That was the consensus of several leading mayoral candidates who recently outlined their proposals for reforming city government. Nine candidates responded to a survey from the Stand Up for Democracy Coalition about their ideas for improving citizen participation, increasing voter turnout, restoring local self-government and changing the structure of city government.

Most agreed that a spirit of democracy would not return until residents and Congress see real improvement in city services. Only then will apathy diminish and the congressional reins slacken, they said.

"Relieve residents of their cynicism, give them a responsive, responsible government, and we have a better opportunity to see their active and enthusiastic involvement in our meetings and hearings and in the electoral process," said At-large City Councilman Harold Brazil, one of nine Democratic candidates for mayor. "It is citizens’ vigorous participation, especially in the voting booth, and their faith in the process that will strengthen democracy in Washington, D.C."

Candidates offered a flurry of suggestions for accomplishing the daunting task of improving city government.

Among the candidates, only businessman Jeffrey Gildenhorn, a Democratic mayoral contender, and Statehood Party candidate John Gloster advocate outright structural changes in the city government. Gildenhorn proposes shrinking the 13-member D.C. City Council to a 5-member council with a chairman and four at-large members. Gloster, on the other hand, proposes expanding to a 34- to 40-member council that would act as a state legislature.

Most others said the current form of government is not the root of the problem.

Most of the candidates said any change in the city government’s structure should be decided by the people of the District, either by referendum, as suggested by Democratic candidate and current Ward 7 Councilman Kevin Chavous, or through legislation enacted by elected officials.

At-large Councilwoman Carol Schwartz, the Republican standard-bearer in the race for mayor, said she supports the concept of a strong city manager directly responsible to the mayor. Democratic mayoral hopeful Anthony Williams, the city’s former chief financial officer (CFO), said any new structure should retain the CFO position. Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans, a Democratic contender, advocates giving the mayor more control over public schools, including the power to hire and fire the superintendent and line-item veto power over the school budget.

To increase voter turnout, Evans suggests notifying all youngsters by mail when they turn 18 that they are eligible to vote. Gildenhorn suggests using students enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia to help with voter registration. Schwartz advocates measures such as proportional representation, preference voting and runoff elections to increase participation by voters affiliated with smaller political parties, thereby limiting the control of the majority Democratic Party. She also called for better maintenance of voter rolls by the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.

To increase accountability of elected officials, Gildenhorn advocates an independently elected attorney general to monitor waste, fraud and corruption.

Schwartz said the city government needs to do a better job of getting information to residents about proposed legislation and upcoming public hearings. She suggests televising more candidate forums and posting government activity on the Internet.

Candidates also agreed the District should have full voting rights in Congress. Most agreed that the District will command the respect of Congress only by proving it can manage its own affairs well. Several candidates mentioned the need to bring the city’s plight to the attention of the rest of the nation.

Brazil recalled the reaction of recent visitors from Alaska. "They had no ideas that our citizens are expected to pay federal income tax but have no vote in Congress," he said. "They were appalled at this injustice. I believe the rest of the country will respond in the same way."

But Evans said the city has to prove itself first.

"We must put the control board out of business and show we can manage the city well," he said. "Then and only then can we realistically demand full voting representation that all American citizens are entitled to."

Ultimately, amending the U.S. Constitution would be the best way to secure voting rights for D.C.’s currently non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives, Evans said, but he acknowledged the unlikelihood of this happening. In the meantime, Evans and Schwartz call for residents to support the federal lawsuit recently filed by the D.C. Corporation Counsel and the law firm of Covington & Burling for restoration of voting rights in Congress for officials elected in the District. The lawsuit charges that the current system is unconstitutional, in part because citizens moving into the District from other states lose voting representation in Congress.

Chavous, Gloster and Schwartz promised to lobby members of Congress to give voting rights to District representatives and to "meddle" less in District affairs. Schwartz claimed an extra advantage as a Republican in bending the ear of the Republican-controlled Congress.

Copyright 1998, The Common Denominator