“We endorsed Sekou in 2011 and we still firmly believe he has the integrity and leadership skills that the District needs right now. He understands the issues hotel workers face and has stood by our members through challenging times. We look forward to reaching out to Local 25 members and District voters in the coming week in support of Sekou,” says John Boardman, Executive Secretary Treasurer of Local 25.

“I first met Mr. Biddle when he was knocking on doors and reaching out to the community. Also, earlier on this year, I was part of the panel of 75 Local 25 member candidate interview panel. My impression of Mr. Biddle was that his passion rested on the fact that well trained and educated kids will help establish a healthy workforce in Washington D.C. His dedication to being a positive role model to our youth and the community is good for our community,” says Charlene Rogers, a Local 25 member.

“I am honored to receive this endorsement from Local 25. As a part of our hospitality industry their members know that the image the District projects is essential to our economic success. I look forward to working with them to improve our District government through comprehensive ethics reform, education, job creation and affordable housing,” said Biddle of his endorsement.

Local 25 is a progressive labor union that represents 7,000 politically active hotel workers in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area with a long history of political engagement in the District and on local campaigns.

The District of Columbia is at a crossroads. In the upcoming Democratic primary you have the choice to vote for moving the city forward or for the continued toleration of corrupt and self-serving politicians. If you want to vote to move the District of Columbia forward I urge you to vote for Sekou Biddle for DC Council At-Large on April 3.

It is clear to me that Sekou is the smart, dedicated leader who will champion progressive policies that the DC Council needs. Sekou is by far the best choice in this race for progressives who are committed to cleaning up the DC Council.

Sekou will bring his years of experience advocating for those who would otherwise not have a voice, as an educator and champion of urban education reform, to the Wilson Building. He will speak up and push for progress on ethics, education, affordable housing, and jobs. I know Sekou will be an excellent voice for the residents who have for too long been left out of the legislative process.

On Tuesday, April 3 I encourage you to support the future of the District, by voting for Sekou Biddle in the Democratic primary for DC Council At-Large.

Sincerely,
Governor Howard Dean

“I am honored to have Patrick Mara’s support. It is clear, as a former campaign opponent and a Republican, that Patrick knows that we all need to come together as residents and voters if we are going to clean up our Council and elect honest leaders.”

Mara endorsed Biddle saying, “Voters who seek change have but one choice in this election, Sekou Biddle. Ridding the D.C. Council of corruption and shady dealings by its members should be the number one thing on the minds of all voters on Election Day. The quest for an honest government transcends party lines. That is why I am endorsing Sekou Biddle.”

Mara continued, “Recent news reports connecting Orange’s campaigns to a money bundler under Federal investigation should give everyone pause. District tax-payers should not be footing the bill for another special election. A vote for Orange is a risky proposition.”

Mara joins The Washington Post, Washington City Paper, Current Newspapers, The Sierra Club, the DC Chapter of the National Organization for Women and DC Urban Moms and Dads in endorsing Sekou. Sekou has also received the highest rating in the at-large race by the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance. For more information on Biddle and his campaign to clean up the DC Council and become the next Councilmember At-Large visit www.sekoubiddle.org

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Washington Post: 3/18/2012  

As we head into the last two weeks before the election make sure to tell your friends and spread the word about the endorsement and the campaign. Our momentum is only continuing to build and together with your support we can bring the change we need to the council on April 3.

Thanks for all you do,
Sekou Biddle

Washington, DC – Today Sekou Biddle, Democratic candidate for DC Council At-Large, called on his opponent, Councilmember Vincent Orange, to stop using government resources and employees to promote his campaign, and to reimburse the District for the cost. On Friday, March 16 Councilmember Orange used official email and other government resources to send out a newsletter touting his “accomplishments”, these are the same so-called accomplishments he uses daily in his stump speech while campaigning to stay in office.

