...As a person who opposed the baseball deal,

I applaud those who opposed all the way. To me it's not Adrian Fenty's
fault there were not more people on the council who
had the sense to oppose. This post is essentially
arguing that he should have supported a deal he did
not believe in in order to get a better deal. I
reject that kind of political gamesmanship.
Particularly for the job of Mayor, I think it's
important to have someone who doesn't equivocate, but
stands firmly for their beliefs. I find Fenty's
willingness to state his views unapologetically on a
number of subjects very refreshing. He takes votes
that are risky, but I appreciate that.

If we look around at a number of cities in the
country, there are new, strong, progressive mayors
taking the helm -- Antonio Villaraigosa in Los
Angeles, Cory Booker in Newark, Gavin Newsom in San
Francisco. I don't agree with all of their positions
on issues, but they all represent a fresh, new and yes
charismatic voice.

I appreciate Mayor Williams' efforts to remake the
bureaucracy so that it does a better job for all of
us. I think he's been successful. Now like other
cities, I personally hope for a mayor that will
provide leadership not just for us, but could be a
voice for the country. I support Fenty because I
think he could be that voice, and in my mind, he is
definitely the most likely of any of those running.

Neera Tanden
Broad Branch Rd., NW

Adrian Fenty, A "Servant-Leader"

When I moved to the Brookland neighborhood, over 20 years ago, the area was considered Ward 4. Charlene Drew Jarvis was the Councilmember and like most things in the DC Government during that time, we were all just getting by. But I noticed a vast change in my neighborhood when Adrian Fenty became our Councilmember. Here was a Councilmember that actually came out to the ANC meetings. Here was a Councilmember that actually delivered when you asked for a service or improvement. There was actually a response and some follow-up.

Then as a result of the last redistricting process, my neighborhood became a part of Ward 5. This change upset me terribly, so much so, that I made a conscious decision not to participate in DC politics anymore. It was difficult for me to accept, after having Adrian Fenty as my Councilmember, that once again my neighborhood would be saddled with a non-responsive and uncaring councilperson. That was until I learned that Adrian Fenty was running for mayor.

When I heard that Councilmember Fenty was considering a run for Mayor, I decided to give-up my ‘childish ways’. If I could not have him as my Ward Councilmember, I certainly would do whatever I could to help him get elected as Mayor.

In February 2004, my daughter and I attended an exploratory fundraiser for Councilman Fenty at the family home of Rev. Walter Fauntroy. After hearing Adrian speak, I signed up to be a volunteer. I was moved by his energy, youth, and genuine concern for making Washington, DC a better place for all citizens, not just a select few.

This was not my first contact with Adrian. When he initially ran for Ward 4 City Council, I met him outside of Constitution Hall at a Wilson Senior High graduation. He was doing what he does very well------ shaking hands, making individual contacts, and stating briefly his desires and intentions for our city. Then, as now, his genuineness and knowledge of the needs of every sector of the City appealed to me.

Often, I am asked by family, friends, and neighbors why I support and volunteer for Adrian Fenty. I perceive Adrian Fenty to be a true servant-leader. What do I mean by that? According to Robert Greenleaf (1970) who coined the phrase servant-leader, “True leaders are chosen by their followers. …True leadership emerges from those whose primary motivation is a deep desire to help others.”

I have had the opportunity as a volunteer to observe his high expectations for himself, his volunteers, and campaign staff workers. Adrian’s style of leadership is based on teamwork and developing a sense of community. He seeks to involve a diverse group of people in planning and decision making. His leadership is based on ethical and caring behavior. He is interested in enhancing the growth of people, while at the same time improving the care and quality of the services our government agencies render to the citizens. It is my strong belief that Adrian will serve and work for the common good of ALL residents, not just the wealthy or special interests groups.
Why do I support Adrian? He understands that as a leader, as a councilmember, and as our future Mayor, that his primary responsibility is to serve others. I envision an end to the ‘ole boy network’ and gross nepotism. After the campaigning is done and he has been victorious, Adrian will still expect his followers and volunteers to participate in government and to look for situational opportunities to provide leadership in our respective neighborhoods, which will enhance the qualities of life for all residents.

Finally, Adrian Fenty is the candidate who has the ability to effectively carry this city forward and to provide a government that works.


