Keep Education Reform Moving Foward! Keep Sekou Biddle as our At -Large Councilmember on April 26!

[Anonymous]

Sekou's candidacy for At-Large DC Council has challenged the status quo from day one. Establishment candidate Vincent Orange publicly proclaimed in December that he had the Democratic Party's votes all locked up. Last night at the Ward 6 candidates' forum, Orange insisted that he was "robbed" of the appointment! From the beginning, Sekou has met with voters one-on-one and he has impressed them consistently with his command of the issues, his progressive values, his integrity -- and his outstanding ability to create consensus to gain approval for fundamental, practical solutions to our city's challenges.

Sekou beat Vincent Orange by first gaining support of the DC Young Democrats, then the Gay & Lesbian Caucus of the Democratic State Committee, and one elected member of the Party organization after another. After he had picked up steam from rank-and-file Democrats, he began securing support from elected members of the DC Council. Those councilmembers listened, watched and then they led.

Sekou and his wife, Cara, a pediatrician, live in Shepherd Park, where their two sons attend DC public schools. He is determined to improve our schools because he knows first hand the huge impact that the quality of our education system has on young people's futures -- and on the District of Columbia's future. He has 18 years of experience in public education, including his election in 2007 and 2008 to the Board of Education on a platform to reform our schools. Sekou knows that to produce results, one must persevere -- and forge consensus. He is an independent-minded, progressive leader who uniquely demonstrates the skills of a bridge-builder to produce real results. That's just what our city needs.

Organizations like DC for Democracy, Sierra Club, the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club and Local 25 Hotel Workers and newspapers like the Current have energetically put their reputations on the line in endorsing Sekou Biddle. They are confident in Sekou's resolve to reject business-as-usual and move this city forward.

[jsteele]

Sekou Biddle:

- hand-picked for interim Council position by Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown
- "robbed" Vincent Orange of interim position thanks to lobbying by Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown, Harry Thomas, and Marion Barry
- hired Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown's father, paying him thousands of dollars as a consultant.
- fired Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown's father after Marshall Brown said white people care more about dogs than people
- hired Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown's former campaign manager for his own campaign
- supports vouchers
- opposes vouchers
- supports income tax increase in some cases
- opposes income tax increases
- supports merging Roosevelt and Coolidge high schools
- opposes merging Roosevelt and Coolidge high schools
- endorsed by Mayor Vincent Gray
- challenged his own signature on Bryan Weaver's nominating petition

If you support the status quo in DC politics, vote for Sekou Biddle.

[Anonymous]

Who cares who Sekou is endorsed by? I know Mike Price his campaign manager and I knew him when he worked in Kwame's office as our at-large councilmember. Mike is a stand up guy who is a political campaign guru. Folks move around and work for different people.

- hand-picked for interim Council position by Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown--HE WAS NOT HAND PICKED. SEKOU DECIDED TO RUN AND IS THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THIS JOB RIGHT NOW
- "robbed" Vincent Orange of interim position thanks to lobbying by Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown, Harry Thomas, and Marion Barry--IT WAS FAIR AND SQUARE. SEKOU WAS NOT EXPECTING TO WIN. IN FACT ORANGE SAID HE HAD IT IN THE BAG AND VOTES LOCKED> DON"T BLAME BIDDLE BECAUSE THE PROCESS SUCKS> BIDDLE WANTS TO BE OUR COUNCILMEMBER AND WORKED HARD AND EARLY.
- hired Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown's father, paying him thousands of dollars as a consultant. MARSHALL WAS PAID 5K and THEN FIRED WHEN HE MADE INFLAMMATORY REMARKS
- fired Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown's father after Marshall Brown said white people care more about dogs than people--UM YES THAT WAS SMART
- hired Kwame "Fully Loaded" Brown's former campaign manager for his own campaign--WHO CARES. MIKE PRICE IS A POLICALLY SAVY PROFESSIONAL
- supports merging Roosevelt and Coolidge high schools--NOT TRUE--SUPPORTS CLOSING AND MERGING SCHOOLS IF NEEDED
- endorsed by Mayor Vincent Gray--SO WHAT? WHY IS THAT BAD. HE WAS ENDORSED BY CURRENT MAYOR BUT SEKOU WAS A FENTY SUPPORTER--TO ME THAT SAYS HE CAN BUILD BRIDGES AND WORK WITH EVERYONE WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED
- challenged his own signature on Bryan Weaver's nominating petition --WHO CARES. THAT IS HOW THE PROCESS IS SET UP. IN MOST PLACES THE BOEE HAS THE ROLE OF CHECKING EACH SIGNATURE

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
- challenged his own signature on Bryan Weaver's nominating petition --WHO CARES. THAT IS HOW THE PROCESS IS SET UP. IN MOST PLACES THE BOEE HAS THE ROLE OF CHECKING EACH SIGNATURE

Yes, challenging your own signature -- a challenge that if won would make your own candidacy ineligible -- wasting government resources on frivolous challenges maybe politics as usual. It's not surprising that a Biddle supporter would support politics as usual. If you want politics as usual, vote Biddle. If you don't think politics as usual is working for DC, vote for Bryan Weaver (my choice), Pat Mara, or Josh Lopez.

