Eighteen candidates are running for Mayor Muriel Bowser’s empty Ward 4 city council seat. The special election is on April 28.
Glova Scott
Name: Glova Scott
Age: 59
Occupation: Overnight Stocker at Walmart
Party: Socialist Workers Party
Why are you running?
It offers an opportunity to reach out in a very broad way about the Socialist Workers Party’s views about what we need to do to improve the lives of the working class.
What makes you qualified?
I am a part of the growing resistance in the United States of working people who are trying to make things better.
What are the biggest issues facing Ward 4?
One of the biggest issues we’re facing is that people aren’t able to survive on the wages that we make. A lot of people have to chase down one part time job to another part time job, and you’re not making ends meet and you’re not able to get the health benefits that you really need to sustain yourself and your family.
How do you plan to tackle these issues?
need to do is organize a massive movement to take political power out of the hands of the rich and put it into the hands of the working class.
Renee Bowser
Name: Renee L. Bowser
Age: 65
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Democrat
Why are you running?
Ward 4 is my home, and I care deeply about my home and I want the very best for the Ward. I’m committed to achieving its full potential, because there are low-income families in Ward 4, and they’re the backbone of Ward 4. In this day and age, people can’t find affordable housing and they’re being pushed out of our neighborhood.
What makes you qualified?
The councilor’s job is a legislative job, and as a lawyer, I know how to read, draft, and understand legislation and the issues involving legislation. That’s what I do as a lawyer. I’m a curious person. I will look for the most innovative ways that we can create the best for all people.
What are the biggest issues facing Ward 4?
I think community-centered economic development, truly affordable housing where people who make $50,000 or less can afford to live here, a real upgrade in public school curriculum, and public safety.
How do you plan to tackle these issues?
You have to listen to all the people in order to deliver to all the people. And one of the things I would do from the very beginning, I would have a Sunday meeting about once a month in different parts of our Ward and I would rotate among the churches.
Brandon Todd
Name: Brandon Todd
Age: 31
Occupation: Chairman of Ward 4 Democrats and former constituent services director for then Councilwoman Muriel Bowser.
Party: Democrat
Why are you running?
So that we’re able to continue the progress we’ve been making over the last seven and a half years. Also staying focused on constituent services, making sure that the government of the District of Columbia is working for Ward 4 residents.
What makes you qualified?
I have the experience. For the past seven years I’ve worked right alongside previous Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser. So, I will be able to go down to city hall on day one and get to work. I know the issues, I know what Ward 4 residents want, I know what they don’t want, and I’ll be able to get to work on what they want.
What are the biggest issues facing Ward 4?
Senior citizens. Fifteen percent of Ward 4 residents are senior citizens. So, we want to make sure that we’re making it easier for them to live in their own home as long as they would like to. I will focus on making sure there are 15 public schools and our public-charter schools become first choices for Ward 4 families.
How do you plan to tackle these issues?
Work with the chancellor and certainly with the mayor to take a look at our schools and our portfolio to come up with a plan to address those concerns.
Gwenellen Corley
Name: Gwenellen Corley
Age: 61
Occupation: Retired teacher
Party: Democrat
Why are you running?
I’ve lived in Ward 4 for 30 years, and I’ve realized the fight we have as citizens here in the District and we need to have a better voice in Congress, and we need to work for an even playing field for many that are in our Ward.
Why makes you qualified?
I have been in-and-out of politics for the last 30 or so years. I’ve seen and experienced a lot of the needs of this community. And I’m looking forward to actually be a positive and a dynamic force to work for everyone
What are the biggest issues facing Ward 4?
We don’t have a good safety net for our youth for employment opportunities. I also believe that we need to strengthen academics so it will be easier for our youth to get involved in the educational system. We also need to have a system in which people can get into the job sector. Employment options for some green jobs, which I don’t think a lot of our youth know about.
How do you plan to tackle these issues?
In education, we need communication with our youth, the elderly. We can also have places where not only the elderly can get support, but where some of the youth can get a lot of support, and maybe have axillary services in the library where we have training programs to help identify people that do need help.