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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2005 |
CONTACT:
Deborah Clark, (202) 554-3474 home
(202) 679-2399 cell |
Chairman
Cropp Announces Candidacy for Mayor
Pledges to build on the District's economic growth to benefit
neighborhoods
and invest in people
Washington, DC: Linda Cropp, Chairman of the
Council of the District of Columbia, today announced her candidacy
for Mayor. Surrounded by enthusiastic supporters, Cropp greeted
residents and business owners on historic U Street as she walked
from the African American Civil War Memorial to the Reeves Center
to file campaign documents.
"I will provide hands on leadership to take
the next steps to make sure all of us benefit from the District's
economic growth," said Cropp. "We can restore schools
where children can read, write, think, and compete with children
from anywhere. We can make our streets and neighborhoods safer. We
can expand affordable housing so all income levels can keep the
District as their hometown. We can train the jobless for today's
workforce."
Elijah B. Rogers, recently retired President and
CEO of Delon Hampton and Associates, Chartered will chair the
campaign. Marilyn Tyler Brown, Ward 4 activist and a member of the
National Democratic Committee, was named treasurer. Kevin P.
Chavous, former Ward 7 representative on the Council, is the
campaign's general counsel.
"Linda Cropp fought to reduce the costs of the
new baseball stadium when others said it couldn't be done. She
saved taxpayers millions of dollars," said Rogers. "She
will use that drive to spread opportunity to women, minorities,
local, small and disadvantaged businesses, and the neediest to
improve the quality of life for all of us."
Linda Cropp is recognized as a leader who can bring
people together to find common ground and create effective
solutions. As Chairman, she crafted fiscally responsible budgets
that funded urgent social needs, gave across the board tax relief,
and improved delivery of basic services. She led the fight to
provide health care for the uninsured, create a better learning
environment in our schools, and protect working people. She
accelerated the subway's expansion to U Street, Northeast and
Anacostia while serving on
the METRO Board.
Linda Cropp was the first woman elected Chairman of
the Council. She is widely credited with strengthening the
independence of the legislative branch-bolstering our push for
more self-government. She led the restoration of the historic
Wilson Building and its reestablishment as City Hall.
She is married to Dr. Dwight S. Cropp, Associate
Professor of Public Administration at The George Washington
University. They have two adult children, Allison and Christopher,
and a grandson, Christian Alexander. They have lived for 31 years
in the Crestwood neighborhood in Ward 4.
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STATEMENT
BY LINDA CROPP ON DECLARING HER CANDIDACY FOR
MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SEPTEMBER 7, 2005
GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY! IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BEGIN
OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE!
I RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF MY HUSBAND, DR. DWIGHT CROPP, OUR DAUGHTER AND SON, ALLISON AND CHRISTOPHER, AND OUR
GRANDSON, CHRISTIAN.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE ELIJAH B.
ROGERS. MR. ROGERS RECENTLY RETIRED AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
DELON HAMPTON AND ASSOCIATES, CHARTERED AND I AM SO FORTUNATE THAT
HE HAS AGREED TO CHAIR THIS CAMPAIGN.
MARILYN TYLER BROWN IS TREASURER OF THE CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE. SHE IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
COMMITTEE AND REPRESENTS US WELL BY KEEPING OUR FIGHT FOR MORE
SELF-GOVERNMENT BEFORE THEM.
KEVIN CHAVOUS, FORMER WARD 7 REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
COUNCIL, AUTHOR AND A RECOGNIZED EXPERT ON CHARTER SCHOOLS, IS
GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE COMMITTEE. I WILL BE ANNOUNCING ADDITIONS
TO MY CAMPAIGN TEAM IN THE COMING WEEKS.
TODAY, WE ARE STANDING ON HISTORIC U STREET. THREE
BLOCKS FROM THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF WASHINGTON TO WHICH STRUGGLING
AFRICAN-AMERICANS CAME IN 1935. THEY CAME WITH THEIR PENNIES AND
DOLLARS IN PAPER BAGS AND GLASS JARS TO PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE
FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED BANK IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL.
THE COUNTRY WAS EXPERIENCING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
BUT, THESE FIRST DEPOSITORS-SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION AMERICANS
JUST 70 YEARS FROM SLAVERY-CAME WITH COURAGE AND FAITH IN THEIR
ABILITY TO SHAPE THEIR OWN FUTURE. NATIVE WASHINGTONIANS AND NEWLY
ARRIVED SOUTHERNERS. THEY CAME WITH PRIDE IN THE PROMISE OF OUR
GROWING CITY.
OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT THE SAME U STREET THEY
WALKED ON IN 1935. LOOK AROUND YOU. EXCITING CHANGE IS EVERYWHERE.
TODAY WE WALKED PAST THE MOCHA HUT, SUN ON U, AND THE ISLANDER.
ACROSS THE STREET, WE SAW MADJET AND DUKUM. THESE NEW BUSINESSES
JOIN OUR OLD FRIENDS-LEE'S FLOWER AND CARD SHOP, BEN'S
CHILI BOWL AND DUKE'S SHOE REPAIR-ADDING TO THE VITALITY AND
DIVERSITY OF U STREET. WE HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF AS A COMMUNITY,
AND AS A CITY.
BUT AS JOHN KENNEDY ONCE SAID, "THOSE WHO LOOK
ONLY TO THE PAST OR THE PRESENT ARE CERTAIN TO MISS THE
FUTURE."