Gloria E. Dickerson, Ed. D.
Retired DCPS Administrator

Why Progressives Should Support Adrian Fenty For Mayor

James Forman, Jr.

A lot of my friends have been talking to me about the mayor's race, especially after the publicity of the recent debate over the crime bill. Although I began supporting Adrian Fenty over a year ago, I've been busy the last few months and haven't been involved in the campaign. But recently an event captured my attention, and highlighted why I think it matters a great deal that progressive voters support Fenty. I'm referring to the recently enacted emergency crime legislation. Fenty voted against the bill. Since then Linda Cropp has decided to run on a "Fenty doesn't care about crime" campaign. I got an e-mail blast from her with words to the effect of "my opponent doesn't think there is a crime emergency," and in the Washington Post she talked about how she was going to cut into Fenty's lead by showing the city that he is soft on crime. Other friends of mine have received phone calls from her campaign staff with this message. This approach angers me. We've all seen the toxic politics around crime and elections too many times. Remember Willie Horton? Saying your opponent is soft on crime worked for George H. W. Bush oh so many years ago, and the tactic, repeated in election after election, is a large part of why this nation has the world's highest incarceration rate. I know there are parts of the country where this strategy might always work, but it would be deeply sad if it succeeds here in Washington, D.C. If we allow it to happen in this overwhelming Democratic city, it will send the message to progressive politicians everywhere that they can never say no to any "tough on crime" legislation, no matter how ill-conceived or short-sighted the proposal. So ever since this happened, I have become re-energized about this election. I'm writing this to tell my friends why I think Fenty made the right decision when he voted against the crime bill and why he has my vote on September 12th.

Much of the emergency crime bill concerned juveniles. The law 1) lets the Mayor make the curfew earlier, 2) reduces the confidentiality of juvenile court, and 3) creates a presumption for locking up kids while they await trial if they have been charged with specific offenses. There is lots of evidence that these things don't reduce crime. But the real problem is that in defining the crime problem as a kid problem, the bill further demonizes the young people of our city, while offering virtually nothing that would actually reduce teen crime or change the conditions that create teen crime. (The bill throws a small bone to "programs," but the overwhelming majority of the bill, and the money, is for punitive provisions.) Kids are not the ones driving the moderate crime increase of the past year. Juvenile crime in D.C. fell by 30 percent between 1995 and 2005. And according to the Justice Policy Institute, 94% of all arrests in 2006 and 82% of all violent arrests in the District were adults.

And even if teens were the problem, it is bizarre and disheartening to see legislation that offers fake solutions. This city has a growing community of people who have given much of their lives to building successful programs for kids. Many of us have achieved measurable results. But what has been proven to work is not being expanded. Instead, we get curfews and un-monitored surveillance cameras.

Despite everything I've said about the silliness of this law, it was surely hard to vote against it. We have all seen politicians who we support, like, and sometimes even know personally, do things that are contrary to what they believe because of political expediency. I'm not a politician, so I've never felt that pressure, but I've seen so many succumb that I know it is real. So I was blown away to see that Fenty called this legislation out for exactly what it was—cynical, manipulative, and ineffective. He actually had the political courage, in the middle of an election campaign, to say that a dumb crime law should not pass. And then he voted against it.

I want to be clear about one thing—crime is an enormous problem. Many of the kids I work with live in neighborhoods that are too violent. The violence is unhealthy and causes psychic damage. It is simply immoral that kids have to grow up like this. And kids are disproportionately the victims of crime, which is one of the reasons why almost all of the teens I know are big supporters of smart approaches to reducing crime. But this bill was not smart—even police Chief Ramsey admitted in the paper this past Friday, "I realize full well that crime emergencies and what we're doing now are putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound."

Fenty has long supported effective approaches to fighting crime. His committee has been Human Services and one of the areas of focus for Fenty has been closing the Oak Hill Youth Detention Center. I represented clients for years at Oak Hill, and it is a profoundly awful place. I've seen kids enter with problems—but still with some hope—and leave destroyed. And Oak Hill is unnecessary. States like Missouri have produced dramatic reductions in juvenile recidivism using community-based treatment placements. Fenty has actively worked to bring such treatment programs to the District. He has supported the work of the current head of the Youth Services Administration Vinnie Schiraldi, who is one of the true juvenile justice visionaries in this country. What people like Fenty and Schiraldi are trying to do won't happen overnight—but over time it is the stuff that will actually make this city a safer and more just place to live.

