By James Wright, Special to the AFRO, jwright@afro.com
The District of Columbia will hold its primary election on June 19 and its general election on Nov. 6. The positions that are seeking election are the delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, D.C. Mayor, D.C. Council Chairman, D.C. Attorney General and D.C. Council members in Wards 1, 3, 5 and 6 plus two at-large seats that are for the Democrats and non-Democrats.
Mayor: Muriel Bowser, James Butler; Delegate to the House of Representatives: Eleanor Holmes Norton, Kim Ford; At Large Members of the Council: Anita Bonds, Marcus Goodwin, Aaron Holmes, Jeremiah Lowery; Ward 1 Member of the Council: Sheika Reid; Ward 5 Member of the Council: Kenyan McDuffie, Gayle Hall Carley, Nestor Djomkam. (Courtesy Photos)
Mayor
Muriel Bowser is the mayor of the District of Columbia. Bowser wants to end homelessness in the city by closing D.C. General Hospital and instituting shelters in each ward and is passionate about economic growth in all wards of the city.
James Butler is an advisory neighborhood commissioner for district 5D03 and self proclaimed entrepreneur. Butler intends to rework how funds are allocated in the District, focusing more on help for the homeless and access to grocery stores in Wards 7 and 8.
Delegate to the House of Representatives
Eleanor Holmes Norton has served as the District of Columbia’s member of the U.S. Congress since 1991 and is seeking a 15th term. Norton wants to continue the fight for D.C. statehood and make sure that the city operates without the interference of Congress. She also wants to use her congressional platform to bring federal projects to the city.
Kim Ford is a former Obama administration official who wants to be a fresh voice on Capitol Hill for the District. She wants to focus on small business as the engine of economic growth and forgive student loan debt and advocate for educational and workforce opportunities.
At Large Members of the Council
Anita Bonds is one of two Democratic at-large members of the D.C. Council and the chairman of the D.C. Democratic State Committee. Bonds chairs the committee that deals with housing and is interested in expanding affordable housing options for seniors and young people.
Marcus Goodwin is a political newcomer who has a strong development background. Goodwin wants property tax relief for longtime homeowners, fund after school programs and shift school personnel from the administrative office to the classroom.
Aaron Holmes is a Ward 8 political activist. Holmes wants to strengthen the relationship between the police and the community, focus on small and minority businesses for positive economic development and strengthen the District’s health-care system east of the Anacostia River.
Jeremiah Lowery is a progressive who wants the city to embrace the clean energy concept, universal childcare that is of high quality and set up a community land trust that would acquire and hold land for the benefit of the community.
Ward 1 Member of the Council
Sheika Reid wants to make sure that affordable housing is available in her ward and improve its transportation system. Reid is interested in supporting small businesses and working with constituents when they have a conflict with the District government.
Ward 5 Member of the Council
Kenyan McDuffie was first elected to the D.C. Council in a special election in May 2012 to replace disgraced Council member Harry Thomas Jr. He won his first full term in 2014 and is seeking re-election to his seat. McDuffie believes in fighting crime through dealing with the mental health concerns of residents involved in crime instead of locking people up and is passion about economic development in his ward.
Gayle Hall Carley is an advisory neighborhood commissioner and is a U.S. Army veteran. Carley wants to improve public safety in the ward and increase services and activities for young people.
Nestor Djomkam has worked as an engineer for Holy Cross Hospital and Adventist Healthcare Washington Adventist Hospital and ran for mayor in 2010 and 2014.