Home Stretch

Dear Homies:

There's only one more issue of themail before the primaries, so make up your minds about your candidates and take your last chance to convince others. What's your most important local issue — safety, schools, social services, infrastructure, environment, economic development, taxes, good government, or something else — and how will your favorite candidate advance your interests and those of the citizens of DC with regard to that issue?

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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The Government We Deserve
Jonetta Rose Barras, jrb@jrbarras.com

What turns a brilliant politician dull, lifeless, and nearly useless? I have been asking that question for the past four years, watching the incredible decline of At-Large DC Councilmember Harold Brazil. Somehow he has morphed into a mumbling lawmaker, unsure of his message or platform, and of little use to his constituents. It is only within the last year that there have been signs of life in Brazil land. Isn't it always the case that when an election is near even the most nearly brain-dead lawmaker hears the sound of voting machines and realizes he might have a chance to live for another four years? Suddenly eyes open and mouths start speaking words that citizens have been longing to hear for months, maybe even years. Unfortunately, for Brazil, this last-minute burst of attention is the proverbial too little, too late. He is not the choice to make on September 14 in the Democratic Primary. Look to Sam Brooks for relief. He is well informed, and on the campaign trail he has displayed a command of the issues affecting this city. What's more, he has taken the right stands. He understands the need to pare down government — not programs that serve people, but a bureaucracy that serves itself. If you're interested in a clean, bright, conscientious politician with innovative ideas who will dedicate himself full-time to the residents of this great city, vote for Sam Brooks for At-Large Councilmember in the Democratic Primary on September 14. For other endorsements, go to http://www.jrbarras.com and read The Barras Report.

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DC Voters Guide
Kathryn M. Sinzinger, NewsDC@aol.com

The Common Denominator's DC Voters' Guide to the September 14 primary election is available in the current print edition and also on our web site at http://www.thecommondenominator.com. Additional election-related stories are being posted as daily news updates between now and Tuesday's election.

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The Democratic State Committee Race
Kathryn A. Pearson-West, DC DSC, wkpw3@aol.com

There has been little mention of the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee (DCDSC) election in the media, and it is on the ballot September 14 with the councilmembers and the Congressional Delegate. A. Scott Bolden is the chairperson of the DCDSC. The State Committee election has traditionally been held during the Presidential Primary, but since the Primary was moved to January this year for the "first in the nation primary," the logistics just didn't work out for that election to be held then, too. The State Committee has been working hard to get the word out about the importance of the upcoming election just a few days away.

In a predominately Democratic city, it is very important that the voters have an opportunity to choose their representatives on the State Committee. The State Committee is now following through on a provision in its constitution and bylaws that allows the Committee to endorse candidates for public office. This year is the first time, so there may be some growing pains, but it is an endorsement that one day be coveted and appreciated. It is important that the DCDSC begin to weigh in during the primary to help select and groom the best candidates for the District of Columbia. After all, it is pretty much a given who will win the Democratic nod by November, and the real action is in September. Furthermore, our elected officials set policies that greatly impact the livelihood and quality of life of the citizens of the District of Columbia and the DCDSC could help weed out some of the less caring and viable candidates. The State Committee wants to make sure the best qualified candidates are given an opportunity to lead this magnificent city -- the nation's capital. Some of the other State Committees endorse candidates.

To see the candidates for the DCDSC, go to the Board of Elections and Ethics web site, http://www.dcboee.org. And remember, every vote matters. Also, visit http://www.dcdemocrats.org, the DCDSC web site, to learn more about the State Committee and its many accomplishments.

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New to DC Political Process
Kirsten Burgard, Ward 8, hesternpearl@yahoo.com

I'm new to the entire DC political process. But here I find myself running for the State Committee and it seems as if no one wants to discuss the State Committee or the Chair’s recent sham endorsement proceedings. Now I do realize that since I am a candidate that this E-mail is likely to fall on deaf ears, but you'd think the idea of brand new people (as the Running Against Bush Slate is) running for the inside baseball positions would draw some attention, cause some interest, even a little spark. But to be honest, there's been little or no interest at all except to keep the Chair’s name in the paper.

