“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

June 19, 2010

Challenger Clark Ray, showing growing momentum, handily won the Ward 8 Democratic Straw Poll over longtime incumbent Phil Mendelson with a vote of 46 to 28.

“I want to thank all of my supporters,” Ray said, “We were told time and again it can’t be done, but we are proving this is a campaign on the move–to change how the Wilson Building responds to the families, small businesses, and neighborhoods which are calling out for change. This campaign is all about change and bringing it to the streets in every part of town.”

Ray is a former Director of Parks and Recreation, was a Constituent Services official under both mayors Williams and Fenty, served as a Reserve Police Officer, and was a high-ranking aide in the Clinton/Gore campaign and administration.

“I’ve built strong ties with neighborhoods across the city, building bridges across DC,” Ray said. “I’m honored to have Ward 8’s show of support, because Ward 8 knows I can and will bring people together to focus on the city’s needs.”

Ray’s campaign has placed over 1,000 signs in yards citywide, knocked on thousands of doors, and has received endorsements from key leaders, from Georgetown to Anacostia.

“I am so honored by the straw poll results of the Ward 8 Democrats,” Ray said. “They are leading this campaign’s way to victory across this city on Sept. 14th.”

Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, Phil Mendelson, Ward 8, Ward 8 DEMS, Ward 8 Straw Poll

Challenger Clark Ray has out raised incumbent City Councilmember Phil Mendelson for the third straight filing period. Ray reported raising over $34,000 for this period, while the incumbent raised approximately $28,000. The reports also show that while Mendelson’s donations came primarily from special interests and long-time insiders, Ray garnered broad support, including from people new to DC politics.

“When I walk door to door every day, I find so many voters who don’t know the incumbent — have never met him or seen him,” Ray said. “They are responding to my message of working with neighborhoods to make real, transparent progress, my experience and track record of making DC government work, and the energy and new ideas I bring to a Council that sorely needs them. Voters are tired of political talk from the Wilson Building and constant bickering. We deserve better.”

Yesterday, At-Large candidate Kelvin Robinson stated he would drop out of the race. Ray noted, “Voters in the city now have a clear choice: the same old ideas and pointless in-fighting that have given us too little education, too much crime and not enough progress, or my vision of a new, energized Council that will work on behalf of the residents of DC. The donations to my campaign, the spread of Clark Ray yard signs in all wards across the city, and the countless volunteers who walk door to door with me every week all show that this campaign is headed to victory on Sept. 14th. This city is headed in a new and better direction.”

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

Washington, DC — Clark Ray, candidate for DC City Council, At-Large, made the following statement in reaction to news that Kelvin Robinson intended to drop his bid for DC City Council, At-Large. Robinson, former Chief of Staff to former Mayor Anthony Williams, announced on WPFW’s “DC Politics Hour with Jonetta Rose Barras” that he intended to shift his candidacy to a challenge against Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells.

“Kelvin Robinson’s withdrawal from the At-Large contest sharpens the choice for this seat between myself and the longtime incumbent, Phil Mendelson.

“As we’ve knocked on thousands of doors, attended hundreds of community events, and gained momentum daily, we’ve articulated a choice that’s now clearer than ever: between new ideas and action, or a longtime incumbent who prides himself on the label ‘nitpicker.’

“DC’s challenges deserve more than the politics of squabbling, or being kicked to the curb by nitpicking. I’ll be bringing the contrast between yesterday and the future, between new ideas and stale obstructionism, to more residents of DC.”

Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, DC Politics Hour, Jonetta Rose Barras, Kelvin Robinson, Mayor Anthony Williams, Phil Mendelson, Tommy Wells, Ward 6, WPFW

WASHINGTON, DC — Clark Ray, candidate for DC City Council, At-Large, today began urging his supporters and all DC residents to contact their Councilmember to support passage of the “Healthy Schools Act.”

“Passage of the Healthy Schools Act is one solid step in response to the public health crisis we face in DC today,” Ray said.

“DC faces alarming rates of obesity, diabetes and other serious conditions. As former Director of Parks and Recreation, I know the importance of physical fitness and nutrition in building better lives for our residents.

“It is important that this Act apply to students at both traditional public schools, and also at charter schools. DC has a stewardship mandate to all of these students: good nutrition and information that will allow them to live a healthy, long and productive life.

