Kevin Chavous
AFSCME — D.C. Council 20 questionnaire

D.C. Council 20
American Federation of State County Municipal Employees

1998 Questionnaire

1. Why are you seeking this office?

My entire life has been committed to public service. As a young lawyer I was asked by the residents of the Benning Road Power Plant area to represent them on a pro-bono basis in their battle against PEPCO’s desire to expand its power plant by building two additional oil-fueled turbine generators. The proposed expansion threatened to further pollute one of the District's most polluted areas. Two years later, working with the River Terrace, Eastland Gardens, Mayfair, Parkside and Kenilworth Gardens community we succeeded in convincing PEPCO to forego their plans. I learned through that experience the strength of a strongly organized community and how to represent the desires of the community.

The District of Columbia is at a critic-al crossroad in its history. Over the past ten years, many residents and businesses have left the District. To stem this exodus and to rebuild the city, I will focus policy decisions on stabilizing neighborhoods, retaining existing businesses and attracting residential and business development within our neighborhoods. As neighborhoods are protected, supported and helped — local-shopping areas with businesses in them once again will become the norm rather than the exception.

My life mentors include A. Phillip Randolph and Walter Reuther whose legacy has made our Country the great nation it is today. Their struggle to provide fair pay, working conditions and benefits for the nation's workers must not be forgotten by those who wish to become elected representatives of the people. My campaign theme is that I will be a Mayor for every neighborhood. I am seeking the Mayor’s office to make the District a world class city, that delivers services in a cost-efficient user friendly manner, provides a quality education for all of our children, delivers health care for those in need and respects the elderly. I plan to reform city government from top to bottom focusing on improving the delivery of city services. In order to achieve this end, a goal of my administration will be to provide District workers with the tools they need to accomplish their work in a timely, cost efficient and safe manner. My top priorities include improving neighborhood schools to assure that every child has equal access to quality education, rebuilding the police department, focusing on making the police more responsive to the constituents they serve. I also will settle for nothing less than the rule of law in the administration of government. It is my hope that success in these areas will assist in the restoration of our democratic rights.

2. What does it mean to you as a candidate to have Council 20’s endorsement?

Labor’s endorsement and support is critical to winning this election and to reforming the operations of the District government. As indicated above, one of the goals of my administration will be to improve service delivery to District neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Such a commitment cannot be achieved without involving front line workers in analyzing service delivery problems and participating in the decision making process necessary to improve service delivery. Reform of the District government cannot occur through the intimidation of workers. My administration will treat workers with respect, promote fair wages, foster safe work environments and welcome the participation of workers in efforts to improve service delivery. Labor’s endorsement and support of my candidacy would be a welcome sign of our unity on these matters.

I have already opened a Union/labor desk at my campaign office to facilitate direct access to me in all aspects of my campaign. I welcome receiving labor’s volunteer assistance, help with issue development, financial contributions, host “Meet and Greets”, sponsor neighborhood walk's, telephone banking, mailing assistance, fund raisers, precinct workers, transportation, distribute flyers, voter registration, data entry and election day workers.

3. Do you support Collective Bargaining? Do you support full funding of negotiated Collective Bargaining Contracts?

Yes. I would assure that those representing the District at collective bargaining negotiations are fully aware of the range of funding available for potential collective bargaining agreements. If the negotiators exceed those levels, I, as Mayor, would not sign the proposed agreement until I was certain that funding for the proposed contract had been identified.

4. What plans do you have for UDC and the Law School?

I strongly support the University of the District of Columbia and the Dave Clarke School of Law. As a low-cost, high quality institution, both have provided an invaluable educational opportunity for our students and their families. My administration will work closely with UDC and its board to develop a strong, committed partnership with regional employers and to explore the initiatives needed to position UDC as an institution for lifelong learning and professional training. I also support development of a night classes at the Law School.

5. Do you support binding arbitration as a means of settling contract disputes between the DC Government and labor?

Yes, I support binding arbitration. I believe that the best resolution to disagreements is for the parties to meet, discuss and attempt to resolve their differences. As Mayor, it will be my goal to always attempt to resolve contract disputes without the need for employees to consider a strike.

6. If Council 20 endorses your candidacy will you be an advocate for workers on matters that come before the Council that effect them?

Yes.

7. How do you strike a balance between being Business Friendly and Community Friendly?

I believe that decisions made in a democracy should occur as a result of an open process that welcomes the recommendations of everyone. That is why, as Chair of the Council's Education Committee, I held over 40 public hearings within 18 months. Decisions that I make as Mayor will result from an open process based on the rule of law.

