Resolution 20-05-R02: IN FAVOR – Irene K.

IN FAVOR: Irene K.

for Resolution 20-05-R02

I am one of the co-sponsors on the resolution to endorse Ed Lazere for D.C. Council at large. I have worked on a few electoral campaigns in this chapter in support of Irma Corado and Yasmine Taeb in Virginia in 2019. Most recently, I was co-chair of the working group for Janeese Lewis George, who won her primary election in Ward 4.

I think one of the most important lessons we took away from the Ward 4 council race was how important it is to build a united progressive front in order to successfully challenge establishment candidates backed by wealthy donors and corporations. Janeese was able to pull together a coalition of labor unions, progressive nonprofit organizations, racial and migrant justice organizations, environmental groups, and D.C. elected officials, which ended up being hugely important in terms of securing donations and recruiting volunteers for her campaign.

I was not only impressed by Ed Lazere’s detailed responses in our endorsement questionnaire and on the candidate call last week, but I also think it’s incredibly promising that Ed has been endorsed by many of the same organizations that supported Janeese. I believe that his name recognition across the city and his close ties to D.C. labor and progressive organizations are a huge asset that will make the difference in an increasingly crowded field. I appreciate that over the past few months, I saw Ed work closely with Janeese on many joint statements and events and spend time volunteering for her campaign. Ed Lazere shares our organization’s values and progressive commitments, and perhaps most importantly, I think he has a very good shot at winning. I would strongly urge our members to vote to endorse Ed Lazere and help us win a democratic socialist bloc on the D.C. Council.