Ward 5 progressives must unite behind one candidate

Politics

Ward 5 progressives must unite behind one candidate

by Matt Rumsey, Jaime Fearer, and Nolan Treadway • January 9, 2012 12:45 pm

In early- to mid-May, DC will hold a special election to fill the seat vacated by Harry Thomas Jr. Many potential candidates have already emerged. The time is right to elect a councilmember focused on ethical and effective representation for the people of Ward 5, but to do so, progressives must unite to support a single candidate.

Photo by FredoAlvarez on Flickr.

If the race is as crowded as current speculation and past experience lead us to believe, any contender that can secure the support of a strong, passionate, and unified constituency will be well positioned to win the seat.

A compelling, good government candidate will be able to fuel a campaign with local activists, progressives from across the city, and voter anger at corrupt and entrenched political interests. However, if progressive energies are split, a candidate still loyal to Thomas, or hand-picked by the political establishment, will easily rise to the top instead.

Current at-large, and former Ward 5, councilmember Vincent Orange has already called a meeting of the "Ward 5 leadership" for 7 pm tonight at Israel Baptist Church. He is likely attempting to anoint an establishment-backed candidate, someone with deep ties to current political leadership in the ward. If a consensus is reached, that candidate will become the immediate frontrunner.

This is not acceptable. Ward 5 has been poorly represented for too long. For every passionate and effective ANC commissioner or civic association officer, there are many more simply interested in lining their pockets, amassing personal power, or advancing a selfish agenda. Now is not the time for the past political reality, it is the time for leadership that stands up, stops the culture of corruption, and makes Ward 5 proud.

Several talented progressive individuals have announced an interest in running for the seat. They include Kenyan McDuffie, who ran against Thomas in the last race, and John Salatti, an ANC commissioner in Bloomingdale. Jaime has pledged her support to McDuffie, Nolan stands squarely behind Salatti, and Matt is undecided. But we all agree that everyone must work together to put forward the single most qualified and electable candidate, for the good of both Ward 5 and the District of Columbia.

Progressives in the ward must now come together to have an open, honest discussion to achieve consensus on a single candidate. Rather than letting personal relationships or friction between individual camps dominate, progressives must focus on what is best for the ward and quickly translate that into a winning campaign.

This campaign cycle is condensed, and may be even more so if the Ward 5 special election is moved up to coincide with the primary on April 3. Either way, there is no time to waste on duplicative efforts in gathering signatures, attending community forums, and get-out-the-vote activities.

A strong, progressive candidate can truly move Ward 5 forward. But a contentious fight will set us back.

49 comments

Tags: 2012 special election, DC, Harry Thomas Jr, politics, Vincent Orange, Ward 5

For Ward 5 Council: Kenyan McDuffie (Sep 10, 2010)
Crowded at-large Council race could help Orange win (Jan 4, 2012)
The Ward 4 council race is crowded. Will it be competitive? (Nov 14, 2011)
Would Biddle have been better off losing in January? (Apr 27, 2011)
For ANC in Ward 8 (Oct 28, 2010)

Matt Rumsey moved to D.C in 2005 to pursue a degree in History at American University. Originally from Connecticut, he has had no intention of leaving D.C. since he moved to Columbia Heights in the summer of 2008. He now lives in Ward 5. He currently works at The Sunlight Foundation. Views here are his own.

Jaime Fearer worked in the book industry for over 10 years before deciding to formalize her passion for community building and planning by pursuing a Master of Community Planning at UMD. She lived in the Northeast DC neighborhood of Woodridge for 3 years, where she ran the blog stop, blog and roll. Jaime now lives in the Trinidad neighborhood of DC and is a community planner in Greenbelt.

Nolan Treadway is Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for district 5C-07, covering parts of Woodridge and Langdon neighborhoods in Northeast DC. By day Nolan works at Netroots Nation and by night he hangs out with his wife, Joan, their daughter.

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This sounds similar to what we're experiencing in W8.

One issue I'll take exception too is your suggestion that an "establishment" candidate will not serve Ward 5 better than a "nonestablishment/progressive" candidate. It unfortunately feeds into the current toxic political environment that has flourished over the years. The "us" vs. "them" meme really helps no one..not at all.

