When Muriel Bowser arrived on the D.C. Council in 2007, many believed she’d be a rubber stamp for her predecessor and political patron Adrian M. Fenty, who had been elected mayor. The skeptics were wrong. As Ward 4 representative, she has been an independent, scrappy and conscientious legislator.
Her opponents in the April 3 Democratic primary — Judi Jones, Renee Bowser, Calvin Gurley, Max Skolnik and Baruti Jahi — don’t agree. They have described the incumbent as a poor leader, out of touch with certain sections of the ward, which stretches from Riggs Park in Northeast to Chevy Chase in Northwest. They have slammed her for allowing Walmart to locate in the ward; supporting legislation — the bill that taxes senior citizens’ retirements, for example — without understanding possible adverse impacts; failing to get some schools modernized; and ignoring small businesses.
Interestingly, Skolnik has managed to get on the ballot as a candidate in the first Ward 4 race in which he will cast a vote. Jones, Bowser, Gurley, Jahi have run against Bowser before; their dissatisfaction isn’t new.
“Various factors that weren’t in play [before] are in play this time around,” Jahi told me, citing the 2010 defeat of Fenty as indication his moment has arrived.
I’m a huge Jahi fan. But, he’s wrong. A December 2011 Clarus Research Group poll found in a hypothetical match-up between Fenty and Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Fenty would win (48 percent to 33 percent). That kind of buyer’s remorse bodes well for Bowser — not for untested political aspirants.
She has run an aggressive retail campaign. She has answered challengers forthrightly: Walmart is a “matter of right development” built on private land; the government couldn’t halt construction. There were unintended consequences with the senior retirement tax bill that were quickly remedied. She has battled the executive to ensure Ward 4 schools are given priority on the modernization list. As for selective representation: “That’s patently false. I have represented all neighborhoods with the same energy and vigor,” she said. “We’re getting results all across the ward.”
Bowser has helped facilitate the opening of 40 small businesses; transformation of two libraries; renovation of recreation facilities; and construction of affordable housing. She secured $186 million for modernization of Coolidge and Roosevelt high schools. In this council period, her name is on 102 bills and resolutions, including legislation to create a business enterprise fund, prevent illegal foreclosures and provide tax incentives for seniors. She also pushed through comprehensive ethics reform legislation.
Jahi and other opponents have portrayed her as weak on ethics because the council-approved legislation didn’t include a ban on corporate contributions.
“We are going to move comprehensive campaign finance reform,” she said. “[But] when I go out, people are not talking about corporate contributions. They want to know whether their trash is getting picked up and whether the ward is moving forward.
“I think [Ward 4] is prospering,” she added.
No question about that or this: Bowser is one of the best District legislators. She is the right choice on April 3.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