Under DC Government rules, the use of government resources, specifically newsletters and other mass communications, is prohibited within 90 days of an election that a councilmember is running in.  In the year 2012, when the vast majority of communication is electronic, Orange is defying common sense by using a narrow interpretation of the word “mail” to only mean paper mail and in turn skirt the law. Orange is exploiting a loophole that should be closed, and has used public resources for personal and political purposes.

“Councilmember Orange is clearly feeling the pressure of the federal investigation into his top donor’s campaign finances and his own acceptance of thousands of dollars in suspicious money orders and decided he needed to give himself some good press using his government email list,” said Biddle. “While it may be technically legal, it is well beyond the spirit and intent of the law to use email for a newsletter just days before an election, particularly one with such a tight race. Councilmember Orange needs to reimburse the taxpayers for the cost of the newsletter. These tactics are part of a larger pattern of behavior where Orange is willing to skirt the law in order to benefit himself.

“As a councilmember I will fight to close this, and every other loophole that councilmembers have created to benefit themselves and abuse their position of power. Better ethical standards cannot just be rhetoric, they need to reflected in the actions and choices that councilmembers make every day. I promise to be an honest and ethical leader on the council, not just someone who talks about being one. It is time to end this era of corruption and pay to play that benefits Councilmembers and their donors but leaves DC residents behind.”

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You can write your own letter to your friends or use the same one I am sending out by copying and pasting it into your email browser. It is clear that we can win this campaign, but we need to make sure that everyone knows about Sekou and why they should vote for him in order for that to happen.

Speaking of early voting, if you need to vote early, visit the DC Board of Elections for details on early voting locations and hours. This year’s election is at the same time as DCPS spring break, so make sure to check your calendar and if you’re out of town vote early or request an absentee ballot.

I hope you join me in sending this email to all the DC voters you know to let them know why you support Sekou and encourage them to vote for him on April 3.

Bandele McQueen
Biddle 2012 Campaign Chairman

Dear Friends:

I am writing because I know that we deserve better and can do better than the government our current elected officials have created. It seems like every day there is a new headline and story about the latest ethical failures of our DC Councilmembers. It is time for us to start electing honest leaders who are serious about ethics reform and serving the residents of the District of Columbia. This is why I am asking you to join me in voting for Sekou Biddle for Councilmember At-Large in the upcoming Democratic primary on April 3.

I am supporting Sekou because I know he will provide the leadership on the DC Council that we need. I know Sekou will make rebuilding the public trust a priority through real ethics and campaign finance reform. Sekou is also committed to bringing the focus back onto the pressing issues that affect our lives every day such as education, public safety, jobs and affordable housing.

A lifelong education advocate, Sekou grew up in Columbia Heights and graduated from DC Public Schools. After teaching in classrooms in New York and Atlanta he came back home because he wanted to ensure that all students in DC have the same opportunities he did when he graduated from Wilson Senior High School.

Unlike his opponents Sekou isn’t a career politician. With over 18 years of public education experience, including eight years in the classroom, Sekou has clearly demonstrated his commitment to improving the lives of District students and their families.

Sekou is committed to representing all residents, regardless of our ward or neighborhood, as an at-large member should. He has experience working across the District, both as the Director of Community Outreach for the KIPP DC Public Charter Schools and as a member of the State Board of Education. I know his dedication to public service will benefit all of us as an At-Large Councilmember.

There are many more reasons why Sekou should be our next At-Large Councilmember than I can fit in just one email. I encourage you to look at his campaign website www.sekoubiddle.org for more information about Sekou, his priorities and his plans for ethics, education, jobs, public safety, affordable housing and more. I am happy to answer any additional questions for me about why I believe he should be the next councilmember. He has been endorsed by the DC Chapter of the National Organization for Women and received the highest rating from the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC in the at-large council race.

I hope you join me on April 3, 2012 to demand we do better than our current elected officials by voting for Sekou Biddle for Councilmember At-Large.

Sincerely,

Bandele McQueen

Yet again, more of our donors come from inside the District than any of our opponents. It’s clear that our campaign is about DC residents taking their government back from the pay to play culture dominated by outside corporate interests.

