Politics
Should Barry be worried about next year’s Ward 8 primary?
Have Ward 8 voters grown tired of Marion Barry or is his reelection in 2012 a foregone conclusion? Will a challenger emerge that can mount an effective opposition campaign fueled by an alliance of newer residents and those long disgruntled with Barry's leadership?
Photo by tbridge on Flickr.
A number of Ward 8 leaders agree that under Barry, the ward has languished and there has been little progress toward solving any of the serious problems like unemployment and vacant properties. Despite this, he remains very popular with many residents, as was clear at last weekend's Ward 8 community summit.
"I think people keep voting for him because they don't know any better. Barry did something for them a long time ago and they won't let go," says ANC8E chairperson and treasurer Sandra "S.S." Seegars.
Seegars is the only challenger who has filed thus far. In 2008, Seegars received 498 votes against Barry, or 8.85% of all ballots cast in the Ward 8 Democratic primary.
She proposes a moratorium on new housing construction in Ward 8 until all of the ward's vacant properties are first taken care of. At the weekend's Ward 8 Community Summit, many residents identified vacant properties as a key concern.
Seegars argues that vacant properties are just one of the many issues Barry has failed to address. "People are really just punishing themselves voting for Barry, because the ward never does improve," she said.
In the citywide primary next April, voters in Ward 8 will presumably have a choice. Some have openly questioned the wherewithal and electability of past challengers, and whether this trend will continue.
If Barry is worried, he is not letting on. His inconsequential rhetoric might use different clichés, turns of phrase, and doubletalk, adroitly changing as the day-to-day or week-to-week wind blows, but the crux of his message has not deviated: You know me, I know you. We know each other, so let's keep this party going. What do you say?
Ward 8 Community Summit reviews problems with the ward
At this weekend's Ward 8 Community Summit, Barry repeatedly implored the audience to forget about the past while concurrently emphasizing his nearly four decades of public service to the city.
In his closing remarks Saturday, Barry shamelessly said, with the tacit reinforcement of Mayor Gray, "We can't do anything about the past but learn from it, right? We can't do anything about yesterday. We can't do anything about half-a-hour ago. But we can do something about the future. And we're going to have a brighter future in Ward 8 than we've ever had in recent years."
Smothered by high rates of unemployment, illiteracy, substance abuse and crime, Ward 8's dependent population is unlikely to offer their vote to anyone other than Barry, admitted participants at table 8 of the summit.
"I don't think people know what changes they're really looking at," said Ray Watson, a contractor with a small business in the ward. "If the police are going to monitor people on the corner drinking their beers then they won't like that." He later said, "People aren't going to give away their money to move and live over here. The new people won't be your everyday public assistance clientele."
Statistics shared at the summit indicated 40% of the ward's population lives in some form of public housing.
"Most residents don't want new development. They are comfortable with the gun shots, people sitting on their porch drinking liquor and being loud as they do, things of that nature," said John, a rising sophomore at a charter school east of the river, an employee within the Executive Office of the Mayor for the Summer Youth Employment Program and a resident of Highland Addition off Atlantic Street SE.
"People will do what they can to resist changes," said John, who expressed frustration with a stigma that can pervasively label residents of public housing "low class."
Potential challengers remain on the sidelines
One potential challenger is Jacque Patterson, president of the Ward 8 Democrats. Patterson said, "It's time for Ward 8 to have new ideas and innovative public policies. To substitute Barry with someone who doesn't have any new approach to addressing the concerns of Ward 8 residents shouldn't be the goal."
Patterson ran against Barry in 2004 "because I was tired of the ward languishing undeveloped and underserved during the years that Ms. Sandy Allen served as our councilmember." He recently ran in this past April's at-large race but was disqualified after failing to collect the required signatures for inclusion on the ballot.
Patterson argues Barry "has not articulated the reasons why he should receive my vote" and, unlike "council members in other parts of the city," has not engaged with the Ward 8 Democrats. With a council that "seems at this point to be self-serving," Barry's credibility has been strengthened by his longevity in city politics and "provides a sense of stability" while the public's trust increasingly wanes, says Patterson.
