With a general election approaching, which at-large DC Council candidates will push for urbanist issues?

On November 3, DC residents will vote for a new at-large councilmember, to replace the seat from which Councilmember David Grosso is stepping down. Over a dozen candidates are running including Markus Batchelor, Mario Cristaldo, Franklin Garcia, Marcus Goodwin, Christina Henderson, Chander Jayaraman, Ed Lazere, Jeanné Lewis, Will Merrifield, Rick Murphree, Asar Mustafa, Mónica Palacio, and Eric Rogers.

How will the candidates weigh in on issues like affordable housing, transit, development, and public safety? Here’s your chance to find out.

(Note: Just before we published this post, former at-large councilmember Vincent Orange and Shaw Main Streets director Alex Padro have declared their intent to run. We’ve reached out to them with the same request for information that we sent to all the candidates included here.)

How we’re endorsing primary candidates

We’ll deliver our endorsement later this summer. As with our Ward 2, 4, 7, 8, and Democratic at-large endorsements, we’ll be circulating a questionnaire to see where the candidates stand on housing, transportation, and land use. (We’d also love to co-host forums and panels. If your organization is considering a forum and would like to partner, email abaca@ggwash.org.)

And, as always, our endorsements will rest on who we think is most likely to best represent our interests, which include frequent, reliable transportation; accessible, affordable housing; and the land-use policies needed to support and expand both.

A word on methodology: We emailed the email address listed on a candidate’s website or, if not available there, the email address listed with the Board of Elections. We asked for a two- to three-sentence bio, any additional notes on campaign priorities, links to relevant social media, and a headshot. Candidates had a week to respond.

We’ve noted the source of content for each candidate: If a campaign responded to us, we’ve reprinted the text here. If they didn’t, we’ve cobbled together what we can find based on a candidate’s websites and cursory Googling. If they neither responded to us nor have a clear online presence, we have nothing to share.

Today, meet the candidates in the at-large general election.

Markus Batchelor

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Batchelor wrote to us, “Markus Batchelor is a native Washingtonian, advocate and activist who currently serves as the Ward 8 Representative, Vice President and the youngest-ever elected member of the DC State Board of Education. He has spent his career in government, non-profit and as an elected leader working to close the city’s deep divides and advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors and disinvested communities. He previously served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Congress Heights where he was raised and still lives, President of the Ward 8 Democrats, National Committeeman for DC’s Young Democrats and, as a student, DC’s 52nd Youth Mayor. He is running for the DC Council to usher in a new generation of DC leadership rooted in community and focused on expanding equity, opportunity and government accountability.

I stand for truly affordable housing across incomes, equitably funded and supported public schools in every community, and a moral economy that expands and protects the dignity of living wage work. I’m fighting for healthy, safe, and accessible communities that are ripe with opportunity and free from gun violence. I’ve proven through over a decade of service to our city that I am a leader DC residents can trust, with the experience and perspective needed for the critical decisions ahead; one who has the unique ability to build broad and diverse coalitions inside and outside government to get things done.

I’m running because closing the deep divides in our city is not just an academic or ideological exercise, but personal. I come from a working class family, was born in the city’s only public hospital, educated in our city’s public schools, and saw too many friends become victims and perpetrators of gun violence. I watch neighbors struggle every day with threats of displacement, with disconnected and unaffordable transit options, and a job market that pays too little and that is too hard to break into. I’ll carry that experience and those voices with me to the Council and advance sensible, compassionate public policy that ensures more boats rise with the tide.”

Mario Cristaldo

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Cristaldo wrote us, “Mario is a nonprofit executive, DC community services award winner, and economic development expert who has been organizing, fighting and leading, affordable housing, living wages, and economic and social justice for more than 20 years in DC.

He is an independent democrat who is a strong supporter of tenant rights, homeownership for low-income families and access to healthcare for all. He cares for the welfare of seniors and is in favor of a green new deal to solve our current climate and economic crises.”

Franklin Garcia

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Garcia wrote to us, “Franklin Garcia is currently serving as the US Representative (Shadow) for the District of Columbia since November 4, 2014. He is the former President and founder of the DC Latino Caucus, and current President of the non-profit DC Latino Leadership Council. He has held key positions in political campaigns, and has served on a number of Boards and Committees. He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from the George Washington University and a Master of Arts degree in Financial Economics for Public Policy from the American University.

He currently works in Information Technology. In addition to working to bring voting Congressional representation to DC, he is working to bring full representation to the DC Council, where for nearly 50 years the voice of a Latino member has been absent.”

