A candidates forum for the District’s special election for the Ward 5 city council seat is scheduled for Saturday and is expected to address issues facing churches and senior citizens, as well as the ward’s crime rate and unemployment. The forum, scheduled for 2:30 to 4 p.m. is hosted by the New Samaritan Baptist Church on Florida Avenue, Northeast.
All candidates have been invited, including Amanda Broadnax, John Cheeks, Tim Day, Shelly Gardner, Kathy Henderson, Drew Hubbard, Delano Hunter, Ron Magnus, Ruth Marshall, Kenyan McDuffie, Frank Wilds and Rae Zapata.
New Samaritan sent a questionnaire to the candidates to address at the forum. Questions include:
1) What role will you play in maintaining and enhancing church and neighbor relations with respect to worship service parking as well as other relevant issues?
2) How will you work to lower the rates of crime and violence and establish a sense of safety and stability, throughout Ward 5, particularly in the Trinidad/Ivy City community?
3) Considering the challenges of previous council leadership, please offer examples by which you plan to demonstrate to the electorate your level of ethics, standards, and accountability. How will you help to restore the confidence of the people of Ward 5 in council leadership?
4) What is your vision for addressing the specific social, medical, and economic needs of seniors in Ward 5?
5) According to [the Mayor’s office] Ward 5 is the third highest in unemployment at 13.7% topped only by Ward 6 with 16.7% and Ward 8 with 24.8%. What initiatives will you implement to help create employment opportunities for Ward 5 Residents?
The Ward 5 seat was vacated in January when former D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. resigned as part of a guilty plea in federal court. Thomas admitted to stealing $353,000 from city grants funds meant for kids and spending it on himself.