"Residents want more than just the show or the party," says Charles Wilson, an ANC, attorney and five-year resident of the ward. In 2008 the Washington Post endorsed Wilson's novice campaign for the Ward 8 council seat. Wilson finished second in the Democratic primary with 622 votes, 11% of all that were cast.
"Ever since the 2008 campaign, every week somebody is asking me if I am going to run or they tell me I should run again," says Wilson. "It's nice people are mentioning my name, but I'm going do this on my time."
In the 2008 Democratic primary, Barry received more than three-quarters of the total ballots cast and claimed more than 90 percent of the total vote in the general election. Barry was first elected as Ward 8 councilmember in 1992 following his release from federal prison on drug charges. He would subsequently defeat incumbent Sharon Pratt (Dixon) Kelly in the Democratic primary en route to his fourth-term as "Mayor 4 Life" defeating Carol Schwartz (R) in 1994.
At Saturday's summit, Barry was referred to as mayor repeatedly by different speakers throughout the day. The septuagenarian thrives off these displays of fawning romanticism and admiration knowing Ward 8 is his perpetual meal ticket while asking for very little in return.
It is detrimental to the District for Ward 8 to continue to be Barry's fiefdom of "the least, the last, and the lost." Evidenced by citizens' recent reactions to Barry's request for Ward 8 to absorb parts of Ward 6 in redistricting, there is a collective malaise outside Ward 8 about Barry.
As long as his influence is confined to Ward 8 people seem content to disregard him. When he makes unwanted excursions into other parts of the city, voters promptly and viscerally reply in full. But the livelihood of the city and Ward 8 are not mutually exclusive. Barry is not just Ward 8's problem; he's a citywide problem requiring a united citywide solution.
A challenger must develop a citywide organization that can outwork Barry at the retail level from door knocks, to steady surrogate presence at community meetings and well-formed and committed coalitions that can raise the money necessary to pay full-time staff, purchase collateral (t-shirts, yard signs, and bumper stickers) and fund an aggressive 72 hour get-out-the-vote effort.
Unless this happens, after once being set-up himself Barry will continue to strut, knowing he has Ward 8 sewn up.
 | John Muller is a local journalist and historian. His first book, Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC: The Lion of Anacostia, was published by The History Press last year. John is now at work on Mark Twain in Washington, DC.    |
Comments
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http://ocf.dc.gov/registration_statements/pcc/pcc_searchresult.asp?ele_year=2012
by Keith Ivey on Jul 13, 2011 1:38 pm • link • report
I am a Ward 8 resident and can't answer that question. What I find is a lot of people complaining about Barry but unable to articulate the whowhatwhenhowwhy.
@Sophmore student Most residents don't want new development. They are comfortable with the gun shots, people sitting on their porch drinking liquor and being loud as they do, things of that nature.
Yes this is somewhat true. But the idea that "most" residents don't seems quite of of sync with reality. Ask residents whether they like having a Giant or renovated libraries and schools. I don't think people would be against them. Statements such as this young guy unfortunately gives the impression that it's true...and I don't know anyone who actually believes (beyond rhetoric) that it is.
Will Barry win again? Likely yes. But we certainly can't fault him. Get a candidate with the right message who has the support of a large swath of Barry voters..and they'll win. The type of person I can't imagine winning is someone running on an ant-barry campaign. Just won't work.
Barry was referred to as mayor repeatedly by different speakers throughout the day. The septuagenarian thrives off these displays of fawning romanticism and admiration knowing Ward 8 is his perpetual meal ticket while asking for very little in return.
Ahhh, here we go! Attack Barry for fawning over something apparently every other politician and former one fawns over. Don't we acknowledge all politicians by their highest title?
Jimmy Carter is still referred to as President Carter. Clinton is still referred to as President. HW Bush as well.
This is standard and doesn't mean that Barry has orgasms over to an extent greater than anyone else. Not fair dude.
by HogWash on Jul 13, 2011 1:49 pm • link • report
by John on Jul 13, 2011 1:51 pm • link • report
Anytime Barry does anything remotely offensive to his community (which is hard to do), he shows up a t a couple churches on Sunday, yammers on about him "finding god" and all is forgiven.
