evans his opinion about the DDOT / Intracity bus saga. He said he was caught by surprise about the emergency legislation and that the bus companies urging their customers to mail the council members produced around 1100 emails in his inbox. He didn't weigh in on the issue itself saying he hadn't yet given it study. He simply turned the issue back around to the meeting attendees to weigh in on.

Hopefully both candidates will be prepared to answer transit questions like these if they are agreeing to interview with a transit blog author =)

by FourthandEye on Jul 8, 2008 11:01 pm • link • report

Campaign contributions. A list please.

by kenny G on Jul 8, 2008 11:22 pm • link • report

Ask Jack Evans why he lets corporations install video advertising in Chinatown. I know he claimed that "labor unions" were lobbying for it because they wanted to preserve the right to use amps when they protest, but couldn't the Council have gotten around that by adding a clause like "except for temporary, non-commercial uses implicating the freedoms of speech or assembly."

by tom veil on Jul 9, 2008 8:57 am • link • report

I would ask the following question:

Ward 2 is a very diverse and vibrant ward, spanning from Georgetown, Downtown, to Shaw. How would you priortize your attention to the problems that exist between neighborhoods in the Ward? For instance, Shaw has larger and more substantive problems (crime, concentrated poverty, vacant buildings, etc) than Georgetown. Please provide specifics on the way you would divide your time and resources to different neighborhoods in Ward 2.

by MK on Jul 9, 2008 10:58 am • link • report

not making an official endorsement, yet at least.

Although my two top candidates are Yavocka Young (of Main Street Anacostia), and Charles Wilson (of Historic Anacostia Block Association).

They have the best handle on reality, and are in my most humble opinion, the most qualified for the post.

by DG-rad on Jul 9, 2008 11:33 am • link • report

I'd like to know the candidates' visions for public libraries in the Ward (Foggy Bottom, Shaw, MLK, etc.)

Also, does either candidate have ideas about what to do about vacant buildings that aren't being well-maintained (there are a bunch in Shaw, but other places, too)?

by Stacy on Jul 10, 2008 1:51 pm • link • report