Clark Ray, candidate for DC City Council, At-Large, and former Reserve Officer with the DC Metropolitan Police Department, made the following statement today in response to the tragic mass shooting last night in Southeast: “Having spent many days and nights over many years in SE, this tragedy strikes at neighborhoods and people close to my heart.

“Crime will be a key issue across DC this year, and only one candidate stands out for his ability to ignore this: Phil Mendelson. He recently wrote to concerned residents that ‘violence in Shaw is not a legislative problem.’ He was forced to back peddle, but crime doesn’t back peddle. You have to chase it, and win. Phil has tripped up in that chase for years.

“Mendelson opposed gang provisions in the last Omnibus Crime Bill, instead of working with community leaders and law enforcement to craft a solution that deals with gang violence while ensuring innocent persons aren’t targeted.

“In that same Council debate, Phil questioned the need for stricter pretrial detention guidelines. He actually said: ‘It’s not clear how real that revolving door is.’ That statement betrays a lack of understanding of the recidivism that churns dangerous criminals back onto our streets.

“No wonder The Washington Post has editorialized that Phil’s chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee was ‘indecisive’ and ‘timid.’

“Gangs are not timid, nor indecisive, nor do they back peddle. Violence in DC is a community and legislative problem, the revolving door is real, and DC can implement gang provisions that are both tough and fair, as other cities have done.

“While murders may be down in DC, last night’s shootings remind us that violence still shatters communities and families.”

Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, Mendelson

Speaking to a group of supporters this morning Ray stated, “It appears that my opponent is thinking about running for a different office. It doesn’t surprise me that after twelve years on the Council and nearly 20 in the Wilson building he is bored with his job. I am in this race to win as I would consider it a privilege to serve D.C. residents as their At-Large Councilmember. I believe that I can bring new ideas and a national vision of what our city can be to my work on the Council.”

Ray went on to say, “The people of the District deserve better than they are getting now. My opponent has voted against school reform and has stated crime is not a legislative issue. Whether he is in this race or not these are the issues I am running on and will serve to unite us, not divide us. We deserve better.”

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Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, Phil Mendelson

Clark Ray, candidate for D.C. Council At-Large and a former Reserve Police Officer, condemned the police actions that led to Lieutenant Dan Choi and former Captain James Pietrangelo being held in jail overnight.  Choi and Pietrangelo both served honorably in the U.S. Army but have become victims of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  The two men were part of a rally to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell when they handcuffed themselves to the outside of the White House fence in protest, were subsequently arrested, and were forced to remain in jail overnight rather than be released on bail.

Ray stated, “Lieutenant Choi and Captain Pietrangelo committed an act of civil disobedience today in reaction to a law that has ended the military careers of more than 13,000 personnel, depriving every branch of needed interpreters, pilots, medical personnel, and intelligence officers—a scourge on our military that deprives our fellow citizens of their basic human rights and makes America less safe and less free.”  Ray continued, “It should be obvious that both men will willingly appear in court and should not be forced to spend a night in jail for their principled, non-violent act of protest.  At times like these, we should be reminded of Dr. King’s warning to be wary of those more devoted to order than to justice.”

Tags: Clark Ray, Dan Choi, DC Council At-Large Candidate, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, James Pietrangelo

Clark Ray today called on the Mayor, the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Board of Trade to capitalize on the Virginia Attorney General’s statement–now supported by the Governor–that Universities in the Commonwealth must remove equal protection clauses in their non-discrimation statements. We cannot stand by silently while equal rights protections take a step backward in Virginia.
 
“I ask the Council of the District of Columbia to immediately pass a resolution condeming the action in Virginia, and calling on the Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Board of Trade to do so as well,” Ray said. “The Council should resolve that it will approach all businesses and major not-for-profit institutions who do work both in the District and Virginia to condemn these actions and resolve to take a stand on this issue, reject moving to Virginia, and instead to locate in the District of Columbia.”
 
“Equality is good business.  As a Councilmember, I will take every opportunity to further entice businesses and institutions to locate their operations in the District of Columbia, a leading city in affording equality to their employees.”

Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, Equal Rights, Supporting Economic Development

As the the first same-sex marriages took place in the District of Columbia, Clark Ray stated,  “I congratulate those couples who have entered into committed civil marriages today and those who will do so in the future.  We are all fortunate to live in a progressive city — one in which individual rights are both respected and protected and all people are treated equally.”

Tags: Candidate, Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, Marriage Equality