WASHINGTON, DC — Rev. Wendy Hamilton, a 53-year-old truancy counselor with D.C. Public Faculties, is operating to be the District’s subsequent delegate within the U.S. Home of Representatives.

Hamilton is on the poll for the June 21 Democratic Get together Main. She’s operating in opposition to incumbent Eleanor Holmes Norton and fellow challenger Kelly Mikel Williams. The winner will sq. off in opposition to Republican Nelson F. Rimensnyder within the Nov. 8 basic election.

Patch has requested every of the candidates operating in choose races to fill out a questionnaire, sharing information about themselves and why voters ought to select them to symbolize their celebration in November.

Marketing campaign web site

Rev. Wendy For Congress

DC Neighborhood

Ward 8 – Bellevue neighborhood

Workplace sought

DC Delegate – US Home of Representatives

Get together affiliation

Democrat

Training

M.A Howard College Faculty of Divinity

Occupation

Truancy Counselor -DCPS

Household

I’ve one daughter aged 29 with an MSW from USC who additionally works in DCPS and is mom to my new grandson Myles who simply turned 2.

Does anybody in your loved ones work in politics or authorities?

Not at the moment

Age

53

Earlier public workplace, appointive or elective

I’ve labored as a Hill Staffer and as a member of Presidential marketing campaign workers, however have by no means held elected workplace myself.

Why are you in search of this workplace?

I am operating for Congress/ DC Delegate to symbolize the broad voices and numerous pursuits of residents throughout all 8 wards of our nice metropolis.

It is time for a consultant who has the way forward for DC in thoughts and the coverage platform to get us there, a Delegate is who current in and to the group and exhibits up commonly to attach with constituents as a result of linked illustration empowers voters.

The panorama of DC is shortly altering earlier than our very eyes and elevating the issues of a lot of our residents who’ve lived on this group for generations. We have to be proactive in our preparation and plans for our individuals.

Please full this assertion: The one most urgent situation going through my constituents is ___, and that is what I intend to do about it.

Financial instability and uncertainty. Other than lack of Statehood, which can be critically vital, many DC residents, small enterprise house owners and households are struggling to get well from the previous few years of adversity. The pandemic actually upended the whole lot which is why I might suggest a Common Primary Revenue pilot inside my first 51 days as Delegate to get month-to-month recurring money funds into the palms of DC residents and supply a monetary lifeline that so many want proper now.

What’s your place on DC statehood?

DC Statehood is paramount to our potential to thrive on this Democracy. It’s a human/voting rights, situation, it’s a racial justice situation, and it transcends ideology. The truth that practically 700,000 of us pay taxes, extra federal taxes per capita than some other state, by the best way and do not have voting illustration in Congress is absurd. We’ve extra inhabitants than Vermont and Wyoming who each have voting members and but we stay topic to the whims of Congress who get to dictate to us what’s finest for our residents is unacceptable. We want DC Statehood now

How would you handle the issue of gun violence within the District?

It should take a multi pronged strategy, one that features regulation enforcement, psychological well being and social service suppliers, violence interrupters and a crackdown on the variety of weapons and ghost weapons discovering their means into the streets of our metropolis and the palms of our youth particularly. It’s alarming and have to be mitigated. We additionally want to take a look at poverty charges which regularly underlie violent/legal exercise and discover methods to alleviate that on the similar time.

What are the foremost variations between you and the opposite candidates in search of this submit?

The foremost distinction I might recommend is plans, insurance policies and outlook. I am targeted squarely on DC’s future and the way to handle the wants of our metropolis transferring ahead. I might proceed to construct on what’s labored from the previous, together with our progress towards Statehood however I additionally imagine there are pertinent points we will be specializing in proper now, like financial justice, housing, legal justice reform and common healthcare that may carry tangible options to DC residents lives proper now. That is my purpose.

If you’re difficult an incumbent, in what means has the present officeholder failed the group?

I really feel just like the incumbent has missed a possibility over the past 32 years to develop the scope of and exhibit the potential in what the position will be. Whereas she’s efficiently targeted on DC Statehood there are such a lot of different alternatives for illustration and management in that position, that constituents have been asking for, which have gone unaddressed, for many of her tenure. Residents need extra advocacy, extra linked management and extra group engagement and entry. I would supply that and extra.

What different points do you propose to deal with throughout your marketing campaign?

A few of the points I have been bringing consideration to are instructional reform. As an worker with DC Public Faculties I’ve seen first hand the necessity for enhancements throughout the board and have some concepts on methods to strategy this crucial space. I’ve additionally marched for voting rights, and protested outdoors the Supreme Courtroom for girls’s rights not too long ago in gentle of the leaked Roe v. Wade draft. There are a myriad of points that influence DC and now we have to be on the frontlines foe what’s to come back.

What accomplishments in your previous would you cite as proof you possibly can deal with this job?

Having labored as a Hill Staffer for a number of years and expertise the surroundings up shut and private is helpful. I’ve additionally labored as a social justice advocate with organizations just like the NAACP headquarters in Baltimore the place I served in an government capability gaining invaluable information and perception concerning a few of our most urgent nationwide points together with the demise penalty, hate crimes, and voting rights. Most not too long ago I additionally served because the Religious and Cultural Outreach Director for 2020 Presidential marketing campaign of Andrew Yang. These collective experiences, I imagine, have outfitted me properly.

What’s the finest recommendation anybody ever gave you?

That folks will neglect what you mentioned and folks will neglect what you do, however individuals will always remember the way you make them really feel. It is a quote by Maya Angelou however a sentiment usually shared by my late mom. I endeavor to reside by it

Is there the rest you desire to voters to learn about your self and your positions?

My inspiration for operating for this position comes from my religion God , my expertise as a servant chief and my deep love for DC .

Over these previous 15 months on the marketing campaign path that call has solely been strengthened by the hundreds of conversations I’ve had with residents everywhere in the metropolis who need to see us thrive and succeed collectively.

Im not a politician and I imagine that is a very good factor. I am not simply operating symbolize you, I’m you … and we would be doing this factor..collectively. I am asking to your vote on June twenty first.