8. How do you see your relationship with the Control Board, the City Council, the Congress, the CFO, the CMO and the CPO? (For Mayoral Candidates Only)

After two years of balanced budgets, the District is moving rapidly toward return to elected government. On the management side, the Control Board has paid over $20 million to consultants to verify what District citizens and civic organizations have already defined as our problems and solutions. The $20 million study resulted in 269 recommended management reforms, of which 20 have been implemented. As Mayor, I will publicly announce schedules for the implementation of each management reform and I will hold accountable those who are responsible for the reforms.

The last budget process illustrated that an improved working relationship between the Control Board, the City Council, the Congress, the CFO, the CMO and the CPO is possible and can be productive. As Mayor, I will emphasize centralized information flow and regularly scheduled meetings to streamline the working relationship between all parties and set goals for the implementation of the prescribed management reforms.

9. What do you see as your greatest strength & weakness for running for Mayor?

My greatest strength is my strong belief in God, my family and my community. It is my desire to use these beliefs and my education to improve the quality of life of those who live, work and visit our city. I am not aware of any personal weakness that I have that would affect my running for, or serving as, Mayor.

10. What is your solution for many lawsuits that have placed agencies under federal Court receivership? E.g. Public Housing, Foster Care, Mental Health, Medical Services and D.C. Jail.

My solution to preventing lawsuits and receiverships is better management, proper program funding, hiring responsible and concerned managers to ensure that services are properly delivered thereby negating the need for citizens to file lawsuits requesting that government operations are placed into receivership.

11. What are your thoughts on and vision for the Educational system in the District

As Mayor, I will direct the budget process to ensure that education is the priority. Crisis management will give way to detailed planning and budgeting, stable leadership and school- based management. And we will affirm the roles of parents and neighborhoods in sustaining school reform.

My administration will, at the very least, ensure that:

Citizens have a voice through the elected Board of Education and through school management teams. The school system has multi-year budgets, based on detailed implementation plans vetted through public review. Students are prepared to learn by coordinating our youth and family services with the schools to deal with nonacademic issues such as student health and nutrition, family tensions, abuse and neglect, youth violence and truancy. Neighborhoods have access to quality childcare, before- and after-school programs, parent education and early childhood development programs. A businesslike partnership -- not just good works and donations -- is established with the private sector to guide School to Work vocational programs. Partnerships are formed with the information industries and cultural, academic and professional institutions to both engage students and to support life-long learning for the larger community.

As mayor, I will direct the budget process to ensure that education is the priority. Crisis management will give way to detailed planning and budgeting, stable leadership and school- based management. And we will affirm the roles of parents and neighborhoods in sustaining school reform.

12. Do you support rent control?

Yes. I have always been and will remain a strong advocate for rent control and affordable housing. I also do not support vacancy decontrol.

13. Do you support the concept of Labor-Management Councils as a means to a total quality workforce? (Mayor Only)

I view Labor-Management Councils as partnerships that are key to transforming District government agencies into effective service delivery operations. We need to move away from the antiquated autocratic management structure that has for years micro-managed the work of District employees. Workers at all levels of government must be given the tools of their trade to work efficiently. Businesses and government have successfully used Labor-Management Councils to build teamwork, foster creativity and help to resolve difficulties in the work place. I will encourage all District government agencies to establish Labor-Management Council's within the Chavous administration..

14. Please explain your views on D.C. Government downsizing?

Never again should the District government downsize based on achieving an arbitrary FTE position ceiling. Reforming the District government requires that workers and their unions be viewed as valuable resources whose recommendations can help set the foundation for excellence in government. I support establishment of performance measures and a system of rewards for Labor-Management teams who are able to streamline operations, increase productivity and reduce operating costs.

15. As Mayor what will be your position on Privatization?

For years I have been hearing the Control Board discuss their desire to promote managed competition, yet to date, I have not seen one contract issued by the Control Board or by the Government that has allowed District employees to bid on government contracts. I have seen examples of our work force performing work that later resulted in a contractor charging more than the cost of the prior in-house government employee service. (The most recent bids for the recycling contract are a case in point.) As far as I’m concerned, it is time for the government to step to the plate, level the playing field, and allow District workers to bid on contracts and privatization proposals. I am certain that we will see our workers winning many of the contracts.

Over the past three years, many studies of District government operations have been completed by a number of private consultants paid with public funds by the Control Board. One of the best reports that I have read was titled “Service Excellence: A Union Vision for the District of Columbia”. The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, presented this report to the District, at no cost to District taxpayers. As Mayor, I intend to implement many of the recommendations outlined in “Service Excellence”.