Survey Results

Page: 2010 DC City Council Candidate Questionnaire

1. Candidate Last Name:
	answered question	13
	skipped question	1
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		13

2. Candidate First Name
	answered question	13
	skipped question	1
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		13

3. Office Seeking
	answered question	13
	skipped question	1
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		13

4. Ward or At-Large
	answered question	9
	skipped question	5
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		9

5. Party
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Democrat		76.9%	10
Republican		7.7%	1
Statehood/Green		7.7%	1
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]		7.7%	1

6. Campaign Address:
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Committee Name: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
Street Address: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
City: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
State: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
Zip: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13

7. Candidate Contact Information:
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Phone: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
Fax: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
Email: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13

8. Treasurer Name & Address:
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Treasurer Name: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
Street Address: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
City: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
State: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13
Zip: [ShowReplies]		100.0%	13

9. Does your campaign accept PAC contributions?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		84.6%	11
No		15.4%	2

10. Restrictions on PAC contributions
	answered question	3
	skipped question	11
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		3

11. Previous Elected/Appointed Office
	answered question		8
	skipped question		6
		Response Percent	Response Count
1 [ShowReplies]		100.0%	8
2 [ShowReplies]		25.0%	2
3 [ShowReplies]		12.5%	1
4 [ShowReplies]		12.5%	1
5		0.0%	0
6		0.0%	0

12. Term of Previous Office
	answered question		8
	skipped question		6
		Response Percent	Response Count
1 [ShowReplies]		100.0%	8
2 [ShowReplies]		25.0%	2
3 [ShowReplies]		12.5%	1
4 [ShowReplies]		12.5%	1
5		0.0%	0
6		0.0%	0

13. Have you ever received the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO endorsement?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		46.2%	6
No		53.8%	7

14. When?
	answered question	6
	skipped question	8
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		6

15. Have you ever assisted a labor organization to achieve any of its goals?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		76.9%	10
No		23.1%	3

16. If yes, please explain:
	answered question	13
	skipped question	1
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		13

17. Please explain why you seek labor's endorsement?
	answered question	13
	skipped question	1
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		13

Page: 2010 DC City Council Candidate Questionnaire

18. Last year the minimum wage was increased by Congress after years of no increases. The D.C. minimum wage is $1 more than the federal minimum wage but only increases when the Congress takes action. Will you support increasing the D.C. minimum wage equal to the Cost of Living increase percentage if the Congress has not increased the minimum wage within a four year period?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		76.9%	10
No		23.1%	3
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			7

19. Do you believe that the D.C. City Council is an equal branch of government to the executive? If elected/re-elected to the City Council, what would you do to make sure that the City Council as an institution is respected by the Executive and the laws it passes are enforced?
	answered question	13
	skipped question	1
		Response Count
[ShowReplies]		13

20. Once a contract agreement has been reached between a union representing public employees and the city, do you pledge to fully fund those contracts and require the Mayor to send the contract to the City Council for approval within 30 days after the contract has been ratified by the union members?
	answered question		0
	skipped question		14
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		0.0%	0
No		0.0%	0

21. Matters dealing with education are in the Council's Committee of the Whole which includes all the Councilmembers. Some observers of the City Council have said, "while the idea was good at the time, there is a need to re-establish an Education Committee to focus more closely on education". Do you support re-establishing an Education Committee?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		69.2%	9
No		30.8%	4
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			7

22. Less than 1/3 of DC's unemployed actually receive unemployment compensation (UI) benefits. Part of this is due to an extremely short time (10 day) period to appeal benefit denials. The 10 days start when the denial is made, not when notice is received by the applicant. Will you support extending the current 10 day period for appeal to 15 days as in Maryland?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		100.0%	13
No		0.0%	0
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			3

23. Once a contract agreement has been reached between a union representing public employees and the city, do you pledge to fully fund those contracts and require the Mayor to send the contract to the City Council for approval within 30 days after the contract has been ratified by the union members?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		84.6%	11
No		15.4%	2
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			4

