Kenyan McDuffie raises $10,000 in 72 hours, reaches first funding goal

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Kenyan McDuffie, Candidate for the Ward 5 seat on the DC Council, set a goal of raising $10,000 in 72 hours. Three days later, on January 31, 2012, that fundraising goal was surpassed. To date, the campaign has raised over $16,000. “The response to our fundraising efforts highlights that Ward 5 is clamoring for positive change and a council member that will hold our government officials accountable,” says McDuffie. “I am prepared to answer the call by residents of Ward 5 and our citizens across the District of Columbia. Politics as usual will no longer go unaddressed.”

In an effort to restore faith and transparency in the District’s leadership, Kenyan McDuffie will not accept donations from multiple corporations owned by a single entity.

Throughout his career, McDuffie has developed a comprehensive understanding of the local and federal governmental process. His career in public service began by accepting an opportunity to work as an aide for Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District’s Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. More recently, McDuffie served as a policy advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, and assisted in the shaping of legislation that will ensure better public safety standards in the District of Columbia.

An experienced attorney and civil rights advocate, McDuffie is a proven community leader. His campaign, similar to his life’s work, is focused on restoring Ward 5’s faith in the District’s leadership. For more than a decade, Kenyan has dedicated himself to improving the lives of Ward 5 residents and the collective life of the District of Columbia.

Kenyan McDuffie Calls for Increased Oversight for City Contracts

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The recent developments involving the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and $5.5 million to renovate vacant buildings, including one in the Trinidad neighborhood, underscores Ward 5 DC Council Candidate Kenyan McDuffie’s message of increased oversight for city contracts and the procurement process.

McDuffie applauds Mayor Gray, Councilmember Michael A. Brown and Councilmember Graham’s call for an investigation into DHCD and why city funds were used for a failed housing project. “Ward 5 and the District can no longer afford to distribute grants or contracts without holding recipients accountable,” states McDuffie. “It is time to strengthen internal agency controls and prevent a similar lack of oversight from causing such devastating consequences on our community.”

Throughout his career, McDuffie has developed a comprehensive understanding of local and federal governmental processes. His career in public service began by accepting an opportunity to work as an aide for Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District’s Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. More recently, McDuffie served as a legislative and policy advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, where he assisted in shaping legislation that will enhance public safety in the District of Columbia.

A former criminal prosecutor and experienced civil rights attorney, McDuffie is a proven community leader whose campaign is focused on restoring Ward 5 residents’ faith in their elected leadership. For more than a decade, Kenyan has dedicated himself to improving the lives of Ward 5 residents and the collective life of the Ward 5 community.

My Vision

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My campaign is about restoring your faith in leadership.  For far too long, our elected officials have spent their time in office launching public relations campaigns and investing our city’s resources in improving their tarnished images. As a result, we have suffered and lost numerous opportunities to create positive change through the legislative process. The consequences of our leaders cannot continue to hinder moving Ward 5 forward.

It is time for our families to be able to send their children to a middle school right here in the Ward. In addition, we meed the educational and professional opportunities that support our youth and workforce development beyond the classroom. Let’s prepare our residents as we bring economic development and new employment prospects to Ward 5.

You deserve a Council member who will promote substance over symbolism, and focus on the issues that are important to you.  You deserve leadership that is held accountable to our laws and abides by a set of principals we all expect for those who answer the honorable call to serve the District of Columbia. I pledge that if elected, your issues will once again resurface as the priority of our city’s legislative body.  In return, I ask for your support and together, we can reshape the future of Ward 5.

Kenyan McDuffie Enters Ward 5 Race

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Washington – On Wednesday, January 18, Ward 5’s Kenyan McDuffie officially filed with the D.C. Board of Elections to fill the Ward 5 Council seat vacated recently by Councilmember Harry Thomas. McDuffie is the first candidate to file, citing an urgency to restore the confidence of Ward 5 residents in the D.C. Council and its elected officials.

 

“Ward 5 is in a crisis and politics as usual is no longer going to cut it. Ward 5 needs to bring accountability back to the position,” McDuffie said. “What I would bring to the Wilson Building I have learned here in Ward 5 and they are lessons that have grounded me and made me the man I am today.”

