Martin Moulton, Libertarian candidate for Shadow Representative, at National School Choice Week

Martin Moulton, Libertarian candidate for Shadow Representative represented Libertarians at a school choice rally at Friendship Chamberlain Charter School this morning, as part of National School Choice Week, and met Kevin Chavous of Democrats for School Choice (pictured) and other parents and school choice activists.

Many Libertarians favor expanding all forms of school choice, charters, education vouchers, and education tax credits.  In DC almost half of all students have left the traditional government monopoly school system for charter schools.  DC also as a voucher program used by a smaller group of students.

Many failing government schools have lost so much of their students, who have voted with their feet and left, that these large warehouse style schools are no longer functional.  Planning for the devolution is incumbent on DC politicians.

Bullying, a popular topic among education reformers, has been empowered by the traditional government monopoly system, where a bullied student could not leave for a more welcoming environment at another school.  Allowing students and their families more choices and more control over their educations will enhance their well-being, reduce bullying, and give parents more incentive to become involved in their children's educations.

None of the Above beats Mayor Gray 26% to 24%, WAPO buries this deadline

The Washington Post published the results of a poll this week to much fanfare, mainly because as they read it it showed that Mayor Gray, currently under investigation by the FBI for violation of campaign finance laws, was much more popular than any of the others running in the Democratic primary, to be held, without irony, on April 1.

The local punditocracy was very excited and Twitter was atwitter.

The Post's DC politics blogger Mike Debonis himself teased readers with an advance notice:  "Get yerselves some popcorn, folks: Washington Post poll on D.C. mayor race coming shortly."  After the polls were published he followed up with "Post poll: Vincent Gray strongly rebounds from 2012 doldrums, holds double-digit lead over all challengers http://t.co/9PsjEA5XcO;" a link to graphical presentations - "The poll in pretty pictures: http://t.co/EpPglOl5bk;" and one bit of bad news for Mayor Gray - "Most fascinating number, though: Gray/Catania general election matchup is 43/40 among all registered voters, a statistical tie."  David Catania, an independent on the DC city council, is a former Republican and one of the council's two gay members, and is widely viewed as a reformer, and advocate of transparency and accountability.  DC political junkies are surprised that there is a chance that the next mayor of DC could be white.  And gay.  And a former Republican.

Other Post reporter's tweeted out other surprising aspects of the polling data.  Local news reporter Paul Schwartzman tweeted that the almost albino Jack Evans, who has represented Georgetown and other "white" neighborhoods in NW DC as the Ward 2 city councilman since the early 90s (DC voters approved a term limits referendum in the mid 90s by a two thirds majority, but the city council declared it invalid), beat Muriel Bowser, a younger black woman who is currently the Ward 4 city councilwoman, in the mainly African American Wards 7 and 8 (Marion Barry's stomping rounds) east of the Anacostia River.

The Post did note that none of the Democrats running have very much support, with Mayor Gray topping them at 24%, and the others all down in the 2%-12% range, and ran an Op Ed calling for run off elections in future DC primaries.

But the Post completely missed who came out on top in their own poll - it wasn't Mayor Gray as they claimed.  It was None of the Above.  None of the Above beat Mayor Gray 26% to 24% - the Post poll just broke the NOTA voters up into subcategories like "other," "no one," and "no opinion," and then stuck them at the bottom of the results and didn't discuss them.

I pointed this out via twitter to the local twitter commentariat and received replies like "oh, half of those people don't vote."  And that may be correct.  They don't like the choices they are ofered in the general elections either.  Nationally 40% of voting age Americans didn't vote, more than the 30% who voted for Obama or the 29% who voted for Romney.  And in DC almost as fifth of people (17.5%) who register to vote register "No Party" (most famously this week gay former Republican and Capitol Hill resident Jimmy LaSalvia), even though this puts them outside of DC's closed primaries, and makes their vote in November often irrelevant, since 90% of DC offices are always won by the person who won the Democratic primary months earlier.  A fifth of DC voters really, really do not like the two establishment parties.

None of the Above beats Mayor Gray, 26 to 24

Gray Leads Post Poll With Just 24 Percent - Loose Lips
The Post poll had an interesting result that the Post reporters and everyone else failed to notice. The real winner was None of the Above, which beat Mayor Gray 26% to 24%. The Post hid it by breaking the NOTA vote up into "no one," "other," "no opinion," subcategories that themselves often outpolled most of the field. But added together they beat them all, including Mayor Gray.