As I said, Fenty had my support before his vote against the crime bill. My dad knew Fenty's parents, and when I was a kid my dad used to take me and Chaka by their store on Columbia Road. I didn't know Adrian when we wereyoung, but I knew he came from good stock. I liked what I saw of him on the council, and my friends in Ward 4 raved about having an responsive elected official. So I liked Fenty. But his stand on this legislation has convinced me that he has character, and has transformed me into an enthusiastic supporter.

Thanks for reading. And for those of you interested in other perspectives, check out Friday's Washington Post Business Section article by Steven Pearlstein—he gushes about Fenty's potential as an effective manager. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080301
738.html

Take care, James

Here We Go..

As a 10-year resident of Ward 7, I have had the opportunity to see many things come and go in my Marshall Heights community. One of the things that I have been most pleased to see come into my neighborhood is the presence of Councilmember Adrian Fenty. I walked with Adrian and other volunteers when he came to my neighborhood, and while there he knocked on every door. In some cases he took the time to sit down in living rooms or at a dining room table to converse with senior and disabled residents, answering questions and making sure that he, his staff and volunteers were taking notes so that he could follow up on concerns. Before Adrian walked our streets, very few of us actually saw the members of our government up close.

It is for these reasons that I decided to join his volunteer team, people from all walks of life who are out in rain or to shine, to galvanize members of my community in the same way that he inspired me to me to take a more active role in shaping the destiny of our city. Before Adrian came, I saw very little evidence of civic participation in the electoral process. Now, as I walk through my community, I am seeing his yard signs everywhere. People talk about him as that “bright young man” who really has a very clear understanding of the issues facing this unique urban landscape.

I am also proud to say that he is a fellow alumnus of the Howard University School of Law. While there Adrian displayed the same positive and deliberate resolve that makes his candidacy so appealing to many voters today. I consider it a privilege to work on this campaign and I hope that others will see that Adrian represents the bright, new and positive direction that will benefit our entire city.

-Karen Gray

I'm a Believer

I was fortunate enough to hear Adrian Fenty speak at several different functions in 2005. I was moved by his compassion for the residents of DC which came through during various presentations given by Adrian. I was also impressed by the support and respect afforded Adrian from the residents of Ward 4 which he has faithfully served for two terms now. Last October I heard that he was exploring the option to make a bid for the Mayor position. I remember thinking that having Adrian Fenty as Mayor is going to be good for all DC residents.

I ran into Fenty at Ben's Chilli Bowl in November of 2005 and I said to him, "Councilman Fenty, I believe in you. I'm pretty good at sensing good people, and I feel that you are good people" I told him that I wanted to help him become the next Mayor of Washington DC and pledged my support. I live and help campaign in Ward 7. Fenty has been covering Ward 7 from end to end. Atending meetings, adressing the citizens and literally walking throughout every neighborhood knocking on every door. None of the other candidates have even come close to reaching out to the people of Ward 7.

Today, I still believe in Adrian Fenty and the great things that he is destined to accomplish for Washington DC. I encourage all citizens to get on board the Fenty express!!

-Victor Vandell, Ph.D.

“Adrian Fenty! What’s someone like you doing in my neighborhood?”

...I’ve heard this statement several times over the past weeks, and it always comes with a warm smile. I’ve been an intern with Adrian’s campaign since mid-June. What I’ve noticed most is the intensity and enthusiasm of Adrian’s supporters.

Perhaps I should have been prepared—I first heard about Adrian’s campaign when I was in Oberlin, Ohio. I was told that Adrian’s campaign is unusual, both in that he runs a grassroots campaign and in that he has inspired such a passionate following.

When I arrived in DC, I learned that “passionate” is no overstatement. Adrian has supporters who wake up before seven o’clock to meet him for morning campaigning in their neighborhoods. I met one such woman last week. I arrived at the Metro stop bleary-eyed and barely awake, she introduced herself cheery and bright-eyed . She was dressed entirely in green, including a pair of green, rhinestone-studded sunglasses. The supporter, Ellie, asked me where I’d left my Fenty colors. I promised her I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. When I met her at the Caribbean Carnival last Saturday, we laughed about my green shirt and she offered me a matching visor.