It should come as no surprise that a candidate with connection to the power center can propel them into victory. While it's appropriate to debate whether said candidate is the best for the Ward. It's not appropriate to assume that there is something inherently wrong an "establishment" candidate.

by HogWash on Jan 9, 2012 12:59 pm • link • report

I agree and think just by the division with the authors of this post there is already work to be done. How can we narrow down the list of progressive candidates in a way to get to the one that we all can support? Polling? A debate? Pre-election election?

For the record I am on Team McDuffie as I was in the last election. If only he had won then!

by Sally on Jan 9, 2012 1:02 pm • link • report

Looks like the blogger establishment is trying to get ready to anoint a candidate...

Draft Robert V. Brannum!

by @SamuelMoore on Jan 9, 2012 1:23 pm • link • report

Here's the question: are Matt, Jaime and Nolan - as well as other progressive leaders and activists - going to help pack this meeting that Orange has called? If they sit out, it's akin to leaving the barn doors not only open, but permanently removed from the hinges.

by Rudi on Jan 9, 2012 1:32 pm • link • report

John Salatti is running for council? Is that a joke?

by Anon on Jan 9, 2012 1:37 pm • link • report

Rudi: I've attempted, both as an individual and in my capacity as the secretary of the Trinidad Neighborhood Association, to let folks know about the meeting, regardless of their affiliations. I do know that a few of the ward's civic/neighborhood associations may have trouble attending, since their regular, monthly meetings are also tonight, and VO's meeting was just announced (somewhat haphazardly, imo) last Thursday.

by Jaime Fearer on Jan 9, 2012 1:37 pm • link • report

"I do know that a few of the ward's civic/neighborhood associations may have trouble attending, since their regular, monthly meetings are also tonight, and VO's meeting was just announced (somewhat haphazardly, imo) last Thursday."

Knowing the the council (and Orange), there is no way that this was not a deliberate move.

by Jesse on Jan 9, 2012 1:58 pm • link • report

As stated in the post, I'm supporting John Salatti. I used to live in his SMD and I've never seen an ANC member who leverages every squeaky wheel available to them to solve problems for residents.

All that said, we need to make sure we get someone good in that councilmembers seat so we can continue to see Ward 5 shine.

by Nolan on Jan 9, 2012 2:08 pm • link • report

How do you know Tim Day isn't a progressive? Is it because he ran under the (R) tag and you didn't bother to investigate his platform as a result?

I know it burns some people down deep inside to consider alternative parties, but without an alternative Thomas would still be sucking at the DC teet.

by ahk on Jan 9, 2012 2:14 pm • link • report

ahk: If Tim Day should be included as a progressive, that's just another candidate on the list that needs to be narrowed to one for the best chance of success. And you'll note we said "several" - you're assuming who that does and doesn't include, not us.

by Jaime Fearer on Jan 9, 2012 2:22 pm • link • report

Tim Day is running as a delegate for Newt Gingrich. That is not progressive. For Day to run as a progressive, he'd have to renounce many of his positions from the previous election.

by Bob Summersgill on Jan 9, 2012 2:33 pm • link • report

Why don't people realize that the very definition of progressive in Ward 5 means this: If you agree with me and my views then you are progressive. If you're views aren't in align with mine, then kick rocks.

There will never be a consensus. Many of these "progressives" in the Ward haven't made the smallest attempt to speak to other candidates that THEY have deemed "non-progressive."

Stop the crying about things being unfair, when many haven't truly spoke to others.

FYI: McDuffie ran a very lazy campaign. No way in hell I want another lazy bones to be my councilmember.

by Anon on Jan 9, 2012 2:34 pm • link • report

Excellent article; appreciation to the authors.

Re: Tim Day, it would be good to hear more from him re: issues of interest to us. At the same time, I will note he recently offered quotes of ambivalence re: running as a Republican again.

by Joel on Jan 9, 2012 2:36 pm • link • report

Bob Summersgill's post appeared while I was writing mine. If Day is indeed running currently as a Gingrich delegate, that would be HIGHLY problematic in desiring a progressive label. It would not deny him the good government label within the city, of course. Day's work has earned that. But progressive? Challenging is the diplomatic thought.

by Joel on Jan 9, 2012 2:40 pm • link • report

Obviously the authors of the article don't know a thing about Ward 5 or VO, VO ran againist Fenty for mayor and ran against Brown for Chairman, he was not endorsed by his colleagues...therefore he does not represent the establishment.....morever, there is debate because the establishment wants the Ward 5 race to be during 4/3 primary, VO stopped that move b/c it would not give new lesser known candidates time to campaign, therefore favoring a Thomas loyalist as the authors described....GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT, better yet come to the meeting then report!!!

by inside info on Jan 9, 2012 3:15 pm • link • report

inside info: Why are you yelling? I'll be there tonight, we can surely speak civilly.

by Jaime Fearer on Jan 9, 2012 3:31 pm • link • report

inside info's point is not very informed, or at the least, only considers the past 2 years as a time frame.