The real irony of the entire thing is that Barry has never done anything for Ward 8. Its urban legend.
by freely on Jul 13, 2011 1:54 pm • link • report
by John on Jul 13, 2011 2:05 pm • link • report
No. That people do it does not mean it is not incorrect and stupid.
The US presidency is an office. It's title remains with the office, and not with the person. Hence why historians refer to George Washington as General Washington, not President Washington and Thomas Jefferson is Governor Jefferson not President Jefferson.
General is a title to the person not to the office, and Governor is a title to the person as well though it is an elected poisition, it stays with the person because it was previously assigned by the King.
So that would be President Obama, Governors Carter and Clinton and Mr. HW Bush, all former presidents of the USA.
what hasn't Ward 8 benefited from that it should have?
Thank goodness this has finally been admitted. Ward 8 has not been "left behind" like some red-headed stepchild. It has not been ignored or purposefully screwed over. It is so nice to finally hear this truth being spoken by residents of the ward.
As to Barry: he will remain for as long as he chooses to. For life is for life after all.
by greent on Jul 13, 2011 2:13 pm • link • report
Having said that, the source makes me a bit nervous...
"The Syndicate is an amalgamation of all affiliated people, places, and things, past, present, and future in and of our city and surrounding suburbs. The Syndicate came up through the city’s syndicates and is affiliated with syndicate affiliations."
I am generally wary of people who refer to themselves in the third person, not least those who have themselves the authority to bestow and revoke "hood passes."
by Jenny from the Block on Jul 13, 2011 2:18 pm • link • report
Wait, what? How does this make the problem better? Are people so excited about new construction that they are vacating their old homes rather than selling them? Do the laws of supply and demand work differently in Ward 8?
by tom veil on Jul 13, 2011 2:19 pm • link • report
If so, what improvements/developments has Ward 8 missed out on at the hands of Marion Barry?
No. That people do it does not mean it is not incorrect and stupid. The US presidency is an office.
General is a title to the person not to the office, and Governor is a title to the person as well though it is an elected poisition, it stays with the person because it was previously assigned by the King.
So what's the explanation as to why former Senators and Congressperson's AND Mayors are acknowledged by their previous titles? Of former USSC justices are still referred to as "Justice" XYZ?
Mayor Rudy Guiliani
Mayor Andrew Young
@Tom Wait, what? How does this make the problem better? Are people so excited about new construction that they are vacating their old homes rather than selling them? Do the laws of supply and demand work differently in Ward 8?
It is odd logic though. Ironically, this is the similar to what Barry proposed just the other day. It didn't make sense then either.
There is definately a problem w/vacant blighted properties but this certainly doesn't solve it.
by HogWash on Jul 13, 2011 2:26 pm • link • report
So what's the explanation as to why former Senators and Congressperson's AND Mayors are acknowledged by their previous titles? Of former USSC justices are still referred to as "Justice" XYZ?
Are you just making this up? Because everything I read about Rudy Giuliani and other former senators/reps/etc has the word former before their title, only identifying them as having been the mayor/senator/etc.
In fact I think president is the only title where people refer to them as "President" after they have left office, and even that is annoying.
by MLD on Jul 13, 2011 2:40 pm • link • report
by David Alpert on Jul 13, 2011 2:40 pm • link • report
To be fair, Nixon might be a more apt comparison. I don't think that many people called him "President" after he was removed from office.
by andrew on Jul 13, 2011 2:44 pm • link • report
Because, as I said orioginally, the person saying it is wrong. Sadly, papers are beginning to incorrectly write what stupid people are saying... so you will even now read about it. That doesn't make it right though.
Judges are akin to governor - the title goes to the person, not the office. So Justice/Judge will always be Justice/Judge even after the person has left the bench.
by greent on Jul 13, 2011 2:51 pm • link • report
The better example is Hillary Clinton, who is referred to as "Secretary" rather than "Senator" Clinton because she has another titled, public job. After she is retired, she could use either honorific. Barry is now a council member, and that is how he should be addressed. When he is no longer in office (soon, I hope!), he can go back to being "Mayor" Barry.