I find this all very interesting. You see, I grew up in northeast Ohio. Yep, we have a political machine in the area and, as far as I recall, we always did. But it runs like it should, for the betterment of the Democratic Party, not for specific needs of specific candidates or the party’s leaders. It runs for the betterment of the process to keep Democrats in office and win new seats. I can’t recall a time when the party ever chose a side in a primary. In Cuyahoga county, few Republicans are ever elected and, when they are, they’re pretty left when elected. I can’t remember a time when the county didn’t go at least 60 to 70 percent Dem in general elections. I attended the recent sham endorsement and was just awe struck at the sheer audacity of the chair and his cronies. When the bylaws were read to the group, there was a distinct lack of discussion about primary endorsements in the material read. In fact, as I recall, the bylaws stated that an endorsement can be held once every four years. Now, I'm no mathematician here, but the only race held every four years is the Presidential election. Council races may hold four-year terms, but these terms rotate so that the entire council isn’t replaced the same year. The only way the bylaws can be read in the manner this Chair decided is if you assume that you can read into it every year and hold an endorsement for any position decided upon by the committee responsible for by-laws . . . one on which the chair resides. But instead of holding an endorsement for the State Committee positions, only council seats, Congressional and the "shadows" were dealt with. If the bylaws were interpreted the way the Chair noted at the endorsement event, then it stands to reason that the committee should also have had the right to endorse itself. I suppose actually endorsing itself would have thrown up too many red flags. But what did occur isn’t any different despite the protestations of the Chair of the party.

A few of weeks ago, the Washington Post asked us to provide two or three sentence bios for each of the candidates on the Running Against Bush Slate. We did so quickly, but were informed that the Bolden slate had not returned the Post’s calls requesting bios. The Post has its voter guide on line now and no State Committee member is listed. It would be unreasonable for the Post to print only the Running Against Bush slate bios and not the other slate’s bios. It’s reasonable, but how many DC residents voting on Tuesday know anything about the State Committee? How many of them will be voting for people they don’t know? Please feel free to contact any of us. We’re all on the web and are easy to find. We will also be at the Ward 3 endorsement forum on Wednesday night as well. Oh and, you can even check out our website: http://www.runningagainstbush.com, or reach me tomorrow at the Ward 8 AARP forum.

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Something to Hide
Keith Jarrell, Ward 5, k.jarrell01@comcast.net

It appears that Councilmember Orange has something to hide regarding his signature on the Slots Initiative. I've repeatedly attempted to get an honest answer from both him and his chief on staff on when he left DC for his vacation in Florida. As reported, his signature appeared on the petition when he was not here to actually sign the petition himself, raising questions as to who might have forged his signature. Neither the Councilmember or his Chief of staff will offer an explanation. It is reported that his son worked on behalf of the supporters gathering signatures for the Slots petition. If this is so, and if Councilmember Orange actually signed the petition himself, don't you think he would speak up and offer a voter in his ward the information to clarify the outstanding question? One would certainly think so. Instead my inquiries have gone unanswered.

I don't blame him for supporting the slots. After all, we all have our own minds to make up. I do, however, wonder why he won't be public about the dates in question. One can only assume that it is because there is indeed something to hide. Responsibility comes to all of us, even those in public office. Certainly, if Councilmember Orange did not actually sign his own name on the petition and yet refuses to address who did it, it shows a real lack of leadership for the rest of the citizens in our ward and the city. Not to mention the honesty factor. If indeed his signature was forged, then he should want and insist that whoever did it be punished. If he did sign the petition, I see no problem with admitting that he did. Then voters can judge him on the merits of that choice he made himself and how they feel it could affect them and their quality of life.

Instead we will have to continue to wonder whether his signature was legitimate or not. Does Councilmember Orange really care what voters think? Or is he too involved with the self gratifying part of the initiative that the slots initiative might bring him? Clearly, voters might never know who really signed the name of Councilmember Orange on the petition But many of us will feel that it is being hidden at all costs until we really know the truth.

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Property Tax Bills
Peter Wolff, Dupont Circle, plwolff@intowner.com

Mariuccia Marolo asked in Sunday's posting [themail, September 5], “Is this a joke? Do I have to pay more again and wait to get a second ghostly refund?” From my own experience with that department and its predecessor offices over the past thirty years, the "nothing happened" observation gets my usual response: “Why should I be surprised?”

But my advice is to pay and continue fussing after the fact because nothing will be cleared up my them before the deadline, and if the deadline passes without an envelope from the taxpayer with a September 15 postmark they will assess the onerous penalty, and that will be yet another whole level of complication to deal with. The next thing to do is get hold of Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans' chief of staff or staff director for the Committee on Finance and Revenue (or Jack directly), which he so ably chairs, and ask them to intercede on your behalf with a senior official. I have previously had great success going this route; they really get off their butts when he calls!

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Advertising Murals
Ralph Blessing, rblessin88@hotmail.com

While driving down North Capitol this past Sunday, then later back up Georgia Avenue, I spotted billboard-sized murals painted on the sides of old row houses advertising SUVs. They weren't necessarily unattractive, but I couldn't help but wonder if they are legal. Anyone out there know?