Marcus Goodwin

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Goodwin wrote to us, “Marcus Goodwin is a DC native who’s running for DC Council At Large as an Independent in the November 3rd General Election. He grew up Columbia Heights, a neighborhood which has become the most gentrified community in the United States. He is focused on providing more affordable housing and promoting more equitable economic development. Professionally he is a real estate developer at Neighborhood Development Company where he manages the construction of apartments, condominiums and commercial space. He previously served as the President of the DC Young Democrats and currently serves on the boards of Run Hope Work, the Afterschool Alliance, the CEO Program and the Young Real Estate Council.

Marcus Goodwin’s DC Council campaign is focused on providing equitable economic opportunity for the lower and middle wage earners. By improving education, building more affordable housing and creating better paying jobs we will dramatically improve the outcomes for our young people. He is leveraging his professional experience to build a coalition of people focused on addressing the rising cost of housing, reforming our education system, building government accountability, tackling public safety challenges and being better stewards of our environment. It’s time for new ideas and new leadership on the Council, it’s time for a Goodwin for DC!”

Christina Henderson

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Henderson wrote to us, “Christina Henderson is a dedicated public servant and education policy advocate, with deep experience in, and passion for, promoting more equitable outcomes in DC and nationwide. The daughter of an Army veteran and a retired Transport Workers Union Local 100 member,

Christina has counseled United States Senators, DC Councilmembers, and state and local education officials on an array of domestic policy issues that deeply impact families and children. Christina was the deputy chief of staff for Councilmember David Grosso and directed the DC Council’s Committee on Education. She lives in Ward 4 with her husband Nu, their daughter Jordan, and rescue dog Langston.”

Her campaign priorities include access to healthcare, equitable growth and affordable housing, and education from birth to post-secondary.

Chander Jayaraman

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Jayaraman wrote to us, “Chander Jayaraman (6B08) has served as an ANC Commissioner for his Capitol Hill and Hill East neighborhood for the past eight years, the past four as Chair or Vice-Chair. He is a strong advocate for small businesses, and has earned a reputation as an effective problem-solver who helps people find common ground in resolving conflicts. He is a small-business owner in the field of emergency preparedness planning, and a little league umpire and coach in his spare time.

Chander is also a strong advocate for worker safety, which has taken added importance coming out of the COVID crisis. He is a champion of workforce development and job training programs for youths and young adults, having launched his career as the head of the Latin American Youth Center’s YouthBuild job training program in the 90s. He currently serves on the board of the JOBS Coalition, which brings faith leaders and business leaders together to create job training opportunities for young adults and returning citizens. His career path has included fighting for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in schools, workplace, and communities, and being an active volunteer and advocate for homeless individuals. Chander has a track record of getting things done and improving people’s lives.

Born in India, Chander moved with his family to Kansas when he was 10 years old. He moved to DC as a young adult, and has called the District home for the past 25 years. He and his wife, Suzanne, are raising their son, Kol here. He speaks fondly of this mother who instilled in him the value to ‘pay it forward’ — showing appreciation for the opportunities given to him by fighting for others.

In a post-COVID era, Chander is focused on three priorities to get the city working again and ensure that the District comes back stronger than before: increase investments in career and technical education, job training and workforce development; support high-quality schools, and increase health care options.”

Ed Lazere

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Lazere’s campaign wrote to us, “Ed Lazere led the DC Fiscal Policy Institute from its creation in 2001 until this past March, and he is a longtime resident of Ward 5. For two decades he has fought for economic and racial justice in DC — and won. As a policy and budget expert and a long-time coalition leader, Ed has partnered with community organizations across the city in successful fights for fair wages, affordable housing, access to health care, equity in education and more. Rooted in the community, Ed has used his city-wide relationships and knowledge of the DC budget to hold city leaders accountable.

Ed is running to put racial and economic justice at the center of DC’s policy agenda by fighting for equity in education, housing affordability, an end to homelessess, and a fair and living wage. He chaired the Public Education Finance Reform Commision and served on the DC Tax Revision Commission and as an advisor to the Jails and Justice Task Force. He chaired the Local School Advisory Team at School Without Walls and served on numerous boards, including the Children’s Law Center, the Consumer Health Foundation, the DC Primary Care Association, and Temple Micah.”

Jeanné Lewis

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Lewis wrote to us, “Jeanné grew up in the area and was raised by her mother, a DC public schools teacher and administrator, and her father, who worked for Amtrak. After attending Georgetown Visitation High School she went away to college and worked mostly in the nonprofit sector in four states and Washington, DC. A proud resident of Ward 7 now, Jeanné has been a community organizer, led a youth restorative justice program, and advanced bipartisan conversations with Congress about race and policy. She is currently the VP and Chief Engagement Officer at NCRP, working with grantmakers nationally to drive more grant dollars to systems change and marginalized people.

