Like any other major party candidate, Artee Milligan has campaign signs posted throughout the District and a Web site touting his platform. When he gets the opportunity, Milligan makes noise, slamming the D.C. government hierarchy for leaving low-income residents behind as it lures more wealth to downtown.
But as a virtually unknown Democrat battling in the crowded D.C. mayor’s race, Milligan, 50, doesn’t get the opportunity to broadcast his opinions often. He’s been invited to only a handful of forums, and is generally ignored by the media.
“What it says about the process is, it’s all about money,” Milligan said. “We are a city that doesn’t care at all about the little guy. It’s also poor people,because poor people don’t have a voice.”
Milligan is the executive director of the nonprofit Metropolitan/Delta Adult Literacy Council, working with educational groups and the private sector to provide educational and job training services. The Louisiana native, who moved to D.C. in 1994, is a former executive with Exxon Mobil and Bearing Point.
His campaign, short on funds, has two full-time staff, including himself, and seven volunteers.
Milligan’s platform starts with the premise that the current mayor and council have not addressed the most serious problems facing D.C.: a failing public school system, high dropout rate, rising youth crime, lack of health care, poverty and community development.
More on Artee Milligan
» Chairs the Voice of Upper Georgia Avenue
» Raised $26,000 as of June 10, including a $20,000 loan
» Obtained bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and received management training at UVA’s Darden School of Business