Additionally, our campaign is being funded by individuals, not corporations. While corporate money and personal loans are funding my opponents’ efforts, District residents and corporations know that I am committed to implementing real ethicsreform and their bundled contributions will not sway my opinion on this or any other issue.

This information is very encouraging as we head into the home stretch. Your support so far has been critical to this campaign; and for every one of you that donated there are many, many more DC residents who are supporting our campaign with a yard sign, by volunteering and of course by voting.

During these last weeks I will need all of your help to reach out to even more voters. As the Washington Post pointed out this morning many District voters are still unaware of our new primary date on April 3. One of the best ways to get voters to start paying attention is through their social networks. Can you commit to spreading the word about the campaign through facebook, twitter, yard signs and emails?

I look forward to working with you over the next three weeks as we work to take our Council back on April 3.
Thanks

Sekou Biddle

Unlike our opponent, our campaign finance reports don’t read like a who’s who of politically connected business interests and government contractors. Our finance reports are filled with the names of regular District residents, because that is who is supporting my campaign. Average folks who want to make sure their concerns and interests will be the top priority for the Council.

Last time we filed a campaign finance report, we had more low-dollar donations, more individuals and more regular dc residents than anyone else in the At-Large race. Can you help us make that happen again by donating today?

Whether it is $10, $25 or $100 or even $1000, every donation make will make a big difference going into the last three weeks of the campaign. Our strength comes from not just the amount people give, but the number of people who give. Will you donate today to make our campaign to clean up the DC Council and fix their priorities stronger than ever as we go into the home stretch of the campaign?

Sekou Biddle

The FBI and the IRS have raided the home and offices of Vincent Orange’s largest contributor. Jeffrey Thompson, who holds the District’s single largest contract, has given Orange almost $100,000 over the past few campaigns. Last year alone, Thompson gave Orange over $40,000 in bundled contributions.

Last month, when Orange was the deciding vote that defeated the bill to lower gas prices and end a gas station monopoly, we saw what $9,000 in contributions to Vincent Orange from gas station monopoly owner Joe Mamo will get, what do you think Jeff Thompson has been getting from Orange for his $100,000?

It’s time to end this culture of corruption and pay to play on the DC council. We need ethical leaders who serve the residents of the District and not their own financial interests.

I am committed to being that leader.

Unlike Vincent Orange I do not rely on corporate and special interest money to fund my campaign. My campaign is funded by regular DC residents who are fed up and know we can do better than the corrupt council we have. Can you be one of those regular DC residents and help even the playing filed by donating today?

It is time for us to restore the public’s trust by banning corporate campaign contributions, passing real ethics reform, and focusing on the issues that affect residents every day such as education, public safety, jobs and affordable housing.

We can end this system of pay to play if regular people like you contribute, volunteer and tell everyone you know to vote and support me on April 3.

Will you stand with me to demand an ethical council that represents us?

Together, we can do better,

Sekou Biddle

Neil Albert, Johnny Allem, Frank Hankins, Josh Kern, Emeka Moneme, Bandele McQueen, Adam Rubinson, Kay Savage and Daanan Strachan

FOR A RECEPTION HONORING

SEKOU BIDDLE

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR D.C. COUNCIL AT-LARGE

Friday, March 9th 6:00 pm

SOVA – ESPRESSO AND WINE 1359 H Street, NE Washington DC

Find out how to get involved in the campaign, mobilize your neighborhood and spread the word about Sekou. This will be a great opportunity to meet the campaign team and other friends and neighbors who are supporting the campaign!

SUPPORT LEVELS

SPONSOR ($1,000 PER PERSON) PATRON ($500 PER PERSON) BENEFACTOR ($250 PER PERSON) DONOR ($100 PER PERSON) FRIEND ($25 PER PERSON)

FOR MORE INFO OR TO RSVP, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL:

202-213-9029 or info@sekoubiddle.org