"'Jimmy Carter is still referred to as President Carter. Clinton is still referred to as President. HW Bush as well.'
To be fair, Nixon might be a more apt comparison. I don't think that many people called him "President" after he was removed from office."
by Axel on Jul 13, 2011 3:19 pm • link • report
And look! A source:
http://www.formsofaddress.info/FOA_president_US_former.html
by Steven Yates on Jul 13, 2011 3:48 pm • link • report
A joke, I see.
The "White Girl Mafia" post is also a joke, then? And the post about how Bradley Manning "can take a trip to the flames of Hell with gasoline soaked underwear, not sure if he would be wearing men’s or women’s." (A non-thinly veiled homophobic shot at Manning). Or this post, the one with the accompanying "City Year White Guilt" photo, in which "The Syndicate" describes how "all this white liberal is doing, as all white liberals do, is running further and further away from the problem." Or the one in which he describes people with tattoos as "freaks" and bemoans "the rapidity in which neck and hand tattoos have become prevalent on the lowest of EBT parasites to the uber-white guilt faux radicals."
If these are all jokes, well, I'm not laughing. I expect more from authors under the GGW masthead.
by Jenny from the Block on Jul 13, 2011 3:55 pm • link • report
If you followed the discussion, my initial criticism was that Ken uses the fact that Barry is still called "mayor" as an attack on Barry. What I did was point out that the former titles are used by pols and their constituents all the time. You've backed up my claim by agreeing that people still use the titles but modify its use by the word "former." My point is still the same.
Steven/Axel, good points. I do believe that we are debating "proper" form vs. "accepted" form. In that sense, calling Barry "mayor" is the accepted form so criticizing him as having orgasmic reactions is off base.
by HogWash on Jul 13, 2011 4:09 pm • link • report
by HogWash on Jul 13, 2011 4:10 pm • link • report
by Tina on Jul 13, 2011 4:27 pm • link • report
@Jenny - I don't follow how your comment is pertinent or useful in discussing Barry's political stranglehold on Ward 8. If you have some vendetta with the author you should take care of that on her own time.
Not mentioned in the article is the story that when officials from a large defense contractor were considering moving from the west coast to the DC area - with its proximity to the federal faucet - they abruptly left the negotiating table with city officials upon hearing Barry was still in city government. I don't doubt theme and/or some form of this story is true.
Barry's presence is intimidating to businesses. Barry is Ward 8's Boss Tweed only Barry doesn't and can’t deliver anything because he has no pull. Businesses don’t want to be shaken down. Giant finally put its foot down last year with the turkeys. Barry owes money and favors all over down despite what you may hear or believe, Barry owes a lot to the community not the other way around. And for that reason, Barry should take the higher road and announce he is not going to run. He can be Mayor and Ward 8 CM emeritus if he likes, but he should really just call it a day.
by Aaron R on Jul 13, 2011 4:47 pm • link • report
The author of this article is the author of that blog. I think what GGW authors write on their own blogs is relevant to whether or not they are appropriate GGW contributors.
by Jenny from the Block on Jul 13, 2011 4:48 pm • link • report
by Jerome on Jul 13, 2011 4:54 pm • link • report
The only ones that don't do this are the Belgians, and hence they actually have two Queens right now. Queen Paola, wife of King Albert, and Queen Fabiola, widow of the late King Boudewijn. To compensate, haven't had a government in over 395 days. But, even without a government, they have managed to pass two budgets. I digress.
I find it funny that a lot of the ceremonial etiquette in the US is in fact more formal than royal etiquette.
by Jasper on Jul 13, 2011 4:55 pm • link • report
by Tina on Jul 13, 2011 4:57 pm • link • report
Does anyone have any concrete examples to offer? I'm open to hearing them. Just like to know what they are. Simply saying someone is this without ever substantiating their argument with support seems antithetical to the discussion parameters often promoted here.
