Carlene Reid wants to serve the residents of Ward 8 as its representative on the D.C. State Board of Education and makes it clear she doesn’t want to be a career politician.
“I have looked at the history of the Ward 8 board of education seat,” Reid said. “It seems to be a springboard to other political positions and that’s not what I am about. I don’t have any other aspirations politically. I just want Ward 8 schools to be the best that they can be and for the students to get the best education possible.”
Reid indirectly refers to Council member Trayon White (D-Ward 8), who served on the D.C. State Board of Education from 2012 to 2014, and current Ward 8 board representative Markus Batchelor, currently running for an at-large council seat.
Reid said not having further political aspirations will sharpen her focus on advocating for the ward’s schools. She said that as a member of the board, she will urge her colleagues, members of the D.C. Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) to put more money and resources into Ward 8 schools.
“Equal funding from the District government will not do for our schools,” she said. “What we need is equity. As a result, on the board I will work to bring grants and technical assistance to our schools, staff, teachers and students that are needed.”
Her campaign slogan, “Let’s Reid: An Educator for SBOE,” reflects her passion in education, she said. She has an education-focused academic background with a bachelor’s of arts degree in communicative sciences and disorders with honors from Hampton University, a master’s of science degree in speech-language pathology from Florida State University and a doctorate in education leadership and management from Drexel University.
Reid said that if elected, she will put her academic accomplishments and her 15 years in the education field to work for Ward 8 residents through community conversations in which residents will discuss what occurs at individual schools and actively reaching out to working parents to ensure their voice will be heard in the education process.
Norton Again Seeks Reelection
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) has represented the District in the U.S. Congress since 1991 and wants voters to reelect her for another two-year term.
The delegate made it clear to supporters at her campaign kickoff at The Eleanor DC in Northeast on Jan. 11 that her work on Capitol Hill wasn’t finished. Jacqueline Pelt, who coordinates the Citizens for Norton organization, told The Informer the delegate talked about the possibility of H.R. 51 — her bill making the District the 51st state-passing in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as mentioning her seniority in the House and chairing the Highways and Transit subcommittee, the largest panel of its type in the chamber.
Pelt said Norton also mentioned being ranked the “most effective House Democrat” in the Republican-led 116th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking.
Since her first election, Norton hasn’t been seriously threatened for reelection.
Dave Chappelle Endorses Yang for President
District native and internationally-known comedian Dave Chappelle announced on Jan. 14 his support of Democratic presidential candidate Andrew M. Yang.
“I’m Yang Gang,” Chappelle said in a release sent out by the Yang campaign.
Yang said he welcomes Chappelle’s support.
“David is one of the most important voices in our country today and I’m thrilled he has thrown his support behind this campaign,” Yang said. “He and I share similar concerns about the future and hopes for what it could be. We are also parents who see the world that we are leaving to our kids and believe they deserve better.”