I see similar enthusiasm expressed by commuters on their way to work and by volunteers in Adrian’s campaign office. After two hours of waving signs and smiling to the sound of supporters’ horns, I return to the office and see dedication in another context. Yesterday I talked with at least a dozen Fenty supporters who planned to take September 12th off and work the polls. The office was so full of volunteers—each of whom had families, jobs, and other commitments—that we ran out of space for people to sit.

All of these supporters—Ellie, the honking commuters, and the office volunteers—demonstrate a faith in Adrian that is unusual in today’s disillusioned political environment. I myself have enjoyed being able to express complete confidence in a candidate for office. The Fenty 2006 campaign is, as I was told in Ohio, unusual, and I am glad to be taking part

--Helen Hare

Fenty comes out on top in campaign fundraising

Michael Neibauer, The Examiner

Jun 14, 2006 7:00 AM (1 day ago)
WASHINGTON - Ward 4 D.C. Council Member Adrian Fenty was never expected to pull in more money than Council Chairman Linda Cropp in Democratic mayoral nominee race, but his fundraising filing Monday proved all doubters wrong.

Fenty raised $635,902 since March 11 and ended the period with $1.2 million in the bank. Cropp, who has the endorsement of Mayor Anthony Williams, collected $435,816 during the same three months and spent $341,847, leaving herself with $897,079 as the summer campaign season kicks into high gear.

“We’ve had a strategy from day one that we’re going to reach out to as many voters as possible,” Fenty said Tuesday. “I take nothing for granted. It’s the only way I know how to campaign.”

Cropp and Fenty are clearly the candidates to beat, said WTOP political analyst Mark Plotkin. But it is perhaps time to acknowledge Fenty, a second-term legislator 15 years Cropp’s junior, as the frontrunner.

“I think he is an organized guy, and I think his organizational prowess in terms of lawn signs and securing endorsements of community activists has now played into fundraising,” Plotkin said, adding that Fenty has worked hard to offset any impression that he’s a pro-tax, anti-business council member.

Other candidates are a little further behind. Former Verizon executive Marie Johns raised $115,798 since March and has $130,122 to spend into the summer. Ward 5 Council Member Vincent Orange raised $96,696 and closed the period with $40,804. And lobbyist Michael Brown spent virtually everything in his coffers, ending the period with less than $3,000.

In the race for council chairman, Ward 7 Council Member Vincent Gray, a first-term legislator but longtime government insider, has outraised his opponent, Ward 3 Council Member Kathy Patterson. Gray raised $186,211 and ended with more than $98,000, while Patterson generated $71,332 and closed with roughly $50,000.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com
Examiner

Sunday was another perfect Spring DC day...

...and I had the pleasure of going door-to-door in Ward 4 with Adrian Fenty. We've seen our candidate shine at debates, events and community meetings, but walking DC neighborhoods interacting with voters is the heart of the Fenty grassroots effort. The energy was particularly amazing in Ward 4 where his constituents are already familiar with his commitment and qualifications.

People would stop the him on the street and ask for his assistance on a community matter, commenting that they heard he always "gets things done." Cars would honk in support and pull over to sign the ballot petition. Many people knew Adrian personally. I kept thinking about how great it will be when he's mayor and the entire city feels as supported and well-represented as Ward 4 residents do.

It also reminded me why I support the Fenty candidacy. I've lived here for most of my life and went all the way through DC public schools. My older daughter will be attending a public school in the fall. She's almost four and her favorite part of campaign volunteering is definitely putting up yard signs. She offers them to everyone in the neighborhood!

As a parent, improving the school system and advancing educational opportunities for all children in DC is my main concern. Adrian also grew up here, attended DC public schools and has young children who will. I believe that as mayor he be a real force for change in our schools, the advocate our kids desperately need.

Talking with voters yesterday reinforced how many of us are concerned about education. It kept coming up, along with crime, housing, and government responsiveness -- issues that Adrian has already shown a commitment to and has made campaign priorities. He is listening to DC residents and will keep this great city moving forward!

-Suzannah Creedon