I believe that most people are interested in invoking Barry's name in the same way they invoke Sharpton. Doesn't matter the issue, writing the name is enough to warrant the barrage of criticism. IMO, it's a scare tactic employed by many.
by HogWash on Jul 13, 2011 5:18 pm • link • report
Can you comment on rumors that your legitimate At-Large Voter Signatures were challenged before an unscrupulous judge so as to prevent a further Democratic ticket split in the last election by someone in the Orange campaign?
by howardU on Jul 13, 2011 5:21 pm • link • report
by Thayer-D on Jul 14, 2011 7:14 am • link • report
You still never answered Hogwash's question about what you expected Barry to bring to the ward, legislatively, that he has failed to bring and that other contenders conceivably could bring (I am not a Barry defender, per se, but I do expect well rounded arguments on this generally well-written blog).
@Tina
Shouldn't the outside writing of GGW contributors reflect the GGW aesthetic? The juvenile repeated reference to a fellow Congress Heights On The Rise blogger as "dum dum" is completely contrary to the diplomatic tone of GGW. If the site hires a contributor, they implicitly endorse that contributor's credibility. If said contributor has another blog with a completely opposite tone, it damages GGW's brand IMHO. Would GGW accept a contributor who was virulently anti-public transit on their personal blog, for example? Shouldn't every contributor's public writing persona conform with the tone and outlook of GGW? Or is that too close to fascism? I dunno. Let me know if I'm being overly idealistic.
by Alan Page on Jul 14, 2011 10:12 am • link • report
We also don't necessarily have a policy of agreeing with everything that's posted. I only will promise to agree with everything that appears under my byline. Other people's writing represents their opinions, not mine.
by David Alpert on Jul 14, 2011 10:32 am • link • report
@Hog & Alan - Barry does not and has not helped make way for quality of life improvements in the ward. His duplicitous rhetoric and record of shaking down private businesses is intimidating and well documented. With a couple one or two exceptions, the ward has remained a concentrated epicenter of social service agencies and non-profits serving the ward's dependent population. What about those not in need of social services?
Barry has done little to nothing to attract businesses to the Ward – a national coffee shop chain, a duplex movie theater, a sit-down restaurant (exception Uniontown which is the product of private enterprise), etc. The Giant and IHOP at Parklands duly noted as well as THEARC but their development and other developments in the ward over the past ten years have been disproportionately funded by Fed/HUD funds. Private investors, if FED/HUD money is not there, stay away for certain reasons – one reason being Barry.
His proclivity to never cease in promoting social engineering within a ward that suffers embarrassing rates of illiteracy does not jive with the demand of “we need and want jobs to go to Ward 8 residents.” Background checks, urinalysis, CASA tests to determine basic rates of functional literacy provide real world fact checks to his and others agitprop.
@Jenny from the Block & Alan - I appreciate your research and perspectives. I guess somebody does pay attention. I won't say you are taking any one quote out of context even if you are -- I stand behind my opinions. I won't use GGW as a forum to address your drive-by astroturfing.
If you want to speak with me directly, please reach out outside of GGW's comment section. I'm not hard to find. Thanks.
by John on Jul 14, 2011 10:54 am • link • report
Councilmember Barry), the essential point is that there is a segment of the electorate that probably still thinks of Barry as the Mayor-for-Life or, if you prefer, their "Forever Mayor."
by Bob on Jul 14, 2011 12:03 pm • link • report
I don't ask this just for myself. But I think it's prudent for anyone interested in mounting an Anti-Barry campaign to explain exactly what the above means. Is there a link to the well documented information regarding Barry's efforts to intimidate business so that they not come to Ward 8? Ok, maybe that was a dumb question. Can you post the link?
I don't mean this to be snarky but I sincerely believe that going against Barry with vague references will not get you the support you need. The answer to Barry should be met with concrete examples of where he has failed. Suggesting that businesses don't want to invest EOTR because of the mere presence of Barry will not appeal to the mass of voters you'll need to unseat him. I'm your target audience and it doesn't appeal to me.
I'm not sure if standing out at the Giant or IHOP and telling those residents that because the money used for that development was Fed money vs. private money, will make the sale. I shop at the Giant several times a week and while I don't know who to credit for it being there, it's hard to convince me that Ward 8 hasn't seen development w/in the past 10 years. Because we're talking about something tangible..something people can actually see, touch feel. It is not an abstract idea of the unseen. Barry's presence preventing businesses from developing in Ward 8 is that sort of unseen.
