In less than one week, on Tuesday, September 12, residents of the District of Columbia will go to the polls and elect a new Mayor, Chair of the City Council, At-Large Councilmember and Councilmembers for Wards 1, 3, 5 and 6. I would first like to give kudos to all those candidates who ran for these offices. Running for office on ward-wide or citywide basis is not easy. It requires and enormous commitment of time and energy. Additionally, you expose yourself to public scrutiny and more than likely will have to endure insults to your personal/professional character. However, the rewards are worth every minute. Even if you do not win, you learn an enormous amount about the Ward and the City in which we live.

As the current Ward 2 Councilmember, I have run for the City Council seat successfully five times - in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. The 1991 election was a "special election" to fill the remaining term of John Wilson, who was elected Chair of the DC Council. I had 16 opponents and won by less than 300 votes. It was quite an experience. The other four Ward elections were not as competitive, but I took them all very serious.

Wanting more responsibility, I ran for Mayor in 1998. During the summer of that year, Tony Williams, Harold Brazil, Kevin Chavous and I debated 123 times in every Ward and neighborhood throughout the City. I remember the exciting times and a few low points. Unfortunately, I experienced the same frustrations with the news media that today's candidates face - one candidate always seemed to catch a break.

Regardless of the media, the campaign trail was always a great experience. I remember getting up early and going home late and, spending countless hours going door-to-door meeting people. But the best feeling is at the end of the race, election night. I remember what it felt like to lose, but luckily, I have many more winning memories. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

To all the readers of this newspaper, please go to your voting precinct and vote. You have heard all the sales pitches and by now should have a feel for the candidates. The local papers and, the Washington Post, have made their endorsements. Now it is up to you to participate and choose.

And, to all of you who have chosen to run for office, I leave you with the words of one of our great Presidents, Teddy Roosevelt.

"It is not the critic who counts, nor the person who points out how the strong stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. Credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust, sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again, who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, if they fail, at least failed while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Jack

About Ward 2