Gunning for the Churches

While most of the political attention these days is focused on the race for the White House, it's easy to forget there's a big primary on September 9th in D.C. Because the District is dominated by registered Democrats, the primary is always the real race.

Judging by the comments from readers of this column, there's a thirst for knowledge when it comes to D.C. politics, or at least a thirst for ammunition to blast the District with.

Since WTOP likes to give the people what they want, here are some highlights from conversations I've had with some of the candidates who will be on the September 9th ballot.

WARD 8

Sandra Seegars is probably second only to Marion Barry when it comes to name recognition in Anacostia. The former Taxi Cab Commissioner is running against Barry, and while she doesn't have a realistic chance of winning, she has a lot to say.

Seegars has raised enough money to print up some bumper stickers. They read: "No 1 Beer. No (Marion) Barry." Three of them are on her car. Seegars is upset with Barry's support of legislation banning the sale of single beers in Ward 8. Which explains why so many liquor stores have contributed to her campaign. What the liquor store owners probably don't know is that Seegars would like to replace them with gun stores.

"As soon as we get a gun dealer, I'm going to buy a gun." Seegars says. "We should get rid of some of these liquor stores and churches and put in gun shops."

WARD 7

Councilmember Yvette Alexander wants to win re-election, but she's not interested in politics for life. "I can honestly say being a councilmember is not a career for me, no, no." Alexander says she wants to go back into the private sector at some point, and perhaps work to bring tourism to the District.

WARD 4

Councilmember Muriel Bowser also wants to win re-election, but she's happy to stay in City Hall as long as she can. "I love it," she says of being a councilmember. "It's exactly what I thought it would be. This is the exact right time for me. I'll do it as long as the residents will have me."

Bowser has nearly a quarter of a million bucks in her campaign war chest and no strong opposition. So it looks like she'll be around a while.

But one person who is running against Bowser is Paul Montague, who is known in his neighborhood for several things, including his yard signs, and being kicked out of his Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

Montague lives on Blair Road, where he has erected two 4 by 8 foot signs that decry corruption in the District government and lists the names of several District officials, including Bowser's. Another large (and most likely illegal for lack of a permit) sign tells the story of murder and kidnapping that he says Police Chief Cathy Lanier was complicit in.

The 75 year old Vietnam veteran says "The police have been lying to black people since Home Rule started." He says "the police have been busting people and keeping the money."

WARD 2

The Northwest Ward that includes Shaw and Georgetown has a real race going on. Councilmember Jack Evans is still running strong after all these years, but his challenger, Cary Silverman, has attracted enough support to take 40 percent of the votes in the Ward 2 Dems straw poll.

Evans will debate Silverman tonight at the Phillips Collection, 21st and R Streets NW, at 7 PM. What's exciting about this debate is that it should be a rational discussion of real issues facing the city. And that's something the District desperately needs.

If you plan on voting in the September 9th primary, you need to be registered. The deadline for that is Monday, August 11th.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All rights reserved.)