Jahi impresses in Ward 4

By Jonetta Rose Barras
Examiner Columnist | 8/20/08 11:43 PM

Baruti Jahi stands jacketless, with a white shirt and red tie, outside the building where tonight’s candidates forum is being held. He smiles and shakes hands with each person.

He says he spends as much as six hours a day knocking on doors, making his case to Ward 4 residents likely to vote in the September Democratic Primary.

“I’ve always wanted to be a public servant. It’s a dream,” says Jahi, a Howard University graduate who left NASA to run for the D.C. Council.

Jahi faces Paul Montague, Malik Mendenhall-Johnson and incumbent Muriel Bowser, who pushed back more than a dozen challengers to win last year’s special election to complete the unexpired term of Adrian M. Fenty.

Then, as now, the mayor and his political machine were at Bowser’s disposal. It’s helping to drive this campaign for the full four-year term. A former advance man for Fenty escorts Bowser tonight.

Even without the Fenty machine, Bowser is formidable. She’s raised more than $300,000. She’s bright, and understands public policy and the role and power of the legislature.

Not surprisingly, she’s racked up a bunch of endorsements including The Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Metropolitan Council of the AFL-CIO and SEIU, the service workers union. But the rap is that she’s Fenty’s girl.

“More people than not have found that I am an independent voice,” Bowser says. “I am proud of my record.”

Jahi is no slouch. He’s sharp, sincere and knowledgeable. He believes Bowser hasn’t responded to the needs of her constituents. He says she hasn’t produced the significant, long-term crime strategy residents desire.

“If we don’t get a grasp on it, it’s going to spiral out of control,” Jahi asserts. He’s pushing for more severe penalties for those convicted of gun-related crimes. He thinks police officers should be assigned to recreation centers — better to know the community, including troublemakers.

He also wants more social service and training programs that can lead to jobs.

“We have been very proactive in getting in the community. The vast majority of Ward 4 residents will tell you that we have safe neighborhoods,” counters Bowser, adding that she has had meetings attended by the police chief, assistant chief and 4th District commander.

She also has introduced or supported several pieces of legislation including the Fairness in Foreclosure Act, the Payday Loan Protection Act, speedy trials for juveniles, universal prekindergarten and the mayor’s public school reforms.

She’s pushing for more senior citizen housing and services, greater tax relief for small businesses, and more infrastructure investments.
Each candidate is a good choice. Ward 4 voters are in an enviable position.

I met Jahi several years ago when he was a graduate student. I was so impressed, I endorsed him, an unknown, in the race against Jim Graham. Now, with a wife, a child, a home in Shepherd Park and more experience under his belt, Jahi still impresses.

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