2014 D.C. Election Guide « CBS DC

2014 D.C. Election Guide « CBS DC

Percentage of Independents Reaches Yet Another Record High

Percentage of Independents Reaches Yet Another Record High

Next door in Arlington

Libertarians Likely to Field Candidate for County Board - Sun Gazette Newspapers: News

DC Libertarian candidate statements

The Board of Elections ask for candidate statements by January 2nd, that can be  placed in the candidate guides for voters in the April primary.  Here are the Libertarian candidate statements.

Ryan Sabot.  Ward 3 City council

Ward 3 is ready for a departure from the same old political scene that it has been dealing with for seven years. Ward 3 is ready for someone who can accurately represent the Ward’s unique needs in the DC Council, and Ward 3 is undoubtedly ready to make this change in November. Your vote will ensure DC stays open for business, drastically cuts taxes, continues to ensure school choice, guarantees all their personal liberty, and gives residents more transportation options. I am positive that we can obtain these things in government and that, together, we can start in November. 

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Sara Jane Panfil.  Delegate to Congress.

I left New York City for Washington, D.C. almost four years ago in search of lower rents, greater economic freedom, and greater personal freedom.  Although D.C. is certainly a freer place in many respects (the District does not presume to dictate what size beverage one can enjoy, for example), its citizens still live in the midst of a drug war, in a place that is hostile to Wal-Mart and other forms of economic development, where union contracts are protected over citizens’ personal property and dignity.  I hope to have the opportunity to fight for the District’s citizens as Congressional Delegate.

I left New York City for Washington, D.C. almost four years ago in search of lower rents, greater economic freedom, and greater personal freedom.  Although D.C. is certainly a freer place in many respects (the District does not presume to dictate what size beverage one can enjoy, for example), its citizens still live in the midst of a drug war, in a place that is hostile to Wal-Mart and other forms of economic development, where union contracts are protected over citizens’ personal property and dignity.  I hope to have the opportunity to fight for the District’s citizens as Congressional Delegate.
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John Daniel. Shadow Senator.

DC attracts the brightest minds in the country. No vote! If we were a state it would rank 49th in population, ahead of VT and WY. No vote! Our residents are subject to all U.S. federal taxes. No vote! Most Americans are behind us. Still no vote! I want to simply take this office out of the shadows and let our citizens have a fighting chance in the national stage! It's time to change seats with the old Democratic Party who is too comfortable with NO achievements for years, and change with the new, young, and vibrant Libertarian, who will disrupt and finally make it happen!  
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Martin Moulton. Shadow Representative

DC must stop condemning families and communities by forcing students attend failing schools. Government must empower ALL parents to send children to the best schools.

The District's drug war puts unsustainable burdens on MPD, judicial, and incarceration facilities with funds better used on other public services, preventative education and treatment. DC must stop incarcerating #BlackMenAndBoys and other minorities for non-violent drug offenses at rates grossly out of line with the demographic reality of drug usage in DC and elsewhere. Current policies destroy individuals, families, and communities and enrich the gun industry in the drugwar firearms race as criminals seek to out gun police. Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and crack might degrade the human immune system making it susceptible to cancer and other disease. But the urgent need to end continued violence, motivated by cash-only markets and turf battles, grossly outweighs government's role in regulating choices through destructive prohibition.

As a DC41 member is was arrested in protest of Federal tyranny that denies our civil rights and the full benefits of US citizenship.
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Pranav Badhwar. Ward 6 City Council

My wife and I are devoted to this city where our children were born and attend school. I create and launch wireless products for a living, and understand the hard work needed to effectively deliver services to the public. I want to see DC flourish, and envision a city that protects rights over your body, property, and associations. A city which generates opportunities for the neediest, where men and women can thrive as small business owners, where people have affordable housing and transportation, and where our youth attend effective schools and are no longer jailed for non-violent drug offences.

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Frederick Steiner, City Council At Large

I've lived in the DC area for 10 years, after the birth of my daughter I learned I could no longer remain aloof from the community I lived in. I learned that everyone has a shared interest in things like good schools and safe streets, that vibrant neighborhoods create opportunities for all, that transparency and openness is a requirement for good governance. I needed to do my part in the attainment of those ideals. I have no grand political aspirations, and self funded my campaign so I don't owe anyone anything. I'm just a person trying to do the right thing. 

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Bruce Majors, Mayor

I have lived in DC since 1980.  I have watched it become morbidly obese, with a swollen $9 billion dollar budget, that just like real obesity leads to many diseases: corruption and cronyism, high rents and no affordable housing, as the politically connected line up for your tax dollars.  The DC political class needs to be put on a diet, and opportunities need to be legalized for those who are not federal lawyers or lobbyists with 6 figure incomes taken from the taxpayer.  Your vote for Libertarians starts these needed changes.

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