Intra-elite competition resulting in a desire to not endorse VO (because of his running against Kwame Brown for Chair in 2010, and because of previous citywide ambitions for either Maryor or Council Chair as illustrated by his various campaigns for those offices over the past 15 years or so) does not make VO a "non-establishment" candidate.

And given the Ward's political history, it's fair to say that an establishment candidate will not be "progressive."

by Richard Layman on Jan 9, 2012 4:09 pm • link • report

I neglected to provide a cite for Tim Day as a delegate. Technically he is an alternate, but the point remains. This is from the BOEE website:

http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_854.pdf

He is number 3 under alternates.

by Bob Summersgill on Jan 9, 2012 4:16 pm • link • report

I think it's fair to say that meaning of terms such as "establishment" or "progressive" is always subject to the person using or hearing it.

I literally just had this convo over the weekend with a w6 friend of mine who argued (after I posited a Wells at-large run) that if Tommy Wells decided to "hand-pick" a successor, the person wouldn't be considered an "establishment" candidate but a "progressive" one. We went on for a bit and it ultimately ended with him realizing that he uses both terms interchangeably.

So this "establishment" vs. "progressive" labeling is just that...labeling. Instead of making it us vs. them, why can't we just deal honestly with the fact that you can indeed be both and the desire to make a real distinction is toxic and simply not helpful.

This is one of the better examples of why this sort of labeling is so ridiculous. Here, Orange, who didn't get any establishment support..is still considered the establishment candidate.

by HogWash on Jan 9, 2012 4:31 pm • link • report

HogWash: Though Orange didn't get establishment support this go-around, it doesn't keep him from being a part of the "establishment" (for lack of a better term) in Ward 5.

I see what you're saying, though, that labels are highly interchangeable here.

by Geoffrey Hatchard on Jan 9, 2012 4:39 pm • link • report

Why does Vicent Orange emerge as the leader of this tradegy. When are the young bright leaders of ward 5 going to step up and take charge. I am looking to vote for someone who is not a part of the establishment. Someone who is not tainted by loyalty. A Fenty type person with less ego. Anyways I will be out tonight. As a Ward 5 resident of 15 years I do not think that we should settle for less this time around. We have to come out strong and make let our voices be heard.

by adams street on Jan 9, 2012 5:01 pm • link • report

@GH, thanks and yessir they are.

And at times, people run away from the labels in an effort to attach themselves to another one. Notice how "progressive" is the new "liberal." We are who we are

by HogWash on Jan 9, 2012 5:02 pm • link • report

I am looking to vote for someone who is not a part of the establishment. Someone who is not tainted by loyalty. A Fenty type person with less ego

Sorry, but I just had to chuckle at this one. Fenty was indeed tainted by the same loyalty thing. Problem is that the people he was "allegedly" loyal to couldn't keep him in office.

Loyalty, as with everything else in life, has its apppropriate place. Can't run anything w/o it.

by HogWash on Jan 9, 2012 5:05 pm • link • report

adams street:

When are the young bright leaders of ward 5 going to step up and take charge.

This post - along with a number of other efforts across the ward, and not just in relation to the special election - is representative of just what you are asking (though we might not all consider ourselves young, just as the "old guard" aren't all old).

by Jaime Fearer on Jan 9, 2012 5:07 pm • link • report

Sorry, the truth is that this election is going to an establishment candidate. Period.

There's really no push for change in the Ward, and the fact that Harry Thomas cruised to an easy victory last election is a pretty good indication of where the "state of play" is.

This is basically an opportunity for the GGW to "choose their battles" and realize that this isn't one worth fighting. At best, running in Ward 5 is an opportunity for someone who wants to run for the At-Large seat to get some public attention.

by JustMe on Jan 9, 2012 5:10 pm • link • report

Vince Orange himself is an establishment. A sign littering, recycled campaign establishment.

by Tim on Jan 9, 2012 5:27 pm • link • report

I don't get it. He uses "establishment" and "progressive" interchangeably? Why?

