The Socialist Workers petitioning campaign takes place in the midst of a citywide scandal. The Board of Elections unanimously voted July 26 to deny the incumbent, Mayor Anthony Williams, a spot on the September 10 Democratic primary ballot due to irregularities with the 10,102 signatures submitted by his campaign workers, who were paid $1 a name.

British prime minister Anthony Blair, United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, Martha Stewart, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and television star Kelsy Grammar were among the names found on petitions, as well as page after page filled out in the same handwriting. In addition, pages of signatures were discounted on the basis that a number of those circulating petitions were not registered to vote. This is despite a Supreme Court ruling that has struck down laws requiring petition circulators to be registered voters.

Several of Williams’s campaign workers related the difficulties they found in getting signatures on petitions for Williams in working-class areas. "People would say, ‘Mayor Williams, I don’t want him in there another four years,’" recalled one of his campaign workers.

Williams plans to run a write-in campaign for the primary and has filed an appeal of the election board’s ruling. There is no Republican Party candidate for mayor, nor any other prominent Democratic Party candidate.

"What really lies behind the scandal is not the ineptness of the Williams campaign, but rather the deep social crisis facing working people in this city," Manuel stated. "This is a city that has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation, comparable to many cities in colonial countries. The AIDS case rate in the capital of the most powerful imperialist country on earth at the end of 2000 was 153 per 100,000 people, 10 times the national rate of 14.4 per 100,000. Some 22,349 city residents are known to be living with AIDS or are HIV positive. For African-American men in Washington the high rates of death from AIDS and from prostate cancer are an indicator of the deplorable state of health care in this city," Manuel reported.

"The Socialist Workers campaign opposes the antidemocratic election laws that are actually aimed at keeping working-class candidates off the ballot," the socialist candidate explained. "In neighboring Maryland, for instance, statewide candidates from non-major parties are required to collect 27,117 signatures to get on the ballot. Unlike my Democratic Party opponent, my campaign supporters are not paid for their signatures, but are all volunteers," Manuel said.

Manuel is a garment worker and member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE). He is explaining to working people and youth that the economic and social crisis they face is a result of the dog-eat-dog system of capitalism. "Workers and farmers are capable of taking power through revolutionary struggle," Manuel said in an interview, "and forming a government of workers and farmers that will join in the worldwide fight for socialism."

Central to Manuel’s campaign is opposition to Washington’s war drive. Many people who have stopped to sign his petition have said they are against the U.S. war moves against Iraq. "We have no business being over there," exclaimed George Young, as he signed a petition.

Manuel traveled to Springfield, Virginia, August 3 to meet workers on strike against Dominion Virginia/North Carolina Power. Some 3,700 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers had walked out the day before. Campaign supporters were warmly greeted by the strikers.

Dave Osborne, a 16-year underground cable installer, singled out the campaign’s stance against farm foreclosures. "My family lost our farm to the banks," he explained. Manuel kicked off his campaign in mid-July by attending a press conference in Washington of 30 farmers who are Black who are fighting against the racist discrimination they face in obtaining federal loans. Manuel pledged his campaign’s support to their fight to keep their land.

Many people who have signed the petition have readily agreed with the campaign demands for federally funded cradle-to-grave health care coverage, workers compensation, pensions, and dependents benefits.

The socialist campaign puts forth the need for jobs for all at union-scale wages by reducing the workweek to 30 hours work at 40 hours pay. Campaign supporters explain that a public works program is needed to build and repair schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and affordable housing.

"I don’t hear the mayor talk about affordable housing," commented Margaret Hanson, as she signed a petition in the northeast section of the city. "It’s ridiculous," she added. "Working people have to work two and three jobs and with four or five children can only afford to live in a one- or two-bedroom apartment."

At the same shopping center, Maudie Haynesworth said the city government "only has money for things to help the wealthy, not for things like schools or fixing the roads." She was happy to sign the petition for a working-class candidate.

To campaign with the young socialists and others, contact the DC Socialist Workers 2002 Campaign at (202) 387-1590 or at dc-swp@starpower.net.

Click here for leaflet handed out by supporters of the Socialist Workers election campaign in New York.
 
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