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Critters Abound
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com

In just the last two weeks I've seen my fair share of critters in northwest DC. The first sighting was at midnight on my back deck when my dog was uncharacteristically barking at the kitchen door. When I turned on the outside light I was eyeballs to eyeballs with three identical raccoons looking in my back door window. They scurried away when Trudy, my nine pound squirrel terrorizer, ran out through the opened door.

And, on Labor Day, as I walked across Chain Bridge, again with my loyal Nigerian papillon, Trudy, I spotted something swimming below, in the canal. Not believing the myth about alligators in the canal, I was surprised to see a long beaver carrying a branch downstream. From the canal shore I watched as the beaver took it to the DC side of the canal a little downstream of the bridge to where he/she was building a small enclave. As I walked down the canal, toward Georgetown, I spotted another beaver swimming with a branch to another enclave abuilding. Perhaps these are the critters who were eating the cherry trees a couple of years ago.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

TENAC Candidates Forum, September 9
btajonathan@aol.com

TENAC, the DC Tenants Advocacy Coalition, is holding a candidates forum. Care about rent control, tenant rights, rent ceiling, affordable housing, skyrocketing rents, pressures to move, first right of refusal, fees for everything, and tenants' right to organize? If you live in rental housing, you should! Come to the candidates forum and ask the candidates for answers!

Thursday, September 9, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Sumner School, Great Hall (top level), 1201 17th Street, NW, corner of 17th and M Streets (Farragut North Red line Metro; take L Street exit). for more information call 628-3688 or go to http://www.tenac.org.

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TechTalk: Re-engineer Your Sales Process, September 11
Barbara Conn, bconn@cpcug.org

At this TechTalk for owners and managers of consulting and entrepreneurial businesses, and for those planning or considering business startup, Ken Smith, principal of Sandler Sales Institute and founder of Professional Achievement Group Inc., will present new approaches for professional selling and client development that are repeatable, predictable, and powerful. Ken has worked extensively with those in the technology, professional services, and financial industries. Attendees will learn how to implement a systematic sales process that is effective in today's technology marketplace.

Gather your questions, friends, colleagues, and family members and bring them to this Saturday, September 11, 1:00 p.m. (check-in: 12:45 p.m.), TechTalk of the Capital PC User Group (CPCUG) Entrepreneurs and Consultants Special Interest Group (E&C SIG). This free TechTalk will be at the Cleveland Park Library (First Floor Large Meeting Room) at 3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, just over a block from the Cleveland Park Metrorail Station on the Red Line. For more information about this TechTalk, the speaker, CPCUG (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization), and to register for the event, visit http://www.cpcug.org/user/entrepreneur/904meet.html.

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Art as Medicine, September 25
Juliet Bruce, juliet@arts-for-life.org

Are you interested in learning how the creative process can support recovery from depression and why it works? I'm giving a free talk at the Cleveland Park Library in Washington, on Saturday, September 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m. The subject is "Transforming Depression: A Creative Approach." In this session, I will be focusing on the use of music, myth, and movement to soothe and revitalize body, mind, and spirit. This experiential presentation is the first in a series of free public programs on creativity and wellness given by participating artists of Institute for Transformation Through the Arts. The library is at Connecticut Avenue and Macomb Street, NW, two blocks south of the Cleveland Park stop on the Red Line.) For more information about our mission, approach, and services, call 667-3766 or visit the ITA web site, http://www.arts-for-life.org.

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CLASSIFIEDS — CHURCHES

Cleveland Park Congregational UCC
Paul McKenzie, McKenzieDC@att.net

This Congregational Church was founded in 1918 as a fellowship devoted to worship, teaching and service. Its members seek to balance the traditional aspects of Christianity — faith and study, prayer, and social action -- and share a commitment to these goals. The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainstream Protestant denomination with a heritage of learned preaching, social services, informed faith and local church autonomy. Each UCC church is responsible for its own decisions and support. The roots of the UCC go back to the Pilgrims in New England and the Congregational churches they founded. You are cordially invited to join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30. Baby sitting, child care, and Sunday School is available for your children. Its address and phone number are 3400 Lowell Street, NW, 363-8211.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Plumbing Fixtures
Jim Holm, james_holm at msn dot com.

I have a recommendation for folks who need plumbing fixtures — faucets, toilets, sinks, etc. Atlantic Plumbing Supply on Florida Avenue is a very well-stocked warehouse/showroom with friendly staff, convenient location (one block north of Vermont/Florida intersection, near Howard U) and free parking. I expected to have to go to the Maryland suburbs to find my new toilet, but was pleasantly surprised to find a local business with great selection and service — plus the price was lower than any other place that carried the model I bought!

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