As someone who didn't vote for Barry, I want people to craft a message that can win. I voted for Charles Wilson who IMO was a completely underwhelming candidate. I'm not doing that again.
by HogWash on Jul 14, 2011 12:50 pm • link • report
@AlanPage
I appreciate the concern but as the blogger of "Congress Heights on the Rise" I dont recall John ever calling me "dum dum." In fact we are really good friends. :)
Even if he did call me a name I couldn't deny this was a good article. :)
by The Advoc8te on Jul 14, 2011 2:27 pm • link • report
I said a lot more, but I don't feel like re-typing it all.
@The Advoc8te
The article I referred to used just dum-dum then referred to Wemple by name, so I assumed dum-dum was a reference to you, perhaps I misread. I don't think referring to someone as "dum-dum" is a particularly valuable skill as a writer, generally, which was my underlying point. That language is not used here, but the same lack of a well-articulated argument is present.
by Alan Page on Jul 14, 2011 3:23 pm • link • report
by John on Jul 14, 2011 5:46 pm • link • report
One has to really be unaware of what is going on in the city to not know his m.o. It's a matter of public record.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/07/23/barry-on-gage-eckington-park-i-have-the-responsibility-to-protect-the-taxpayers-money/
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/03/28/barry-not-helping-with-ddot-streetcar-charm-offensive/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/02/AR2006050201806.html
http://georgetowndish.com/thedish/evans-anc-snow-marion-barry-gtown-historicity
If my memory is right, Barry shook down a girlfriend of his, too. This was a couple years ago, I think. You can look it up.
by John on Jul 14, 2011 6:06 pm • link • report
1) Barry played politics by introducing a "disapproval resolution for the planned Gage-Eckington Park on V Street."
2) Barry's spokeswoman said that he "supports whatever the community wants," and that "he doesn't want to see the streetcar go past the Anacostia Metro station. He'd rather see all that money go to education."
3) Barry played the race card by suggesting that the black owners of the Nationals were "blacks rented for a day"
4)Jack Evans said that there's a fear on the Hill that Barry could be elected Mayor again and that Barry's name is brought up by bond rating agencies and when companies like Northrup-Grumman consider moving to the District.
Alan was looking out for me and reiterated my earlier question to you asking for any information on what Ward 8 has missed out on that Barry is responsible for. After your allegation, I then asked for links to information showing how Barry intimidated business against coming to Ward 8. I asked because I wanted to hear people frame an argument against Barry based on concrete of examples of where he has failed Ward 8.
Of the links, only one of those deals with Ward 8 and in that case, he wasn't advocating no streetcars but they should be routed through a neighboring street. You are likely more educated on stuff like this than I am but I thought I read here that Hill East was in either Ward 6 or 5? I could be wrong. And yes, he (like all councilmembers) was playing politics but those threats never materialized and I don't believe offer a substantive argument abouy how those threats failed Ward 8. I think it's imperative that there is a cohesive argument against him that can convince his loyal base to reconsider voting for him. I don't believe it's unfair to say that the provided links can be easily rebutted by a semi-saavy campaign rep.
Those aren't concrete examples and I believe most here would agree/assume that there must be better ones.
Sorry, didn't want to beat another topic to death but felt I had to point that out. Dont be unfair.
by HogWash on Jul 14, 2011 7:42 pm • link • report
My name is John, I am quoted a couple of times in the article about the way ward 8 Housing is affecting youth. i say that this article has been the Center of attention at my office, and I want to say that if you do not live in ward 8 you could not potentially knwo what we as residents have to go through... As, I stated before " people don't want change becuase they are use to the crime, drugs and late nights. So, to all that read this article take a time to think that "HEY I WANT TO HELP" instead of "WARD 8 YES IS A MESS." Thank you and all be blessed.
by John Pannell on Jul 14, 2011 10:05 pm • link • report
by John Pannell on Jul 14, 2011 10:08 pm • link • report
Good luck to Gaston and his campaign. Look forward to covering it.
by John on Jul 14, 2011 10:25 pm • link • report
by HogWash on Jul 15, 2011 9:26 am • link • report
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