Today I am declaring my candidacy for the Democratic nomination to the at large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia to be chosen by the voters on April 3, 2012. It is my intention, with the help of District residents, to win.

A dark cloud hangs over our city and our politics. Literally hundreds of District voters have shared with me their disappointment and even disgust with the quality of our public debate and public decision-making. On the one hand we work long and hard to assert our legitimate claim to full home rule and statehood. On the other hand we embarrass ourselves with sloppy decisions, unclear priorities and political mischief.

I share this disappointment. I believe we can do better.

For 18 years I taught children on the edge of poverty and hopelessness. I have achieved one life goal: to be a role model for young African-Americans – showing them that they can overcome and be proud of who they are. No one can give me a higher honor.

If I thought for one minute that I, as a teacher, could level the playing field for these kids, I would not be standing here today. But it doesn’t work that way. To reach the common good takes common effort. It’s the American way.

I stand before you today speaking for the next generation, but also for the present generation who care so much about our city and its people. I stand here to call us all out. Only we can raise the level of our politics. Only we can resolve today’s issues in a way that assures a prosperous, free and just future for all our children.

Only by working together can we do better.

So I am calling you to make our politics matter – especially for our children. I come from a family with a long history of fighting for freedom, justice and prosperity. My family members were soldiers in the fight to register voters across the South and in the District.

I believe education is the foundation of any future – great schools, great future; same-old schools, same-old future.

I believe that if we put education first, we can attract jobs for our adults.

I believe we can create urban life that is neighborhood friendly, pedestrian friendly, business friendly, student friendly, transportation efficient, and supportive of a world-class tourism center.

I believe the safety of our people is the responsibility of our police and justice system, but also of our social service system. We need a new business model for breaking the structural poverty in DC and we need to understand that our failure costs everyone.

I believe our tax dollars can go further. Management systems and business models are being re-invented in every public and private enterprise. Reform is not just about cut, cut, cut, but about performing public duties differently and in ways we can measure.

And I believe we can work together.

The American Way did not start perfectly. Our Founding Fathers could not define equality to include race in Jefferson’s day. We have struggled mightily to expand the definition and opportunity for quality. And we struggle yet today.

It pains me to hear people say a person cannot be president because of his or her religion. It pains me to see women paid less than men for the same work. It pains me to see gay rights denied for political gain. It pains me to see young black men spend years in jail for minor drug crimes that others escape with a slap on the wrist. And it pains and shames all of us to see a nation of immigrants scapegoat new immigrants for any reason.

I was taught that when democracy doesn’t work, the cure is more democracy. When our public business is decided by a few, everyone suffers. Here in DC we can do better. We can seek and find the best across every river, creek, income bracket, diploma category, and age or gender status. We can step up to the plate and revive democracy in every precinct and ward.

I have been elected to public office twice and appointed once. I have lost one race – for the seat I now seek. I have learned that my experience matters and is effective in representing DC residents. I have also learned that I need to campaign better. And I will.

I enjoyed the support earlier this year of many public officials, including six sitting members of the DC Council. Many voters believe that because I was supported by veteran officer-holders I must “belong” to some of them – especially the ones that have lost some popularity.

Let me say very clearly what my record shows: I don’t belong to anyone except my conscience, the children who trusted me and other teachers to point them to a better way, and the District residents who entrust me to represent them.

The issue of belonging, however, is important to explore.

The person I will compete with for this nomination is a talented and hard working person. It is interesting, however, to see that he seems to belong to people beyond the borders of our city.

In my opponent’s last election, he raised 59% of his money out of the District – including from California, New York, Georgia and Florida. Almost half (47%) of contributors to his campaign were not DC residents.

For the record, 84% of my contributors were DC residents, who contributed 81% of my funds.

One thing we are learning about DC politics is that money talks. When it comes from strange places, you have to ask who is talking.

And, if you are wondering, I am more interested in reducing our 11% unemployment across the city, and 30% unemployment in Ward 8, than I am in any pay raise for myself.

I have met people in every ward who believe my message is important for this point in our politics. I am honored to have significant leadership help from people who don’t normally get involved in politics.

My message comes from these people and my conversations all over the District this summer. It is simple, but not easy: We can do better.

Our government can do better.

Our political leaders can do better.

But it starts with all of us paying attention, coming together, and doing democracy better.

I promise my best. Come help us get better results for all our people.

Thank you for coming.