24. Over the last 3 and a half years the Council has routinely used the emergency procedure to pass legislation which only requires 9 votes. There are times when emergency legislation is necessary, however, under the emergency procedure there is no public hearing, committee markup and committee report. Emergency legislation, used in excess, sets the concept of open and transparent government on it's head. Will you support the Council adopting a "hard and fast" rule that defines what constitutes an emergency other than having 9 members of the Council voting that an emergency exists?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		84.6%	11
No		15.4%	2
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			8

25. Wal-Mart has a long history of paying poverty-level wages, not providing adequate health coverage to its employees, driving out small and medium-sized businesses, costing local taxpayers millions of dollars due to their sweetheart tax deals, creating environmental and traffic problems, driving down wages in the communities in which it locates, caring little for the safety of its workers, discriminating against women, breaking child labor laws, and buying most of its merchandise from China where workers are treated poorly. There is clear evidence that Wal-Mart does more harm than good in the communities in which it locates. Will you oppose Wal-Mart’s attempts to open stores in the District of Columbia?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		30.8%	4
No		23.1%	3
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]		46.2%	6

26. The District of Columbia has a long established practice of having a local minimum wage standard $1.00 above the federal minimum wage. Retail employers that have gross revenues of greater than $27 million can afford to pay their workers living wages of $11.50 an hour, which will help to support sustainable careers in the retail industry and to build a retail workforce in the District that can afford to buy the products it works hard to sell. Will you work to ensure that hard working District residents receive the good wages they deserve and support a bill establishing a minimum wage standard that would require large retail employers with revenues greater than $27 million to pay a living wage $11.50 an hour?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		69.2%	9
No		0.0%	0
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]		30.8%	4

Page: 2010 DC City Council Candidate Questionnaire

27. There are independent D.C. government agencies such as the Public Service Commission, The Office of the Tennant Advocate, Office of People's Counsel, the Public Employee Relations Board, UDC Board of Trustees and others that must function without political interference. The Mayor appoints the heads of these independent agencies and members of these Boards with the confirmation of the City Council. Will you support legislation that will allow the heads of these independent agencies and members of these independent boards to continue to serve past their terms until they are replaced by someone that is appointed and qualifies?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		92.3%	12
No		7.7%	1
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			3

28. The Freedom of Speech and the right to protest is a fundamental American right honored above all others. Will you oppose any attempt to limit these freedoms?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		76.9%	10
No		30.8%	4
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			6

29. The D.C. Council amended the D.C. School Personnel Reform Act and stripped non-union workers in D.C. Public Schools, the State Board of Education and the newly created Department of School Maintenance and Modernization of their right to defend themselves if they believed that they were unjustly fired from their job . This travesty resulted from making non-union workers, " employees without tenure" or "at will" employees. This law also prevents any of these "workers without tenure" from ever being able to join a union. If elected/re-elected will you support legislation giving these workers the right to join a union?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		76.9%	10
No		23.1%	3
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			4

Page: 2010 DC City Council Candidate Questionnaire

30. In the wake of the passage of the Health Care Reform Act, many D.C. residents will still go without health insurance. Do you support a city-guaranteed universal health care initiative for the District of Columbia?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		100.0%	13
No		0.0%	0
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			4

31. With the passing of the Health Care Reform Act there may companies that push their own employees into government assisted health care programs such as the D.C. Health Alliance because of their failure to provide adequate health insurance. Will you support ‘Health Care Disclosure’ legislation that requires annual reporting by employers on the number of their employees and/or their dependents using public health programs?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		92.3%	12
No		7.7%	1
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			3

Page: 2010 DC City Council Candidate Questionnaire

32. The City Council has passed a number of measures to insure that school modernization will be adequately funded over the next several years, there is no requirement to have the work done by contractors providing "good jobs" paying liviable wages and health insurance benefits. Will you support legislation requiring the Mayor to ensure that all work done on schools and libraries by any contractor provide good jobs?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		76.9%	10
No		23.1%	3
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			3