As far as Wells goes, for a guy who is regularly voted down on Council votes 1-12 and who has made a sworn enemy of the Council Chair, I think you could make a pretty good case he's not "establishment".

by oboe on Jan 9, 2012 5:38 pm • link • report

Or did you mean "anti-establishment" and "progressive"? Either way they seem orthogonal terms.

by oboe on Jan 9, 2012 5:40 pm • link • report

if 3 writes of the same article and blog can't decide then how are the progressive minded in the entire ward to come to an agreement and voting bloc.

Honest question: are there many people outside of Bloomingdale/Eckington/ Stronghold that support Salatti?

by jetpackjack on Jan 9, 2012 5:41 pm • link • report

Progressive is NOT the new liberal.

by greent on Jan 9, 2012 5:45 pm • link • report

@BobS

I'm not sure what your concern is for Tim running to be a delegate for a Presidential candidate. I myself am on that list, and those of you who know me, know I don't agree with Newt (or most of the field) on national issues. I consider myself to be a progressive Republican, and I'd like someone to state (not here, but later on perhaps) what part of Tim's platform you disagreed with SPECIFICALLY on local issues, not on national party affiliation. Tim is an openly gay, black, Republican (sounds potentially "progressive" to me). He's awesome, and if I was in Ward 5, I'd definitely consider him regardless of the little letter next to his name, because I would know he'd have Ward 5's and the District's interests at heart.

by @SamuelMoore on Jan 9, 2012 5:57 pm • link • report

@Oboe, I believe it's possible to be an establishment candidate with progressive ideals. Barack Obama is a great example.

WRT Wells, your obvious hyperbole aside, I disagree and do not believe a good case could be made that Wells is the "progressive" candidate in the room. As a partisan, sure I would agree. But as a reasonable person, no..I wouldn't. Wells is "of the system" and a his handpicked successor would have the support of the "establishment" candidate which is what Wells would be.

Keep in mind that I think the terms in this instance, "establishment" vs. "progressive" are ridiculous and shouldn't be discussed in the "i'm better than" way that it always is.

by HogWash on Jan 9, 2012 7:37 pm • link • report

Tim is an openly gay, black, Republican

Oh hell, he already lost the race before it began.

by HogWash on Jan 9, 2012 7:39 pm • link • report

I believe it's possible to be an establishment candidate with progressive ideals.

Well, sure, that's obvious. But I was trying to figure out how it was possible to use the terms "establishment" and "progressive" interchangeably. I suppose it would be possible for the sort of cultural conservative who feels alienated living in DC, and for whom "establishment" and "progressive" hold little meaning other than "two things I do not like".

Not sure where the hyperbole with Wells your talking about is. He *is* regularly voted down 1-12, and "Fully Loaded" made a special point of removing him from his desired chair because he was a thorn in his side.

You seem to be arguing that anyone who holds public office--regardless of how much of a "bomb-thrower" that person is--is "of the system". I suppose one could argue that, but really we could argue that anyone who is engaged in politics in any way is "of the system". The only people who are untainted are those who anonymously snipe from the sidelines.

"Vote Oboe! The true 'outsider' candidate!"

by oboe on Jan 9, 2012 8:38 pm • link • report

I wish I had time to participate in this process. I voted for Tim Day last time because I have had a deep hatred and mistrust for Harry Thomas since he took office. I read about Day's background on the way to Bunker Hill School to vote. Pathetic decision process, but I've lived here 55 years and everyone seems like a clown to me.

I remain pessimistic because there are a lot of uneducated losers who live here and will vote for another clown to represent them. The sane are outnumbered.

by John G on Jan 10, 2012 6:45 am • link • report

I hear tell that Russ Feingold is pretty available these days...

by Ronald on Jan 10, 2012 9:22 am • link • report

Vote for me. I am new to the ward, but not the city; in no way in the establishment; relatively young (35); and invested in the neighborhood. I'm sick of the scandals, the headlines, the in-fighting. I want real change.

I'll do this job for $85,000/year, too. Then I'll take the rest of that money and hire a teacher/counselor/advisor for a Ward 5 school or after-school program. Which other candidate will pledge/promise to do that?

To hell with these greedy, self-interested, establishment blowhards.

Vote for me.