Since coming home to DC in 2010, Jeanné has volunteered with Washington Interfaith Network through her church, St. Augustine Parish. She implemented grants from the DC Humanities Council as president of Women of the Dove Foundation, an initiative of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She currently sits on the board of directors for Faith in Public.”

Will Merrifield

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Merrifield did not respond to our request for information. Per his website, “Growing up in the deindustrializing midwest, everyone lived with anxiety about the future. Layoffs happened constantly and jobs didn’t come back. A lot of people around me struggled, but they taught me that fighting back, even against all odds, is a form of dignity. So when I got older I joined the fight, becoming a Legal Aid attorney to defend people against eviction. At the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, I found that same fighting spirit and relentless dignity in the tenant associations I represented in DC.” His listed campaign issues are solving the affordable housing crisis, full employment for DC residents, funding public education, ending mass incarceration, stopping ICE and providing real sanctuary for immigrant communities, and fighting for DC statehood.

Rick Murphree

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Murphree wrote to us, “Rick Murphree is a U.S. Army Veteran who also has served as a restaurant entrepreneur and college educator. He believes that your circumstances should not define your future. The District can be a city that works for all residents, not just the well-connected and powerful. Policies focusing on rebuilding our middle class, holding leaders accountable, and serving our youth,will help all residents reach their full potential. Rick is the proud father of three and resides in the Anacostia community.

Rick believes what the city needs right now is someone that has 30 years of experience being a doer. We need someone that is a fighter- mission driven, collaborative leader ready and willing to fight for the entire community and is not owned and bought by those already in power or special interest groups. I am running for the At Large seat to unite the city, bring transparency and accountability to the government, and make the District work for Washingtonians who have invested so much in this city. This city owes a debt to these families and communities that we have yet to repay.”

Asar Mustafa

Mustafa wrote to us, “I am a Humanitarian, Entrepreneur and a Raceman for my self my family and for the people who needs the most help. As former Chairman of ANC 4B and Chairman the Chairman of ward 4 ANC’s and special assistant to the vice president of the ANC Assembly. I believe that I am the best candidate to represent the people of the District of Columbia because of the experience that I have in the political community and the community activism that I have consistently displayed for over 39 years. I am proud to have served and I am ready to serve again.”

Mónica Palacio

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Palacio did not respond to our request for information. Per her website, “Appointed by Mayor Vincent Gray in 2014, and re-appointed twice by Mayor Muriel Bowser, as Director of the Office of Human Rights, Mónica established a successful track record as a leader who fights to make sure government systems work to meet the needs of our city’s residents. During her tenure, she rebuilt the Office of Human Rights to ensure the ongoing success of a mediation program that resulted in tens of millions of dollars paid to District residents. When hate crimes spiked in 2016, Mónica was entrusted to lead citywide response teams, providing support to churches, mosques, synagogues, LGBTQ leaders and immigrants in our city.” Her listed campaign issues are ending the violence plaguing our neighborhoods, delivering more affordable housing, caring for our seniors, and ensuring schools meet the needs of all our children.

Eric Rogers

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Rogers wrote to us, “Eric Rogers is a DC Native currently residing in the Hillcrest neighborhood in Ward 7. He has dedicated his career to serving the residents of the District for the past two decades through government policy creation and programmatic reforms and implementation. His experience as a Council staffer, as an agency employee, and in agency executive leadership underscores his ability and know-how for creating impactful and long-lasting solutions to the varied challenges that District residents face every day.

My campaign centers around uplifting DC’s marginalized communities and people and solving the many social ills plaguing residents. First, we need to rethink public safety in DC. We need a criminal code that reflects our present community values of prevention and rehabilitation, while systemically dismantling our current crime and punishment model that leads to mass incarceration and the over-criminalization of poverty. We need to relieve the burdens of income inequality by investing significantly to ensure every resident has housing and financial security with an intentional focus on economic security. As a candidate who lives East of the River, I see the daily struggles residents have while trying to survive in the city. It’s heartbreaking to see evicted families gathering their possessions from the curb, or seniors and families in line at various food pantries throughout the city.

Access to quality jobs, safe and affordable housing, and quality public education are among my top priorities, and that’s what my campaign is fighting for. I will champion policies and approaches that improve the conditions of the last, lost, and the least…because it’s now time for us to be first, found, and fortunate.”