33. D.C. Charter Schools have one-third of D.C.'s public school students but have over 50% of the money regular public schools have to operate. Individual Charter Schools Boards have control of the money with oversight from a federal charter school board. Some years ago the city gave up local control by abolishing the D.C. Charter School Board. Will you support re-establishing a local charter school board appointed by the Mayor, City Council and State Board of Education with oversight authority and the ability to audit all D.C. Charter Schools annually?
	answered question		13
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		84.6%	11
No		30.8%	4
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			4

Page: 2010 DC City Council Candidate Questionnaire

34. Do you support making rent control permanent in the District of Columbia?
	answered question		12
	skipped question		2
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		100.0%	12
No		0.0%	0
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			2

35. Bill 18-0650 Trade Stimulus and Employment Act which is before the D.C. Council would require 1st source hiring, certified training, Project Labor Agreements (PLA's) and Labor Peace on any public assisted development project of $200,000 or more. Will you support and work for the passage of this investment protection, D.C. jobs bill before City Council takes it's 2010 summer break?
	answered question		11
	skipped question		3
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		72.7%	8
No		27.3%	3
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			5

Page: 2010 DC City Council Candidate Questionnaire

36. Transit is a vital part of moving workers around the District. WMATA has provided bus and rail transportation for the District of Columbia since the 1970s. Its routes cross the city and its workers are paid family sustaining wages and benefits. Which of the following do you favor?
	answered question		10
	skipped question		4
		Response Percent	Response Count
Doing what is necessary to improve the Metro System		90.0%	9
Expanding the privately run DC Circulator?		0.0%	0
Building a DC streetcar system as a privately run system that replaces Metrobus routes?		10.0%	1
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			4

37. Several years ago the D.C. City Council passed tax reform legislation that lowered the tax rate for the highest income residents in the city. With massive budget deficits which have resulted in major cuts to programs that serve working families, will you support restoring the old tax rate for the highest income residents of D.C.?
	answered question		7
	skipped question		7
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		85.7%	6
No		14.3%	1
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			6

38. MPD's participation in the Secure Communities program reverses DC's long-standing policy prohibiting collaboration with the Federal immigration authorities. The program operates pre-conviction by forwarding to ICE fingerprints of individuals arrested in the District regardless of whether charges are dropped, the arrest is deemed unlawful, or the person is innocent. Collaboration with ICE erodes public trust, hurts community policing, and leaves the door open for racial profiling and police abuse. Workers must trust in their government and live free from fear in order to organize and assert their rights. If the Mayor and Chief Lanier move forward with the Secure Communities program, will you support legislation prohibiting the implementation of the Secure Communities program in the Distrct of Columbia?
	answered question		9
	skipped question		5
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		100.0%	9
No		0.0%	0
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			5

39. In order to help strengthen working people’s interests, would you be willing to:
	answered question		10
	skipped question		4
		Response Percent	Response Count
Urge employers to respect their employees right to form a union by remaining neutral during a union organizing campaign?		90.0%	9
Urge employers to recognize a union voluntarily when the majority of their employees choose to form one?		70.0%	7
Write a letter to unorganized workers endorsing an organizing drive by a labor union?		40.0%	4
Write a letter to urge an employer to re-hire a worker fired because he/she supported the union during an organizing drive?		70.0%	7
Urge the public to utilize union produced products (like Cingular Wireless)?		40.0%	4
Walk a picket line in support of a labor union?		50.0%	5
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]		20.0%	2

40. For the measures above that you have agreed to support, would you be willing to:
	answered question		10
	skipped question		4
		Response Percent	Response Count
Co-sponsor legislation		90.0%	9
Work with our lobbyists to pass the bill		70.0%	7
Testify at a hearing in support of legislation		50.0%	5
Speak at public events in support of legislation		80.0%	8
Write a letter in support of legislation		80.0%	8
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]		10.0%	1