SILVERMAN and EVANS Face Off in Foggy Bottom, Part 1: The Debate
On August 20th, the FBA hosted a debate between Democratic Party candidates – challenger Cary Silverman and incumbent Jack Evans — who are vying in the upcoming primary election for their party’s nomination to the Ward 2 Council seat. Folks in the know are well aware that a win in the party primary virtually guarantees a November victory.
Capacity audience for Ward 2 Democratic Candidate Debate.
The one-hour debate before a packed audience (close to 200 people) was moderated by Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist, Colby King, who reminded the crowd of his FB roots — he is an alum of both the Stevens and Francis Schools. At one point in the debate, he quipped to the candidates that he considered the West End Library – former site of the King family home – “sacred ground,” garnering much laughter from the crowd.
Joy Howell, FBA President, opened the Debate and thanked the candidates and Mr. King for their participation, recognizing the hard work and commitment it takes to run for elected office. The audience provided the numerous written questions that were posed for timed responses. As FBA Vice President Jacqueline Lemire, said, “it was an excellent turnout and all of it was the community asking relevant questions.”
The questions broke primarily into three key areas. Number one was Real Estate Development, including the Council’s use of emergency legislation in July 2007 to sell off three public properties to
a private developer without warning, the impact of GW’s unprecedented growth on the neighborhood, and the commitment to keeping and enhancing the Whitehurst.
The second area was District Finances and Debt with queries about the recent $21 million Summer Youth Program gaffe, and questionable returns on investment of public money. Also questioned were the $30 million District purchase of boxes at the baseball stadium, the disappointing convention center, and another multimillion dollar giveaway to the Verizon Center developers.
The third area considered Community Services and Quality of Life for residents. This included questions about library services, the future of the historic Stevens School, the readiness of the Francis School, and transparency from our elected officials as it pertains to accountability for their decisions made about our Foggy Bottom public assets.
Both candidates voiced distinct differences in their interpretation of the Ward 2 Council job and how they would approach it. Mr. Silverman aims to preserve and strengthen Ward 2 neighborhoods and small businesses, similar to efforts he has successfully facilitated in Logan Circle, Mount Vernon Square and Chinatown neighborhoods. Mr. Evans touted his 17 years of history on the Council, where he has been Chairperson of the powerful Finance and Revenue Committee since 1999, and his expediency in getting things done.
Silverman pointed out that other jurisdictions may have state, city and county representation to provide and supervise constituent services and government administration, but the District has only its City Council members to rely upon. As a result, Silverman took a pass on his firm’s partnership offer last year, planning to serve as a fulltime Ward 2 representative. He thinks community service,
better budget oversight and accountability are critical factors that demand full time attention.
Evans, “of counsel” at major law and lobbying firm Patton Boggs, emphasized that there is no law requiring City Council members to work full time and, as he pointed out in his opening statement, he has “two full time jobs and is a full time single father of three children.”
The questions and the hour flew by in a lively flash, ending with closing statements that again reflected the candidates’ contrasting views of what the Ward 2 Council job entails and how to do it. Tune in to next week’s edition of the FBN to hear what your neighbors’ thought and said about the debate. _FBN