Jason in Woodridge

by Jason on Jan 10, 2012 10:12 am • link • report

@Jason good for you Jason. I'm not a Ward 5 resident but if you run for an at-large seat I'll vote for you

by danmac on Jan 10, 2012 11:40 am • link • report

Jason, you already lost a host of votes.

You're fighting to keep the us vs. them thing alive.

And you have the nerve to talk about in-fighting? In the same sentence? WOW!

by HogWash on Jan 10, 2012 12:31 pm • link • report

@HogWash

Huh? How did I invoke an us vs. them thing? By being angry? If it's us (angry, concerned residents yearning for real, positive change) vs them (greedy, legacy, self-interested, old-guard) then yeah, fine. Us vs. them.

by Jason on Jan 10, 2012 12:40 pm • link • report

I'm only 35 yrs young = vote for me
The "establishment" are blowhards = vote for me

It's no secret here that I have a hard time supporting people who seem to have little interest in bridging these ever widening gaps.

Based on your own words, you're more interested in catering to "a" group of residents rather than the entire Ward of residents you would be elected to serve. No big deal..just an observation.

Nothing wrong with you being angry though...nothing at all since it sometimes spurs action!

by HogWash on Jan 10, 2012 1:11 pm • link • report

HogWash, are you not aware that elections are won only by getting a plurality of the votes? Politicians are elected because the get more votes than the other guy, not because they "will represent the interests of the entire Ward." Clearly some people felt that Harry Thomas represented their interests. I want a candidate who's going be in opposition to that crowd.

by JustMe on Jan 10, 2012 1:48 pm • link • report

HogWash, are you not aware that elections are won only by getting a plurality of the votes?

Excellent point. It's extremely difficult to get a majority of votes in the winner-take-all free-for-all that is DC politics.

Let's not forget that Vince Orange was elected to his current at-large seat with 28% of the vote--and he walks and talks like everyone in every ward! What hope do mere mortals have?

by oboe on Jan 10, 2012 1:57 pm • link • report

I don't think you need a candidate whom voters think they "know". Many people in W5 thought they knew HTJ; did they ever think he was a thief?

by Jason on Jan 10, 2012 2:00 pm • link • report

@JusMe, I don't vote for politicians for whom I feel are only interested in representing a faction w/in a larger group. So the idea of one "not" representing the interests of the entire Ward is not an attractive one to me...at all..and I would never support such. I want DC's mayor to reflect the interests of the entire city, not just those in specific Wards. I'm surprised to hear you suggest that.

I swear, there is so much divisiveness in this city and people fail to realize how damaging TO THE CITY it is.

by HogWash on Jan 10, 2012 2:20 pm • link • report

I swear, there is so much divisiveness in this city and people fail to realize how damaging TO THE CITY it is.

And which politicians were the ones doing that? It's the ones who got elected to office doing it.

I want DC's mayor to reflect the interests of the entire city, not just those in specific Wards.

What the heck does THIS mean? Lots of voters seemed to think it meant, "I want the mayor to stop paying attention to certain Wards and giving them any stuff at all" (eg, bike paths and dog parks)

by JustMe on Jan 10, 2012 2:41 pm • link • report

And which politicians were the ones doing that? It's the ones who got elected to office doing it.

I made the statement solely in response to your acknowledgement that you want to vote for a politician who's going to be in opposition to those who voted for HTJ. I would be extremely shortsighted to suggest that politicians are the sole cause of divisiveness. No, that criticism extends to us..the electorate.

What the heck does THIS mean? Lots of voters seemed to think it meant, "I want the mayor to stop paying attention to certain Wards and giving them any stuff at all" (eg, bike paths and dog parks)

Here's a recap:
1)You said politicians aren't elected to serve the interests of everyone in their Ward.
- I responded by saying that representing "everyone" is why I would vote for a politician.

2)You said that you wanted a candidate who would be in opposition to those who voted for HTJ.
- I respond that DC's mayor should represent the interests of the entire city, not just those in specific wards.

I'm not sure what you're confused about and what dog parks and bike lanes have to do with the discussion.

by HogWash on Jan 10, 2012 3:29 pm • link • report

I wish we had instant run off voting. Does any candidate support that?

by Doug on Jan 11, 2012 9:42 pm • link • report

i have live in Blomingdale for 7 years now, and i want to see the good things come to our neighborhood. because i believe in change i will support Kenyan Mcduffiie.

by Raul on Jan 16, 2012 10:13 pm • link • report