“I ask every person in the District to call and email your Councilmember today and tell them you want them to pass the Healthy Schools Act, and to make the Act applicable to all children in schools receiving public funds.

“In addition to having comprehensive age-appropriate health education for all students, we know that our children are better learners when we help them improve their eating and exercise habits. They also provide a positive influence within their families.”

To reach your Councilmembers, please send an email

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Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, Healthy Schools Act

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

This weekend our campaign comes to Ward 8.  Please join us and walk with Clark and friends.  Come on Saturday or Sunday or both days!   We will meet up at 10 a.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Big Chair Coffee in Anacostia.   Details below:

Date: Saturday, January 30
Time: 10 a.m.
Meeting Place: Big Chair Coffee, 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, 20020

Date: Sunday, January 31
Time: 2 p.m.
Meeting Place: Big Chair Coffee, 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, 20020

Copyright The Washington Informer   http://tinyurl.com/ydjtkue

By Leah C. Taylor – WI Staff Writer

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Denise Rolark Barnes, co-founder of the Annual Martin Luther King Peace Walk, reminds participants of the history of the Southeast corridor named in Dr. King’s honor and encourages them to reflect on the landmarks along the nearly two mile walk including the future home of Homeland Security on the campus of St. Elizabeth Hospital. Photo by Maurice G. Fitzgerald Hundreds showed up to walk nearly two miles in honor of a man who preached peace and non-violence, but who also believed in civil disobedience. Four hundred people gathered on a church lot in historic Anacostia in Southeast and set-out on a two-mile trek through the streets to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during the Fourth Annual MLK Peace Walk, Mon., Jan. 18. This year’s walk attracted one of the largest crowds since its inception three years ago, organizers said. King represents peace. “One murder, one violent crime is too many. We as a community need to work to provide more opportunities for young people to get out of the conditions that many of them find themselves,” said Clark Ray. Ray, 46, the former director of the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation and an Arkansas native, joined in the Peace Walk to pay homage to King’s legacy and to show his support for the East of the River community. “Whether it’s education or workforce development, we need to show there are more options than the street life,” he said. Chinese drummers from the Chinatown Community Cultural Center in Northwest led the procession under sunny skies and on an unseasonably warm winter’s day. The spirited crowd carried banners and bullhorns up Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue from Bethlehem Baptist Church to Covenant Baptist Church on South Capitol Street. Passersby clapped, while residents and business owners along the corridor shouted words of encouragement to the marchers from second-and-third-story windows, store fronts, porches and sidewalk curbs. The first Peace Walk was held in 2007 after Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), officially changed the date of the District’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Parade from January to April. Organizers said that it was important to recognize King on the federally observed holiday. “This is really just about the walk — to recognize Dr. King on this day — on this street which was named in his honor,” said Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of the 45-year-old Washington Informer Newspaper, a mainstay in the Southeast community, and one of the event organizers, and co-founder of the Annual Peace Walk, along with Keith Silver and Yango Sawyer, local community activists. The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Led by Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and the late Shirley Chisholm (D-N.Y.), President Ronald W. Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. The federal holiday was officially observed by all 50 states in 2000. The rambunctious crowd, a hodgepodge of young and old — men, women and children from all ethnic backgrounds and parts of the city participated for different reasons. “Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the first street advocates who worked at the grassroots level,” said Calvin Woodland, Jr., chief of staff for Ward One Council member Jim Graham. “We have to continue this part of his legacy especially with so many issues to address in this community,” he said. Others paused for a moment to remember King’s vision. “The walk symbolizes that [Dr. King’s] dream is still alive,” said Antoniese Starks, a 29-year- old Southeast resident who works for Peaceoholics, a nonprofit organization based in Southeast. “We are still fighting for our rights, equality and peace in the community. This walk is important because it makes people aware and shows that there is still hope and, there are people who actually care,” she said. The crowd remained optimistic throughout the event, but everyday realities soon kicked in — the recent devastation in Haiti and the ongoing economic crisis that has resulted in an unprecedented loss of jobs, especially in the Black community – weighed heavily on the minds of some participants. “I don’t think too much has changed,” said Mike Whren, 52, a Southeast resident who was recently laid off from his job as a contractor. “We are still fighting for jobs and fighting to eat,” he said.

Tags: Clark Ray, DC Council At-Large, DC Council At-Large Candidate, MLK Peace Walk