The thing is, he is not just talking about education. An email from his campaign:

Our efforts to hold Councilmember Muriel Bowser accountable for her failed record on affordable housing are gaining momentum. The Washington City Paper wrote about our efforts last week, concurring with our assessment that Councilmember Bowser has yet to pass a single substantive piece of affordable housing legislation in 16 months as chair of the Council committee responsible for the issue.

And here’s the kicker: facing concerns that Councilmember Bowser is hiding her housing record, her campaign manager did the unthinkable and continued his refusal to comment.

It’s clear that Councilmember Bowser knows her flimsy record on housing won’t stand up to voter scrutiny. Since she’s dodging public questions, it’s up to us to get the word out. Contribute $10 today to help us spread the word about Councilmember Bowser’s empty record on housing.

http://www.davidcatania.com/donate

David Catania is the only candidate in this race who has produced results when it comes to affordable housing. He helped spearhead the District’s most significant affordable housing legislation in a generation and took the lead on numerous other initiatives - on issues ranging from housing for individuals with mental illness and HIV/AIDS to reducing property taxes.

The District deserves a leader with a record of achievement and a passion for results. Thank you for helping us make sure voters learn the truth about each candidate’s record.

All the best,

Ben Young
Catania for Mayor

Anonymous wrote:
It's Mayor Catania the moment he files. Get used to it.

He's focused on education, something black voters benefit from, unlike Fenty's bike lanes and dog parks.

He has inner-circle experience, but outsider status, which we love of our politicians.

He's got my vote and I'm a black woman who typically votes strictly along party and race lines. (Yep, I said it.)

Catania is the next DC Mayor.

+1 Another black woman here. I supported Bowser but I'm voting on education so if Cantania is going to make a difference I'll vote for him.

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only time will tell... An application only high-school in Ward - 7 that is to appease what demographic. Let's see the smart kids are all in Ward 7; who didn't know that *sarcasm* The same way Ward 7 is awaiting on their Walmart, might as well wait on the application only high-school. There's three high-schools in Ward 7 so do you turn one into an application only high-school or build another one?

The reference he's on fire...has so many comedic responses for that...He's flaming!!!

It is actually an application-only middle school -- the OP made a typo. It has been one of the most popular ideas to come out of the DME process. Yes, shockingly, there are smart kids in Ward 7. It is probably not a good electoral strategy for the Bowser crowd to run on Ward 7 kids being stupid and Catania being gay.

OP here, yes, MS, thank you for the correction.

This has been one of the revelations for me coming out of the DME process. I used to just assume (as many on DCUM seem to do) that kids and parents are the only thing that matters in a school, and teachers and programming don't matter much. This is the "SES makes the school" theory, and if you subscribe to it, then the corollary is that DC public schools are hopeless in the aggregate because there is too much poverty in the city and not enough educated engaged families to go around.

But I've been reading a lot of education research and the success stories of some of the charters that focus on inner-city demographics, and I am increasingly convinced that programming can make a meaningful difference. Don't mistake it, parental education and motivation still count for a ton.

But for example, application-only schools, dual language schools, IB program, all of this can make a difference east of the Anacostia river, and currently those wards have very little of that. Those programs, combined with the interventions for the "40 lowest performing", which include more instructional hours, I think it can all add up to make a difference, and Catania is really the only or the main DC politician working on these things.

Why doesn't that article mention Lafayette in there?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh I think she is wrong. Catania stands a huge chance of winning this election. Unless you are voting on special interests alone, David Catania is the far superior candidate!!

It's just crazy unlikely: he's not a democrat, he's white, he's gay. Bowser would have to lose her ability to speak to lose the election.

That might not work against her. There's not a lot of depth to what she has to say. I guess I agree with you that it's unlikely he can win, but I still gave him money and I will show to vote for him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's Mayor Catania the moment he files. Get used to it.

He's focused on education, something black voters benefit from, unlike Fenty's bike lanes and dog parks.

He has inner-circle experience, but outsider status, which we love of our politicians.

He's got my vote and I'm a black woman who typically votes strictly along party and race lines. (Yep, I said it.)

Catania is the next DC Mayor.

This. This. This!!!!! Another AA mom

Look, I think that bike paths and playgrounds have their place, although higher priorities should be schools and playgrounds. But the PP suggests an important point: Fenty had ideas but he did not spend time in our neighborhoods listening to DC residents and their concerns. Catania has spent 15 years doing just that. You may not agree with him on everything, but he listens, thinks and cares before he arrives at a position. I believe that Catania is the mayor our city needs to get to the next level.

You're selling Fenty's education record a bit short (as I think you'd agree - this part in bold sounds tongue in cheek), but I agree with your underlying point. Catania has been much more visible on issues that matter to Ward 7 and 8 voters, compared with both Fenty and Bowser, and actually, Gray, except that Gray lives there which always gave him the advantage. Catania cannot alter his race or sexual orientation, but he's really given those voters every other reason to vote for him, and hopefully, some will.

