Ward 8 D.C. Councilman Marion Barry, who is running to become the Democratic Party nominee in the April 3 primary, tops my list of elected officials who should be shown the door. He’s the original misbehaving politician.
The legislature’s image problem may have begun when the public learned Barry hadn’t filed income tax returns for eight years. Soon after, taxpayers were told he used their money to provide a sole source contract to a paramour. Barry also failed to pay hundreds of dollars in parking fines.
But his most egregious offense is that he hasn’t served his constituents well during the last three years — despite telling the Examiner’s Alan Blinder during a recent interview “You can see concretely our efforts.”
Barry’s delusional.
There’s little evidence during this council period (No. 19) of a tangible and effective performance record. As of last week, there were 97 bills or resolutions with Barry’s name on them. Most were insignificant: property tax exemptions for nonprofits; ceremonial renamings of streets and buildings; and meaningless disapproval resolutions of contracts. His “Jobs for District Residents” may sound impressive, but would only require the executive to explain why nonresidents were hired. Like most of Barry proposals, the bill wasn’t even brought up for a vote.
Barry is all talk and no action.
During last week’s council hearing on D.C. Public Schools’ performance, he lamented the consequences of a poor system: “A lot of folks are locked up and in jail.”
Barry never mentioned, however, DCPS’ slide was most pronounced during his mayoral administration. In 1990, the nonprofit Parents United filed a lawsuit against him.
Barry became ineffective in the mid-1980s — unless, of course, we consider his efforts to ensure his survival. After his federal prison stint, he persuaded Ward 8 residents to return him to local politics in 1992, promising them he would end the years of neglect they had experienced. Ironically, he had been a catalyst for that neglect. He reneged on his promise, running in 1994 for mayor. In 1998, he decided not to run for re-election.
Soon after, in 2004, he hustled Ward 8 folks, again, to return to the council. He unseated incumbent Sandy Allen. Oddly, she’s managing Barry’s re-election campaign.
Fortunately, there are challengers, including Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners Darrell Gaston and Sandra Seegars, who has served the ward for decades. Natalie Williams is a recent transplant, who said she has experience working with the council, including Barry — I worry about her association with him. Jacque Patterson is a bright, exciting professional who offers hope for a new day east of the Anacostia River.
People often complain about the challenges facing Ward 8 ward: for example, the highest rate of unemployment and highest rate of illiteracy. But, the biggest obstacle to the area’s growth and development has been Barry.
If Ward 8 residents want to fully enter the 21st century and improve their community’s trajectory, it’s time they send Barry into permanent retirement.
Jonetta Rose Barras’s column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
