Jacque Patterson received a major boost last week in his campaign. Ward 8 Democratic Committee Chairwoman the Rev. R. Joyce Scott formally announced her personal endorsement of him, rallying residents to help unseat incumbent Marion Barry.
“[Barry’s] time has come and gone,” Scott told me. “We need new leadership. I don’t see any hope with him. I don’t see any future.”
Calling Patterson “wholesome and energetic,” Scott said, “He is not running because he needs a job but because he sincerely cares about the community.”
Some political observers have suggested neither Patterson nor any of the other challengers — Sandra Seegars, Natalie Williams and Darrell Gaston — can beat Barry, who was elected to the seat in 2004. Let’s hope they’re wrong. Barry often has hindered rather than fueled change in Ward 8.
Patterson has promised, however, to aggressively address concerns of small business owners. He has pledged to push for smart economic development; bring jobs and more training opportunities; and to enhance public education.
I endorsed Patterson’s campaign last month. Since then, he has won support of other media including the Washington Post and Washington City Paper. But he told me Scott’s endorsement was even more important.
“I want the people of Ward 8 to stand with me,” Patterson said, adding Scott’s influence already is being felt. “She has pulled a lot of folks together who are dedicated to working the polls for me.”
Meanwhile, things have heated up in Ward 7, where nonprofit executive Tom Brown hopes to win the seat currently held by Yvette Alexander. (The Rev. William Bennett II, Dorothy Douglas and Kevin B. Chavous also are candidates in the race.)
A one-term legislator, Alexander has drawn criticism for failing to instigate any new economic development projects and essentially standing on the sidelines as the ward was abused during the redistricting process.
Brown has been supported by myself, my colleague Harry Jaffe, and other media and community organizations. Recently, he won the endorsement of labor and the D.C. Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee.
“Tom Brown embodies the hope that the labor and business communities, odd couple that they are, can work together for the good of Ward 7 and all of DC,” said Joslyn Williams, president of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO.
Brown said that endorsement — a collaboration between labor and business — is indicative of one the prime goals of his career: “It’s bringing everyone together to come to the unselfish understanding that we can all win.” He said the Council and the Chamber’s PAC have promised to supply poll workers and more for the April 3 primary.
Patterson and Brown are peaking at the right time. Still, there are concerns that voter apathy, driven mostly by disgust with corruption and ethics issues facing some elected officials, might depress turnout more than expected.
If residents in Ward 7 and 8 are unhappy with the status quo, they should run — not walk — to the polls on April 3.
Jonetta Rose Barras’s column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
