With less than a month before the Nov. 5 general election, write-in Ward 8 D.C. Council candidates are working hard to reach voters and sway them to place ballots filled with their names in a few short weeks.
Write-in candidates Olivia Henderson and Khadijah Long, as well as Ciprian Ivanof, who was serving as a surrogate for Republican candidate Nate Derenge, took to Temple of Praise Church in Southeast D.C. for an intimate candidate forum on Oct. 12 sponsored by Million Man Vote, Go-Go Vote and The Washington Informer.
“I want to see the masterpiece of Ward 8.” said Henderson, who spoke before 15 people, including six who wore her orange and white T-shirts.
Michael Brown, another write-in candidate, did not participate.
Ambrose Lane Jr., a Ward 7 resident and chairman of the DC Health Alliance Network, moderated the forum and Lindiwe Vilakazi, health writer at The Informer, served as the media panelist asking questions of the candidates and Ivanof.
Henderson, Long, Brown and Derenge are working to unseat Ward 8 Council member Trayon White (D), who was arrested in August and is currently embroiled in federal bribery charges and a Council investigation.
White secured the Democratic Party nomination and Derenge was declared the Republican nominee in the June primary and both will be on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Throughout the event, the candidates touted reasons they were best suited to represent Ward 8 on the council.
Henderson talked about her 14 years as an advisory neighborhood commissioner and her work to improve the quality of life in the ward.
“I am a 50-year resident of Ward 8,” said Henderson. “I’m right here, Ward 8. Ward 8 is hiring for the position. I am the best candidate for the job.”
As a longtime Ward 8 resident, Long told the crowd it was time for a shift in leadership.
“We need a change,” she declared.
When Lane asked why she didn’t run in the June primary for the council seat, Long said she was undergoing chemotherapy and could not get in the race.
Now on the road to recovery, Long discussed being a parent and foster parenthood. She also spoke about her deep love of the community.
“I am committed,” she said. “I will fight for you.”
Ivanof said Derenge thinks the primary problem Ward 8 residents face is the poor level of government services.
“Nate wants to change the bureaucracy to get what you want done, done,” he said.
Addressing Public Safety
The candidates and Ivanof said public safety is a top concern in Ward 8.
“We have a problem with the loitering law,” said Henderson. “People are standing and sitting in front of stores and apartment buildings, and nothing is being done about it.”
The longtime advisory neighborhood commissioner said “public safety is the key to the community being successful.” She pointed out the narrative Bowser administration officials often say, noting that crime is down in the District.
“Crime may be down in D.C. but not in Ward 8,” Henderson added. “We need a plan that is particular to Ward 8.”
While agreeing that public safety is a top concern, Ivanof said Derenge thinks the number of residents buying sugary drinks is too high and “the result is a lot of residents getting diabetes.”
Plus, Ivanof said the ward’s schools are not safe and students are afraid to attend them.
“You are not going to get a decent job if you have no schooling,” he said.
Long said the issues young people face in Ward 8 drive the public safety problem.
“Many of these youth come from dysfunctional families,” Long said. “It’s hard [to stay focused] when you don’t know what is happening with your dad, or even your mom.”
Lane said the forum was critical because of the unique circumstances facing the ward poliitcally, given White’s legal problems.
“We wanted to make sure that some of the voices of the candidates were heard,” he said. “The low turn out showed that some people have checked out the Ward 8 race. There were good questions and interesting answers from the candidates who may not be elected otherwise.”