I attended one of the Anacostia DME meetings (the same substance as the ones at Dunbar and Coolidge). The ward 7 and 8 parents who spoke there were well-informed, passionate about their children's education, critical at the lack of progress to date, and eager for positive change. Maybe some of them might admit, privately, to voting along party and racial lines in the past. But I hope they will look past that this year. Granted, the people who show up for these kinds of meetings are always the most engaged. But I think maybe we generalize about those wards a little too much. They want the same thing that people in Ward 3 want: limitless opportunities for their kids.

Anonymous wrote:I think what will matter in this election is who can motivate the base to come out and vote. I'm not seeing Bowser as charasmatic, but that could change. Catania has a lot of energy, but he can be awfully arrogant. Fenty's problem was that he became not only arrogant with city workers but also with the voters. But I'm a single issue voter - education, and I will vote regardless of a candidate's personality. Not sure how many like-minded education-voters there are out there. There are so many people throughout this city that want good schools, whether WotP, EotP, or East of the River. People desperately want to get their kids into schools that are safe and provide for a quality learning environment. These people may not be the majority of all DC citizens, but they are highly motivated to vote. It'll be interesting. I don't think Bowser can sit on the fence and not commit to an educational program.

BTW Gray was going to beat Fenty one way or another. Fenty lost the election by his disenfranchising attitude. I voted for him the second time too, but it was only because I thought he would further propel the schools. Nevertheless, I understand fully why he lost and that's been a big draw-back on education reform.

I thought Fenty accomplished a lot, but emotionally he was still young and arrogant. Catania has grown and matured a lot in office. I agree that the election will be decided by getting out committed supporters. I believe that people voted for Bowswer in the primary because they were tired of Gray. Now he's a lame duck and Bowser is losing support by the week. Catania can win this contest, and thereby so will parents concerned with their kids' public school education!

That should be dog parks have their place, but higher priorities are our schools and playgrouunds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's Mayor Catania the moment he files. Get used to it.

He's focused on education, something black voters benefit from, unlike Fenty's bike lanes and dog parks.

He has inner-circle experience, but outsider status, which we love of our politicians.

He's got my vote and I'm a black woman who typically votes strictly along party and race lines. (Yep, I said it.)

Catania is the next DC Mayor.

This. This. This!!!!! Another AA mom

Look, I think that bike paths and playgrounds have their place, although higher priorities should be schools and playgrounds. But the PP suggests an important point: Fenty had ideas but he did not spend time in our neighborhoods listening to DC residents and their concerns. Catania has spent 15 years doing just that. You may not agree with him on everything, but he listens, thinks and cares before he arrives at a position. I believe that Catania is the mayor our city needs to get to the next level.

Anonymous wrote:Bowser figures she can cede Education and still win. She is probably right.

Bowser figures that she can smile, say little of substance and try not to offend. We don't know where she stands because she is cautious and because her record suggests that she is not one who has lots of ideas.

Please, easy on the bike lanes. Plenty of AA people use them too. Why get fat? Instead of dogs, have a kid. Send him or her to school, at a school in the District.

Anonymous wrote:Only time will tell... An application only high-school in Ward - 7 that is to appease what demographic. Let's see the smart kids are all in Ward 7; who didn't know that *sarcasm* The same way Ward 7 is awaiting on their Walmart, might as well wait on the application only high-school. There's three high-schools in Ward 7 so do you turn one into an application only high-school or build another one?

The reference he's on fire...has so many comedic responses for that...He's flaming!!!

It is actually an application-only middle school -- the OP made a typo. It has been one of the most popular ideas to come out of the DME process. Yes, shockingly, there are smart kids in Ward 7. It is probably not a good electoral strategy for the Bowser crowd to run on Ward 7 kids being stupid and Catania being gay.

Only time will tell... An application only high-school in Ward - 7 that is to appease what demographic. Let's see the smart kids are all in Ward 7; who didn't know that *sarcasm* The same way Ward 7 is awaiting on their Walmart, might as well wait on the application only high-school. There's three high-schools in Ward 7 so do you turn one into an application only high-school or build another one?

The reference he's on fire...has so many comedic responses for that...He's flaming!!!

Anonymous wrote:
It's Mayor Catania the moment he files. Get used to it.

He's focused on education, something black voters benefit from, unlike Fenty's bike lanes and dog parks.

He has inner-circle experience, but outsider status, which we love of our politicians.

He's got my vote and I'm a black woman who typically votes strictly along party and race lines. (Yep, I said it.)

Catania is the next DC Mayor.

This. This. This!!!!! Another AA mom

I'm pulling for Catania, but realistically he may not win given the points stated above.