Politics & Government

Education, Parking and Zoning Dominate Georgetown Candidate Forum

Four of the seven candidates for the At-large seat on the District Council attended a forum in Georgetown Monday.

The race for the At-large seat on the District Council brought out four of the then seven candidates to Georgetown Monday to explain their (at times quite nuanced) differences on hot issues like parking, zoning and education.

The special election April 23 will fill the At-large seat vacated by Phil Mendelson when he became the Council Chairman in November. Anita Bonds was selected in the interim to the position in December by the DC Democratic State Committee, of which she was the chairwoman at the time.

Bonds was one of three candidates who did not attend the Georgetown Business Association's candidate forum Monday. Also missing were Elissa Silverman (D) and Michael Brown (D). Brown announced Tuesday night that he would be dropping out of the race and would not be backing any of the six other candidates.

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In attendance were Matthew Frumin (D), Patrick Mara (R), Perry Redd (G) and Paul Zukerberg (D).

Education: Retaining Bright Students

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Frumin said while he supports schools like Bannekar High School and McKinley Technology High School that target high-performing students, his kids benefited from attending a school with other students from around the city.

"I think our highest-performing kids, our brightest kids, do great in local schools when they are surrounded by kids who cut across the spectrum," Frumin said.

Mara said he is a big supporter of school choice to keep parents and students in DC schools.

He supports having options like the School With Out Walls and Bannekar, but thinks "they need to be given the attention they deserve," whether that's improved facilities or adding more options elsewhere in the city.

Redd said for him the key is supplemental programming, like an after school network that uses libraries, recreation centers and other facilities to give children options to continue learning after the traditional school day ends.

Zukerberg said he is an advocate for longer school days and longer school years. He was a founding parent at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, which opens at 7 a.m.  and closes at 6 p.m. and is open "year-round," he said. 

Early Childhood Education and Pre-K

Mara touched on an issue that many Georgetown and Glover Park parents are familiar with: waiting lists for pre-k programs at local schools.

"There are lots of people who are in-bounds who are on waiting lists for pre-k. And so this is a problem that we need to grapple with because if you move to a certain area and you expect a pre-k, you should have that pre-k," Mara said.

Frumin said he "fundamentally committed" to serving children, especially those with the greatest needs, as early as possible, but that test results so far have been disappointing.

He said on the Council he would use his oversight power to push for an explanation of which programs are working to improve efficacy.

Redd said he supports head start programs that help children at the highest risk.

Zukerberg took a slightly different approach talking about how early learning centers can be both a source of education for children as well as good jobs. He said he supports increasing salaries for workers at early child centers and making them into full-time rather than part-time positions.

Parking Minimums

A Tenleytown residential development was recently approved without meeting required parking minimums—there will be just one handicapped parking space and no other residential parking.

Frumin's Advisory Neighborhood Commission was involved in the approval, which hinged on there being parking in nearby private garages and that residents not be able to obtain a residential parking permit.

Frumin said he supports developments being built without meeting parking requirements, he does not support doing away with minimums.

The minimums offer a "mechanism" to "protect nearby neighbors," he explained.

Mara also supports retaining parking minimums, though he currently does not own a car and plans to take the bus to the DC Council if he's elected.

Both Redd and Zukerberg were opposed to removing parking minimums. Zukerberg called such a move a "give away to developers."

Vote for Me

Zukerberg: "I'm a candidate who is running for fairness to young people ... I'm just a regular person who thinks its time for a change."

Frumin: "I have a record of getting things done. I'm honest, I'm hard working, I come up with creative solutions, I listen and I get things done."

Mara: "I can go against the grain. I can buck a tide. I can be a watchdog like no other candidate in this race." Adding that he came in a close second in a previous election, but lost because the vote was split among reform-minded candidates, he said, "I am asking you not to split that similar reform-minded vote."

Redd: "I believe that citizens of this city should be treated fairly, equally and that those who are most vulnerable should be lifted up. You all have the capacity to do that, the question is, will you?"

Patch will continue to cover the candidates in the weeks leading up to the special election. Get email updates on election and other news from Georgetown Patch by signing up for newsletters here.


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