To know Marion Barry, Jr., is to understand his stalwart assertion to public service. Marion Barry, Jr., has dedicated 40 years of his life to public service living by the motto of “always fighting for the people”. He is one of America’s most accomplished public officials living today. He is directly responsible for the success of more African American Millionaires than any other person in the country. He served an unprecedented 16 years as Mayor of the District of Columbia taking the once sleepy southern migration hub to a major metropolitan city. Fighting for justice, freedom, equality and jobs has always been at the forefront for Mr. Barry. It continues to be as significant today, as a District of Columbia City Councilmember from Ward 8, than it was as his tenure as Mayor.

In 1971, Barry was elected to serve on Washington, DC’s first school board. Upon Congress granting the District of Columbia the right to hold its own local elections, Barry won a seat on the DC City Council in 1974, becoming the highest vote getter, and was named chairman of the Finance Committee. Under his leadership as chair, he “helped put the city’s finances in order; pushed the executive to present accurate figures and budgets; offered trailblazing property tax legislation; established an equitable income tax system; and cut taxes for senior citizens.”  While serving as a member of the Council, Mr. Barry spearheaded the movement to require that all contracts considered by the District government for services, supplies and development include a mandatory 35% participation for minority owned companies. Barry was the catalyst for the expansion of the city’s Black middle class…..he insisted that professional positions in the District government be filled by minorities and that the city’s minority business community participate in District government contracts. His support of awarding the district’s cable franchise to the team led by Robert Johnson’s Black Entertainment Television enabled BET to grow and prosper.  Barry was reelected to the City Council in 1976.

After building a strong coalition of supporters amongst blacks, senior citizens, liberal whites, women, members of the gay community, arts and cultural community…..Barry became the second Mayor ever elected in DC in the year of 1978 and served as Mayor for three terms until 1990. His campaign for mayor pulled together the city as never before…..Barry supports formed a coalition that changed the landscape of elective politics in the District. He achieved a stunning come from behind victory, defeating incumbent Mayor Walter Washington and Council Chairman Sterling Tucker, to become the city’s second elected mayor. His first administration was a model of municipal governance. He attracted some of the best minds in the country to work in city administration, transportation, public works, planning, health care, housing, finance and economic development. In his first term as Mayor, Barry directed all of his Department heads to comply fully with the 35% goal of minority participation. As a result of his leadership, DC contracts increased from a mere 3% to 47%. Thus millions of dollars have been awarded to qualified African American and Latino businesses. This percentage was unmatched by anyone else in the country.  In a similar way, his support of the purchase of WOL-Radio by the team led by Dewey and Cathy Hughes enabled Radio One to grow and prosper. Don Peebles, developer and owner of hotels across the country, got his start under the tutelage of Mayor Marion Barry. While these business giants have a reach that can be measured nationally and a reputation recognized internationally, Barry enabled a score of local minority companies to flourish as well….Chartered Health, Urban Systems, Inc., Jones & Artist, DH Lloyd & Associates, Ft. Myers Construction, Faith Construction and countless others. He was and still is, an advocate for economic inclusion…..inclusion for African American…inclusion for women…inclusion for Hispanics, Asian and Pacific Islanders.  Read more...