 

McDuffie is a third-generation Washingtonian and native of Ward 5. Raised in a working-class family of six in the Stronghold/Edgewood neighborhood of Northeast, McDuffie learned early the importance of family, and the tenets of hard work, education, perseverance, and public service; each of which figure prominently into his election platform.

 

“These are values that my wife, Princess, and I, have committed to instilling in our two daughters, Jozi and Kesi, and ones that I believe are shared by the great residents of Ward 5.  It is simply time that we, as a Ward, get back to the business at hand, which is advocating for decent housing, livable wages, competitive and compassionate educational standards, and accountability in the D.C. Council to ensure their fruition,” McDuffie said.

 

Kenyan attended Woodrow Wilson High School, and shortly after graduating, he began working as a Letter Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Driven by an ambition to deepen the service he provided for his community, Kenyan later resigned and enrolled in college to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Community Development. He excelled academically, and eventually graduated Summa Cum Laude from Howard University.

After college, Kenyan began his career in public service by accepting an opportunity to work as an aide for Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District’s Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Assisting members of the community in their attempt to resolve concerns with federal agencies ultimately influenced Kenyan’s decision to earn his law degree from the University of Maryland. More recently, he served as a policy advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, and assisted in the shaping of legislation that will ensure better public safety standards in the District of Columbia.

Throughout his career, Kenyan has developed a comprehensive understanding of the local and federal governmental process. For more than a decade, he has dedicated his profession to improving the quality of life for others. He is a proven community leader whose campaign is committed to the success of Ward 5’s future.

Kenyan and his wife, Princess, reside in his childhood home on North Capitol Street with their daughters, Jozi and Kesi.

I Have Not Wavered

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I write in response to the recent Washington Blade article entitled, “D.C. Council candidate no longer opposes gay marriage law.” In the article, Delano Hunter offers a host of assertions to convince potential voters that he no longer advocates placing D.C.’s same-sex marriage law on the ballot in a voter referendum.

Undeniably, Mr. Hunter’s position on gay marriage today runs counter to the views he espoused on the campaign trail merely 15 months ago. This is a classic case of a candidate analyzing voter returns and making a calculated decision to appeal to a constituency that he previously had written off.

On the other hand, my record demonstrates my unwavering support for the LGBT community as well as my firm belief that tolerance and open-mindedness must pervade even where differing opinions collide.

I am a member of the Human Rights Campaign as well as a former civil rights trial attorney
with the United States Department of Justice. During law school, I served as an editor on the University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class as well as a law clerk in the Civil Rights Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Further, in May of 2010, I stood before the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club and stated, unequivocally, that I would not only have voted for marriage equality in the District of Columbia, I would have stood beside the other 10 councilmembers to co-introduce the bill.

Now is not the time for political expediency. At this critical juncture, Ward 5 needs a councilmember who will stand firm in the face of tough challenges—someone who will fight tirelessly to address the serious issues impacting the LGBT community such as hate crimes, bullying, assaults on transgendered individuals, and discrimination.

I have never wavered about my views on gay marriage. I supported it when I last campaigned for the Ward 5 Council seat. I support it today and will continue to support it tomorrow.

The difference between me and Mr. Hunter is that my position on this issue was not developed in a campaign strategy meeting nor does it derive from a desire to win an election. It’s part of who I am.

I sincerely hope that your readers remember that political winds shift but convictions do not.

Welcome To A New Ward 5

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With the resignation of its council member, Ward 5 is on the precipice, and in need of a solid leader that can represent its interests, support its residents, and be focused on a stronger Ward 5 for the future of DC.

Kenyan McDuffie is a third-generation Washingtonian and native of Ward Five. Raised in a working-class family of six in the Stronghold/Edgewood neighborhood of Northeast, Kenyan is the third of four children. Born to an electrician and a library technician, he learned early on the importance of family, hard work, education, perseverance, and public service; values that he and his wife, Princess, have committed to instilling in their two daughters, Jozi and Kesi.

Kenyan, an experienced attorney and civil rights advocate, is a proven community leader whose campaign, like his life’s work, is focused on Ward 5’s future. For more than a decade, Kenyan has dedicated himself to improving the lives of Ward 5 residents and the collective life of the Ward 5 community.