|
CARY SILVERMAN
Friday, September 05, 2008
I
AM
RUNNING
for
the
D.C.
Council
seat
in
Ward
2
because
I
believe
that
I
can
best
serve
all
the
people
in
our
neighborhoods.
Among
other
benefits
to
living
in
Ward
2
is
that
we
are
the
center
of
GLBT
life
in
the
District.
I
want
to
make
sure
that
life
for
GLBT
people
in
the
District
remains
safe
and
vibrant.
I
am
committed
to
ensuring
that
our
city
continues
to
be
a
welcoming
place
for
the
GLBT
community
to
live,
work,
and
soon,
marry.
I
fully
support
marriage
equality
and
ensuring
that
gay
and
lesbian
couples
that
marry
in
other
states
have
their
marriages
recognized
in
the
District.
I
am
proud
that
the
Gay
&
Lesbian
Activists
Alliance
(GLAA)
rated
my
positions
and
record
on
gay
rights
an
8.5
out
of
10;
a
“perfect
questionnaire”
exceeded
by
a
non-incumbent
only
when
Jim
Graham
first
ran
in
1998.
As
president
of
the
Logan
Circle
Community
Association
and
chair
of
the
area’s
ANC,
it
was
a
privilege
to
work
with
so
many
residents
and
business
owners,
gay
and
straight,
to
make
the
community
a
better
place.
I’ve
continued
that
service
in
Mount
Vernon
Square,
where
I
have
been
a
leader
for
the
past
three
years.
The
incumbent
and
I
both
have
strong,
progressive
platforms
for
the
GLBT
community.
But
unlike
the
incumbent,
I
will
work
as
a
full-time
Council
member
committed
to
this
and
to
partnering
with
you
and
advocating
organizations
across
the
District
as
we
fight
the
District’s
unacceptable
epidemic
of
HIV/AIDS,
the
resurgence
of
hate
crimes,
and
to
make
sure
that
our
schools
and
other
institutions
both
respect
the
needs
and
serve
our
GLBT
youth.
I
VIEW
THE
position
of
Council
member
first
and
foremost
as
working
on
day-to-day
quality
of
life
issues
that
will
make
our
neighborhoods
both
safer
and
more
exiting
places
to
live.
We
deserve
to
have
parks
that
are
top
notch
with
playgrounds
for
children,
places
to
relax
for
adults,
and
designated
safe
areas
for
our
dogs
to
run.
We
must
feel
safe
in
our
neighborhoods
with
adequate
police
protection
at
all
times
and
support
programs
that
foster
strong
relationships
between
the
officers
and
the
communities
they
serve.
When
issues
arise,
whether
it
is
a
broken
fire
hydrant,
a
crime,
a
damaged
sidewalk
or
a
nuisance
property,
I
will
be
a
responsive
Council
member
who
takes
a
hands-on,
roll-up-my-sleeves
attitude
toward
getting
them
addressed.
That’s
my
mission,
unlike
the
incumbent
who
often
seems
to
feel
he
is
a
self-anointed
sports
commissioner
or
deputy
mayor.
What
is
next
on
the
horizon
for
our
city?
Will
the
next
big
deal
involve
using
your
tax
dollars
to
build
a
football
stadium,
or
will
we
establish
a
community
college
system
to
expand
opportunity
and
make
sure
our
citizens
are
ready
to
take
the
jobs
created
in
the
District?
Will
we
gift
another
$50
million
to
the
Verizon
Center
for
luxury
boxes
so
the
Council
members
can
give
away
tickets
to
their
friends,
or
will
we
adequately
fund
our
recreation
centers? Will
we
sell
off
public
property
to
politically
connected
developers
in
no-bid
deals,
or
will
we
make
certain
that
our
resources
best
serve
the
community?
I’ll
work
to
make
sure
all
our
resources
are
used
to
bring
our
city
to
the
next
level.
Supporting
the
restaurants
and
shops
that
bring
vibrancy
and
diversity
to
our
communities,
before
it’s
too
late,
is
key.
As
a
Council
member,
I’ll
propose
meaningful
tax
relief
for
small
independent
businesses
and
I
will
introduce
legislation
to
establish
an
Office
of
the
Small
Business
Advocate
so
that
they
can
not
only
survive,
but
thrive.
I
VIEW
REPRESENTING
you
as
a
full-time
job
with
no
other
pressures
on
my
time
or
potential
conflicts
of
interest.
By
way
of
contrast,
the
incumbent
keeps
a
substantial
side
job
at
a
large
lobbying
firm,
while
he
is
paid
a
full-time
salary
by
D.C.
taxpayers.
In
some
areas
of
the
country,
state
and
city
legislators
are
truly
part
time
positions,
in
session
for
just
a
few
months
of
the
year.
Not
so
in
D.C.
where
the
Council
is
in
session
year
round
with
a
short
recess
in
August.
That’s
because
it
is
your
city,
county
and
state
government
all
rolled
into
one.
In
fact,
D.C.,
Council
member
salaries
are
on
par
with
some
governors
and
are
higher
than
just
about
every
other
state
legislator
in
the
country,
including
those
who
are
“professional”
full-time
public
servants,
such
as
in
New
York. Isn’t
it
about
time
that
Ward
2
has
a
full-time
Council
member?
On
Sept.
9
you
will
have
a
clear
choice.
If
you
believe
we
need
new
energy
and
leadership,
a
full-time
Council
member,
a
strong
GLBT
advocate,
and
a
focus
on
quality-of-life
issues
and
neighborhood
development,
I
hope
that
I
will
have
your
vote.
|
 |