Sharon Ambrose

FORMER D.C. COUNCILMEMBER, WARD 6

Our city needs a strategy for self-determination,
and no one understands that better than David.
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DAVIDS RECORD
Secured passage of a resolution in the New Hampshire House of Representatives expressing
support for Congressional voting rights for the District
Fought for the removal of federal budget riders and spoke out against eforts to undermine our
local democracy
Organized the rst National Conference of State Legislatures event dedicated to promoting
District statehood, which was attended by over 150 elected ofcials from across the country
DAVIDS VISION FOR D.C.
Create and pursue a strategy for statehood and voting rights through state legislatures
Advocate for complete budget autonomy for the District
Safeguard the Districts interests and prerogatives
Support a Political Action Committee to defend the District
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The District is home to approximately 650,000 Americans
who bear all of the responsibilities of citizenship for our
country, yet are not afforded full representation in Congress.
This assault on our citizenship must end.
District residents sacrice by serving in our nations armed
forces: 195,000 since World War I, with 2,000 giving their
lives for our country. These brave individuals fought
many volunteeringin wars declared by the U.S. Congress,
a body in which they have never had a vote. More
recently, nine District residents were killed in the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars. Ironically, both nations permit the citizens
of their capital cities voting representation in the national
legislatures.
District residents also contribute by paying the highest
per capita federal taxes in the country. In 2013, District
residents paid over $37,000 per person in federal taxes. In
total, District residents paid more than $24 billion in federal
income, employment, and estate taxes.
At the same time, residents of states with smaller populations
than the District enjoy full voting rights in Congress and can
play a real role in shaping the national policies that impact
their everyday lives. Further, these states, unlike the District,
are in full control of their local spending authority and do
not face the constant specter of federal veto of local laws and
legislation. And with the second highest population growth
rate in the nation 7.4% between 2010 and 2013 more
and more District residents will be disenfranchised in the
years ahead unless we take action.
As Mayor, David will launch a new and more expansive
strategy to provide District residents with the full
representation we deserve. David will take action to defend
our local interests, safeguard District priorities, and bring the
movement for statehood and voting rights nationwide.
The District has more residents than
than Vermont and Wyoming
District of Columbia
646,449
Vermont
626,630
Wyoming
582,658
Source: US Census Bureau
Federal Taxes Paid Per Capita in 2013
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State
District of Columbia
Delaware
Minnesota
Connecticut
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Nebraska
Rhode Island
New York
Ohio
Gross Federal
Taxes Paid*
$24,464,351
$20,061,828
$90,703,773
$53,703,341
$128,051,899
$90,463,675
$23,801,959
$13,011,125
$231,879,838
$124,730,951
2013 Population
Estimate
646,449
925,749
5,420,380
3,596,080
8,899,339
6,692,824
1,868,516
1,051,511
19,651,127
11,570,808
Taxes per
Capita
$37,844
$21,671
$16,734
$14,934
$14,389
$13,517
$12,738
$12,374
$11,800
$10,780
Source: US Census Bureau, 2013 IRS Data Book ( *in thousands)
John Klenert
FORMER BOARD MEMBER, D.C. VOTE, WARD 2
David is the rare public offcial who recognizes the
need to take our fght for democracy
across the country.
Though a daily reality for District residents, many of our
fellow citizens in states around the country are simply
unaware of the Districts lack of voting rights and desire for
statehood. It is long past time that we expanded the dialogue
through a national education campaign.
David has a demonstrated record of working to expand
the Districts ght for statehood, self-determination, and
voting representation. In August 2008, he organized the rst
National Conference of State Legislatures event dedicated to
promoting District statehood, which was attended by over
150 elected ofcials from across the country. In 2014, he
secured passage of a measure in the New Hampshire House
of Representatives expressing support for Congressional
voting rights for the Districtone of only two such
measures to be passed by a state legislature in the 30 years
since the failure of the District of Columbia Voting Rights
Constitutional Amendment.
Because Congress continues to be either unwilling or
unable to address these issues, it is time to begin building
momentum and support for our cause elsewhere. As Mayor,
David will pursue a state legislative strategy, identifying
and fostering support among like-minded state legislators
and legislatures to expand support for statehood and
congressional voting representation for District residents.
David will lead that effort and will not rest until our goals
are achieved.
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Create and Pursue a Strategy for Statehood & Voting Rights Through
State Legislatures
Build Alliances With Like-Minded State Legislators and Legislatures
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Source: US Census Bureau
Budget autonomy is a critical component of any jurisdictions
ability to self-govern. Without this authority, a government
cannot truly address the needs of its residents. Unfortunately,
the District knows this all too well. Despite the highest
HIV/AIDS rate in the nation, we were prohibited from
implementing evidence-based practices that would help
prevent the transmission of HIV as the result of sharing
needles.
Congressional oversight and approval of the Districts budget
means that we are at the whim of individuals pandering to
voters back home. It also means that the District bears the
brunt of Congresss failure to act. If the federal government
shuts down, the District could be barred from paying for
local government functions, such as motor vehicle services
and trash collection.
David has long been an advocate for budget autonomy,
co-introducing a series of legislative measures during his
Council tenure. He has also lobbied against federal riders
that infringe on the Districts ability to spend its own money.
As Mayor, David will put the full weight of the government
behind the cause of budget autonomy. David will work
tirelessly to convince those in Congress that the District
deserves to have the same rights as any other jurisdiction in
the country, to spend our own money.
Advocate for Complete Budget Autonomy for the District
Secure and Preserve the Districts Ability to Spend Our Own Money
From his early days on the Council, David has spoken out
and stood up for the rights of District residents to govern our
own affairs and spend our own money. He has a history of
ghting against federal budget riders regarding the Districts
highly successful needle exchange program, reproductive
rights of District women, the Districts medical marijuana
program, and domestic partnerships. Most recently, when a
Congressman from Maryland inserted language into a federal
appropriations bill prohibiting the District from spending
money on its planned decriminalization of marijuana, David
spoke out against it.
As Mayor, David will be unwavering in his dedication to
the pursuit of self-determination for the District and full
democratic representation for our residents.
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Safeguard the Districts Interests and Prerogatives
Speak Out When Congress Disregards the Will of District Residents
By now, District residents are accustomed to what happens
when federal lawmakers overrule the democratic will of
District residents. There is a great deal of hand wringing,
frustration, sometimes a protest that results in symbolic
arrests, and then nothing. The time has come for that to
change.
As Mayor, David will encourage the creation of and help
raise private funds for a Political Action Committee (PAC)
with the expressed purpose of deploying resources in a
lawmakers home district or state when they intrude into
District matters. Members of Congress may be deterred from
undermining our democracy if they will face consequences
in their home districts. In addition, a sufciently resourced
PAC, which David will support, can help extend the message
of statehood, voting rights, and budget autonomy beyond
the Districts borders.
Support a Political Action Committee to Defend the District
Take Action when the Districts Democracy is Threatened