Vincent Orange Pays Georgetown a Visit

Vincent Orange, candidate for the at-Large seat on the District Council, paid Georgetown a visit Tuesday during a fundraiser at . Between 30 and 40 people stopped by to meet the candidate and nosh. Georgetowner Hope Solomon was the driving force behind the event and was on hand in a Vincent Orange t-shirt showing her support.

Solomon said as a small business owner, she works at her family business , and a life-long D.C. resident she is backing Orange because she believes in his promise to be an "independent voice" on the Council. Solomon said she was frustrated that the District has not done more to remind residents of the April 26 election, so she took matters into her own hands and organized a fundraiser, bringing the campaign to Georgetown.

Orange chatted with ANC Commissioners, CAG members and neighbors at the small gathering Tuesday. Why should Georgetowners vote for him? Orange said he is "not inclined to raise taxes" and understands the hard work needed to scrub the budget and come up with monies owed to the District.

In his favor, Orange came out in opposition to the GU Campus plan, having attended the . After listening to both sides, he said he felt he had to agree with the community. Orange added that he understands their pain since he lives near Catholic University and has his own personal experiences with students in the community there.

Orange's communications director, Sean Metcalf, previously worked for Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans. He said Orange is fiscally conservative like Evans and has the skills and education to understand "how budgets work" and to do the "difficult" work of collecting on debts owed, rather than raising taxes. Orange served on the Council previously, during the reign of the control board, alongside Council members Jack Evans and David Catania.

ANC Commissioner Ed Solmon spoke to the group gathered at the event, thanking Orange for his "interest in Georgetown" and for his "support for the community and the integerity of the community."