Charles Wilson, a Ward 8 advisory neighborhood commissioner and a leader in the Historic Anacostia neighborhood, was re-elected as president of the Ward 8 Democrats with his slate winning easily as well.
Charles Wilson, an advisory neighborhood commissioner living in Historic Anacostia, was re-elected as the president of the Ward 8 Democrats. (Courtesy photo)
Wilson was elected to lead the politically-active club at the organization’s 2017 Biennial Convention held at the United Medical Center in Southeast Washington D.C. Wilson faced no significant opposition in his bid for re-election and told the AFRO he plans to move the organization forward.
“We have a lot of things to do,” Wilson said. “We will work on strengthening our precinct captain program so they can engage voters in their neighborhoods. We also want to work to fill all of the committee chair positions, particularly those that deal with fundraising and youth.”
Wilson said he will continue to work to get more youth involved in the organization and will seek to collaborate with other ward organizations. Combining the slogans of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, he called for “One City in All Eight Wards.”
“What is important to Ward 3 is important to Ward 8 and vice versa,” he said.
The other officers elected were Leonard Watson Jr., first vice president; Jackie Ward, second vice president; Tangie Garnett, recording secretary; Troy Donte Prestwood, corresponding secretary; and Darryl Ross was re-elected as treasurer.
The city’s top elected officials stopped by the convention to make speeches and rally the party members. In her remarks, Bowser noted that her political career started as an officer with the Ward 4 Democrats and said it was a privilege to serve as mayor of the District.
Pledging not to ignore Ward 8, Bowser talked about her jobs, housing and returning citizens initiatives. She also said she will talk to President Donald Trump about D.C. issues. Bowser did not go in to detail about potential issues to address with the president.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) updated the gathering of legislative activity surrounding approving the new teachers’ contract, funding issue with Metro and how to spend the expected surplus of more than $200 million in the city’s budget.
D.C. Council member Trayon White (D-Ward 8) served as the keynote speaker for the event. White talked about his legislative agenda that includes bills dealing with parking fees, burial assistance, Metro fare evasion, free community college for District residents, and school alternate suspensions or programs that will keep youth who misbehave in school instead of on the streets.
“We need to get Ward 8 Democrats more involved in what we are doing downtown,” he said.