The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund announced today its endorsement of Clark Ray in his campaign for City Council, At-Large.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund,” said Ray. “The Victory Fund’s candidate evaluation process was rigorous, and we’re proud to have made the grade.”

The Victory Fund is “committed to maximizing resources by supporting candidates who have solid campaign plans and the capacity to win,” according to the organization’s website. The Victory Fund rigorously evaluates candidates in making endorsements of openly gay and lesbian individuals for office at the local, state and federal levels. “Candidates go through a rigorous endorsement process, including in-depth interviews with candidates, staffers and community members,” the organization states. The Victory Fund’s list of qualified and endorsed candidates receive vital support, most notably promotion to its proven network of donors nationwide. The organization, created in 1991, enjoyed a nearly 70% win rate in the 2009 election cycle.

Ray said the Victory Fund endorsement comes at a critical moment as his campaign gears up for a final stretch to Primary Day, September 14.

“The Victory Fund endorsement comes just as we’re feeling great momentum: 10 new field workers hired, thousands of yard signs distributed, community leader endorsements from Anacostia to Georgetown, and increasing attention from observers citywide,” Ray said.

Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund

Clark Ray, Democratic Candidate for DC City Council At-Large, today called on the city to include transgender persons in an important health report.

“After years of waiting for an LGBT Health Report that is required by law from the city, I was amazed to find the report lacked any information on transgender persons,” Ray said. “It is imperative that the city reach out to our transgender residents in every way and stop this neglect of a community.”

City Council is holding a hearing today on the health report’s failure to include information on transgender health. Ray said the missing data must be gathered, and new task forces gathered to resolve an important gap in resident care and respect.

“The District includes a vibrant community of transgender residents, many with specific needs, who are entitled to all the available services and benefits granted to all our residents. We have too often seen tragic and hurtful missteps from city agencies, and we know that transgender persons are often more susceptible to violent crime and bias than even other members of the LGBT community.

“While information on transgender health is not appropriately abundant, there are pieces of information available today that could have been included in this report. And for the full picture, I’ll push for funding and research to get that data.

Ray said that, if elected, he would:

1. Push for funding of a needs assessment of DC’s transgender community;
2. Work for an immediate report on transgender health, to supplement the city’s lacking LGB report;
3. Assemble a task force to independently audit all survey questions and other tools currently used in preparing the city’s health report, in order to recommend transgender inclusion.
4. Seek to establish a new cooperative roundtable on transgender issues, with representatives from the community, social service fields, related academia, and others as needed, to review and track challenges across city agencies.

“When I am on the Council, I will focus on the needs of this community and will be looking to have someone from the transgender community officially advising us, so that there is a constant focus on the community’s needs. I will work to end the bias and neglect that is often faced by the transgender community.”

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Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, LGBT, LGBT State of the Health Report, transgender

Clark Ray, Democratic Candidate for DC City Council, At-Large, today thanked longtime incumbent Phil Mendelson for his campaign season flip flop on streetcars.

“I’ve supported streetcars for DC for years, and if Phil’s remarkably fast and highly convenient evolution on this issue helps, let’s take it,” said Ray.

Mendelson voted for a key council bill this week that could clear the path for streetcars, despite a very recent record of hostility to the measure’s goal. “Phil went from hostile, to docile, to supportive in just a few weeks,” said Ray. “That’s an express train, running through campaign land. But we need a Councilman in that seat who won’t jump on the Obstructionist Express once this campaign season is over.”

Just this May, streetcar supporters were actively sharing their alarm at longtime incumbent Mendelson’s obstruction to a variety of efforts that would keep streetcar plans on track:

Of greater concern, at both the committee hearing on May 13 and again before the full Council on May 19, Councilmember Phil Mendelson raised concerns about this vital streetcar funding. At the Public Works and Transportation Committee hearing, Mendelson voiced his concern that the H Street-Benning Road streetcar line has “no beginning” and “no end” after driving the route and seeing the tracks end at 3rd and H Street on the west and at 23rd and Benning Road on the east. He seemed unaware that DDOT recently presented its plans for connecting the streetcar line to Union Station and constructing a temporary turnaround at Benning Road and Oklahoma Avenue until funding becomes available to extend the line to the Benning Road Metrorail station. Mendelson also seemed unaware that the funds DDOT is requesting in the budget would enable the agency to do the very work that he observed needs to be completed in order to make the streetcar line functional. He also expressed concern about providing the requested streetcar funding before the legal issues associated with using overhead wires to power streetcars have been resolved (although Councilmember Tommy Wells is expected to introduce legislation soon to address this issue.) Mendelson repeated these concerns during the full Council’s discussions of the budget on May 19, and he called for further reducing the streetcar funding in the coming fiscal year. Link