[Anonymous]

I was on the fence until I read about Perpetual Candiate Vincent Orange protesting at the Washington Post because some in the teachers union feel that the Post is too pro-school reform. Biddle wasn't my first choice, but he's pretty strong on reform, and this is shaping up to be a two-horse race. Of course, if Orange loses, he'll just keep all of his streetlamp signs up until he runs again in the next election.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I was on the fence until I read about Perpetual Candiate Vincent Orange protesting at the Washington Post because some in the teachers union feel that the Post is too pro-school reform. Biddle wasn't my first choice, but he's pretty strong on reform, and this is shaping up to be a two-horse race. Of course, if Orange loses, he'll just keep all of his streetlamp signs up until he runs again in the next election.

It's shaping up to be a three horse race. Yesterday, Weaver received the Washington City Paper's endorsement

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/40730/vote-bryan-weaver/

Today, he was endorsed by Greater Greater Washington:

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10166/vote-bryan-weaver-for-at-large-city-council/

Weaver has momentum among those most likely to vote in this election.

[jsteele]

Biddle should be able to please everyone with his educational stances given how often he is on both sides of the issue. Where does he stand on the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP -- the "voucher" program)?

He told GLAA that he would oppose it:

http://www.glaa.org/archive/2011/cqbiddle.shtml

Will you oppose both federal and local voucher programs that fund students in religious schools that are beyond the protections of the D.C. Human Rights Act?

Yes, However, I believe that the voucher program can be an effective tool for giving low-income students educational opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have had. Unlike Speak John Boehner, I don’t believe that vouchers should be used as a subsidy for religious institutions.

But, he told Greater Greater Washington that he supports the program:

http://odd.greatergreaterwashington.org/files/2011/educationresponses.pdf

House Republicans are trying to re-introduce the school voucher program known as the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. Do you support this program?

Yes. I believe that the voucher program can be an effective tool for giving low-income students educational opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have had. However, I do not support funding organizations that do not comply with the DC Human Rights Act.

So, he will oppose it but he supports it, or something.

At the Ward 4 Democrats forum, Biddle was very clear that he opposes the merger of Coolidge and Roosevelt High Schools. Yet, his own website says this at this very moment:

http://sekoubiddle.com/atlarge/2011/03/24/current-newspapers-endorse-sekou/

We were particularly impressed with his courageous suggestion that underenrolled city high schools such as Roosevelt and Coolidge might be combined…

So, Biddle "courageously" supports combining the schools when that position helps him with the Current Newspapers editor, but "courageously" denies the position when facing graduates of Coolidge and Roosevelt. That's some courage he displays there.

[Anonymous]

OP, you mentioned Biddle's election to the state Board of Ed. Can you elaborate on what it was he did/accomplished on the board?

[Anonymous]

This is some of what he has been doing as our Councilmember--in a short time Sekou has:


1. Councilmember Sekou Biddle established and Chairs the Special Committee on School Safety and Truancy to combat the issues that impact and often times impede students from obtaining a quality education. This committee has examined the current state of safety in the District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter Schools, including the examination of issues pertaining to school violence, truancy interventions and other supports, communication with law enforcement, bullying, gang prevention, and safe routes to and from school.

2. Councilmember Sekou Biddle introduced the "Sunshine Employable Skills Act of 2011." This legislation requires the Mayor to prepare a monthly report of the availability of District residents who are ready and available for employment and registered with the Department of Employment Services, Office of Unemployment Compensation and/or the Department of Human Services, Maintenance Administration, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. This tool will identify DC residents who are ready and available to work, it will link their job skill set, prior employment, compensation needs, and availability to any potential employer.

3. Councilmember Sekou Biddle introduced the “School Transit Subsidy Amendment Act of 2011.” This legislation would allow all DCPS/DCPCS students to ride for free on regular school days, for regular transportation, during peak and off-peak hours within the Metrobus and Metrorail Transit System within the District.