DURING THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I HAVE TALKED WITH
RESIDENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
IN MICHIGAN PARK, IN ANACOSTIA, IN HILLCREST, CLEVELAND PARK,
SHEPHERD PARK, CHEVY CHASE AND RIGHT HERE IN SHAW. AND, I TALKED
TO MANY OF YOU.
THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO HAVE THE SAME HOPES AND
ASPIRATIONS AS THOSE EARLY DEPOSITORS. THEY HAVE THE SAME DREAMS
FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE SAME DREAMS MY FAMILY HAS FOR MY YOUNG
GRANDSON. THE SAME DESIRE TO MAKE OUR FUTURE BETTER THAN OUR
PRESENT, AND CERTAINLY BETTER THAN OUR PAST.
PEOPLE ACROSS OUR CITY WANT TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE
IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY WANT TO WORK AT A JOB THAT PAYS WELL
AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO
AFFORD TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN HOME. AND THEY WANT TO KNOW THEIR
CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING A QUALITY EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS. THEY
WILL WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. THEY WANT A GOVERNMENT
THAT WORKS HARD FOR THEM - AND IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.
AS MAYOR, I WILL BUILD ON OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH TO
REVITALIZE NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES, IMPROVE SERVICES AND INVEST IN
OUR PEOPLE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT TAKING
PLACE HERE AND ELSEWHERE AROUND THE CITY INCLUDES EVERYONE. TOO
MANY OF US ARE STILL LEFT OUT OF THE ECONOMIC GROWTH. I WANT TO BE
MAYOR TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS TO FOCUS OUR RESOURCES IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE.
- WE CAN RESTORE SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN CAN READ,
WRITE, THINK AND COMPETE WITH CHILDREN FROM ANYWHERE.
- WE CAN MAKE OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER.
- WE CAN EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO ALL INCOME
LEVELS CAN KEEP THE DISTRICT AS THEIR HOME TOWN.
- WE CAN TRAIN THE JOBLESS FOR TODAY'S WORKFORCE.
- WE CAN SPREAD OPPORTUNITY TO WOMEN, MINORITIES,
LOCAL, SMALL,
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES, AND THE MOST NEEDY.
I WILL
BRING FAIRNESS TO GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
ALL OF US.
MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULDN'T TAKE ON THE
BASEBALL LEAGUE. BUT, I DID. I FOUGHT FOR A BETTER AGREEMENT AND
SAVED TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THAT'S THE KIND OF HANDS ON
LEADERSHIP THAT I BRING.
IT IS TIME TO EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH ENTHUSIASM
FOR ITS POSSIBILITIES AND WITH THE SKILL AND EXPERIENCE TO MAKE
OUR HOPES INTO REALITIES.
JUST AS THOSE EARLY DEPOSITORS IN INDUSTRIAL BANK
HAD FAITH IN THEIR ABILITY TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURE, I HAVE FAITH IN
OUR ABILITY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY. WE NEED HANDS ON
LEADERSHIP SO OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR ALL OF US, IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS YOUR MAYOR, I WILL BE YOUR FIGHTER, READY TO DO
BATTLE ON BEHALF OF YOU, THE CITIZENS I REPRESENT.
AS YOUR MAYOR, I WILL BE YOUR CHAMPION TO INCLUDE
ALL OF DC IN THIS GREAT CITY'S REVITALIZATION.
AS YOUR MAYOR, I WILL RESPOND TO YOUR DESIRE, HOPE
AND EXPECTATION TO CREATE A BETTER D.C.
TODAY, I ANNOUNCE THAT I AM A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT NOW AND YOUR
VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006.
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Linda Cropp is dedicated to public service. She is
recognized as a leader who can bring people together to find
common ground and create effective solutions.
As an elected official, she led the fight to
provide health care for the uninsured, create a better learning
environment in our schools, and protect working people. She
advanced the subway's expansion to U Street, Northeast and
Anacostia while serving on the METRO Board. As Chairman, she
crafted fiscally responsible budgets that funded urgent social
needs, gave across the board tax relief, and improved delivery of
basic services. She is running for Mayor to make sure all our
neighborhoods benefit from the economic growth and are as safe as
they can be.
She is not afraid to take on the tough fights. She
stood firm against overwhelming odds to reduce the cost of the new
baseball stadium and saved taxpayers millions of dollars. Linda
Cropp has earned a reputation for building broad coalitions to
make progress in important areas:
- Better schools to prepare our children for further
education or for work
- More and better trained police officers on the
streets
- Guaranteed annual revenue of tens of millions for
affordable housing construction
- $100 million to fix public schools
- Recognition and support for guardian grandparents
- Inclusionary zoning to maintain diverse, mixed
income neighborhoods
Linda Cropp was the first woman elected
Chairman of the Council. She is widely credited with
strengthening the independence of the legislative
branch-bolstering our push for more self-government. She
changed Council rules to require citizen participation
and created a comprehensive public education program
with a first class, on line legislative tracking system.
She led the restoration of the historic Wilson Building
and its reestablishment as City Hall.
She was first elected to the Council in
1990 as an at-large member. As chair of the Committee on
Human Services, she focused resources to reduce infant
mortality, combat HIV/AIDS, and control substance abuse.
She was elected acting chairman by her colleagues after
the death of David Clarke in 1997.
She is married to Dr. Dwight S. Cropp,
Associate Professor of Public Administration at The
George Washington University. They have two adult
children, Allison and Christopher, and a grandson,
Christian Alexander. They have lived for 31 years in the
Crestwood neighborhood in Ward 4.
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