Councilmember Tommy Wells even shared his exasperation with Mendelson in a direct message on Twitter:

Mendelson argues against streetcars on H St in mark up this eve. Decries correct process not followed. Anti overhead wire folks got to him. 7:48 PM May 13th via web

Wells’ irritation with his colleague seemed to remain as he prepared to introduce his legislation allowing streetcars to operate with wiring in some locations:

All CMs but one to co-introduce streetcar wire bill today. Tue Jun 01 2010 10:10:35 (EDT)

Mendelson was the solitary holdout on June 1, as the remainder of his colleagues co-authored the bill to allow overhead wires for the city’s planned use of a hybrid power system, which would rely upon wires during sections of streetcar routes.

Mendelson opposed steetcars again in mid June:

Phil Mendelson tries slowing streetcars again, fails again. CM Phil Mendelson put forth an amendment during the DC Council’s second reading of the Budget Support Act for 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 on behalf of the so-called Committee of 100 to attempt to affect plans for the streetcar line along H Street. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 12 to 1. Link

However, by this week, longtime incumbent Mendelson joined in voting to support overhead wires, clearing the way for streetcars on DC’s streets. In making the switch, Mendelson and some key streetcar opponents claimed the bill was suddenly acceptable, as it would carefully avoid placing wires in unappealing vistas, a goal streetcar planners and supporters alike had always advocated.

“I’m thankful Phil’s suddenly on board,” said Ray. “But I’d prefer a man of clear conviction, instead of someone who is just along for the ride. As a Councilmember I will be committed to seeing this project through to a successful conclusion.”

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Tags: DDOT, Phil Mendelson, Streetcars, Tommy Wells

Clark Ray, Democrat for Council-at-large today called on the Mayor and the City Council to immediately investigate the report in the DC Examiner about anti-gay pamphlets being distributed in the MPD’s Major Crash Unit.

Clark Ray said, “This is not the first time this has occurred and if the police are expected to protect all residents of the District equally and fairly we must root out homophobia in the Department.”

He went on to state, “As a former reserve officer in the MPD I know that there are many members of the force who are not homophobic and who are there to do their jobs and they view all people as equal. As long as there are any homophobic members of the police force we cannot stand by without taking action. I believe this kind of behavior should be dealt with immediately and strongly to send a message to both the members of the police force and the community. This kind of action fosters hate and spurs hate crimes and we cannot tolerate that in the District of Columbia.”

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Tags: Anti-Gay Pamphlets, Congress Heights, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, DC Examiner, Major Crash Unit, MPD

“Mendelson sits on the agency oversight committee, but has shortchanged youth and seniors.”

Washington, DC — Clark Ray, candidate for DC City Council, At-Large, today called on incumbent Phil Mendelson to explain what Ray calls a shirking of his responsibilities regarding the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).

Mendelson failed to participate in last week’s confirmation hearing of the latest nominee to lead DPR, Jesus Aguirre. Ray stated that “Jesus has a good resume and a background in education, just as I did, and would make a good Director at DPR. He understands that DPR is far more than just grass and pools. It is a vital programmatic agency serving children, youth and seniors.”

Ray went on to say, “Phil Mendelson sits on the oversight committee for DPR, but his record there has been one of inattention at best, and cynical ‘grudge voting’ at worst according to the Washington Post. Phil never attended a single oversight hearing while I served as Director of DPR, and he failed to show again at last week’s committee hearing for a new Director.” Ray added, “Clearly, attending hearings held by the committees on which he serves is too much trouble for the council member. The people of the District deserve better.”

Mendelson’s Treatment of Hartsock

With the release of a new bilingual piece of campaign literature, Ray has been reminding voters how Mendelson treated former DPR Acting Director Ximena Hartsock. Mendelson cast a controversial vote late last year against Hartsock. The Washington Post called the votes cast by Mendelson and his colleagues “grudge voting,” and reported at the time that “Mendelson (D-At Large) acknowledged the outpouring of support for her and then voted against her.”

In his campaign flyer, Ray tells voters, “I won’t sit by while prominent Latino/a persons are treated so viciously, and I won’t cast ‘grudge votes.’”

Hartsock recently referenced Mendelson’s vote in a statement to the Latino community when she declared her support for Ray. “Clark had the courage to stand with me when others wouldn’t,” said Hartsock. “That is why I am proud to stand with him in his race for Council. This election will be about choices. My friends, please give Clark the consideration that I wasn’t afforded.”

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Tags: DPR, Jesus Aguirre, Phil Mendelson, Ximena Hartsock