4. Councilmember Sekou Biddle introduced the “District of Columbia -Wide Truancy Zone Establishment Act of 2011.” This legislation would establish a voluntary partnership with the business community to combat truancy and put everyone on notice that we will no longer look the other way when we see students in our communities during school hours.
Below, See More of Sekou's Record as an At-Large Councilmember)

Legislation # Legislation Title Council Period Introduced/Sponsored
B19-0045 "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INCENTIVE AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Mbrown, Thomas, Biddle, Graham, Brown
B19-0081 "SUNSHINE EMPLOYABLE SKILLS ACT 2011". 19 Biddle, Mbrown, Brown
B19-0083 "ELECTRIC COMPANY EXTREME WEATHER OUTAGE REIMBURSEMENT AMENDMENT ACT 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0087 "HOMELESS SERVICES REFORM AMENDMENT ACT 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0116 "MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWABLE COST ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0117 "AIDS 2012 COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0118 "BREWERY MANUFACTURER’S TASTING PERMIT AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0134 "NUISANCE ABATEMENT SPECIAL PURPOSES REVENUE FUND AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0135 "AUTOMOBILE LEASE, PROCUREMENT AND DISPOSAL REFORM ACT OF 2011". 19 Evans, Biddle
B19-0137 "BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ENTERPRISE FUND ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0141 "CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Biddle, Thomas, Graham, Evans, Mbrown, Barry
B19-0142 "MARRIAGE OFFICIANT AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0143 "WORKPLACE WELLNESS ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0145 "WILLIAM O. LOCKRIDGE WAY DESIGNATION ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Intorduced
B19-0167 "INSURANCE CLAIMS CONSUMER PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0176 "SCHOOL TRANSIT SUBSIDY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Biddle
B19-0177 "LOW-PROFIT LIMITED COMPANY ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Biddle, Cheh
B19-0211 "SOUTH CAPITOL STREET TRAGEDY MEMORIAL ACT OF 2011". 19 Catania, Biddle, Wells, Brown
B19-0217 "RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROTECTION ACT OF 2011". 19 Mbrown, Wells, Biddle, Thomas, Barry, Cheh, Graham
B19-0220 "SCHOOL BUS ADVERTISING ACT OF 2011". 19 Alexander, Biddle, Mbrown, Thomas
B19-0221 "REGULATION OF TATTOO ARTISTS AND BODY-PIERCING ARTISTS ACT OF 2011". 19 Alexander, Barry, Biddle, Mbrown, Thomas, Mendelson, Bowser
B19-0224 "MEDICAID PROVIDER FRAUD PREVENTION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0227 "TAX REVISION COMMISSION REESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Introduced
B19-0229 "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ADULT LITERACY REPORTING ACT OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
B19-0230 "CREDITOR CALLING ACT OF 2011". 19 Barry, Bowser, MBrown, Graham, Biddle, Thomas, Alexander
B19-0249 "TRUANCY FREE ZONE ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2011" 19 Biddle
CER19-0003 "WILLIAM LOCKRIDGE POSTHUMOUS RECOGNITION RESOLUTION OF 2011". 19 Co-Introduced
CER19-0013 "JEFFERY LEE COUDRIET POSTHUMOUS RESOLUTION OF 2011". 19 Co-Introduced
PR19-0106 "CHARTER SCHOOL PARTICIPATION IN DCIAA APPROVAL RESOLUTION OF 2011". 19 Co-Sponsored
PR19-0125 "SENSE OF THE COUNCIL ON NAMING DR. DOROTHY I. HEIGHT FREEDOM PLAZA RESOLUTION OF 20114". 19 Co-Introduced

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you mentioned Biddle's election to the state Board of Ed. Can you elaborate on what it was he did/accomplished on the board?

Apparently Biddle's supporter was not able to identify a single accomplishment of his on the SBOE.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you mentioned Biddle's election to the state Board of Ed. Can you elaborate on what it was he did/accomplished on the board?

Apparently Biddle's supporter was not able to identify a single accomplishment of his on the SBOE.

Well, the above seems to be a campaign-issued copy/paste--a friend emailed me the same thing not an hour ago. However, I oppose Biddle in large part because I had a school policy concern that I brought to him as my SBOE ward rep last August, and he totally blew me off. I wish I knew what he was up to during that time--I'm still a tiny bit open to giving him the benefit of the doubt.

[Anonymous]

Well I do know that as a member of the State Board, Sekou Biddle worked with the administration to help secure $75 million from the Race to the Top Grant.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Well I do know that as a member of the State Board, Sekou Biddle worked with the administration to help secure $75 million from the Race to the Top Grant.

What specifically did Biddle do to help secure the funding?

[Anonymous]

Just curious, what is Biddle's stance on marriage equality?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, what is Biddle's stance on marriage equality?

Biddle is a strong supporter of marriage equality.