Candidate Charles Wilson
(Democrat, Ward 8)

Age: 32

Occupation: Consultant

Education: BS, Accounting, Hampton University; JD/MBA University of Baltimore School of Law

Qualifications for Office Sought: Accomplished, dedicated attorney with an effective combination of legal and business experience, organizational skills, and leadership abilities. Possess a detailed understanding of a range of legal topics; employ efficient legal research abilities when approaching new issues. Developed and enacted a strategic plans to secure technology licensing. Founded and continues to lead a neighborhood grass-roots organization focused on..... Recognized as a leader among peers, often selected to provide leadership assistance to organizations.

EDUCATION: I wholeheartedly support the creation of a community college. Community colleges provide substantial benefits for working individuals and those un or under-employed who cannot afford to attend a four-year institution. Also, they introduce students into four-year programs, help local employers prepare and retain skilled and qualified workers, and offer accessible, affordable courses for adults who need to enhance their job skills.
More than 30 percent of adults in the District function at the lowest levels of literacy. One in three working families in the District is poor. Less than a third of District jobs are held by District residents. City residents with good jobs seek fewer social services and produce more tax revenue. I believe creating a community college will help close the gap of illiteracy and afford District residents to fill District of Columbia Government jobs.
I would support a freestanding community college preferably to be located in the Ward 8. It would offer working class families and the underemployed in a high-need community the opportunity to acquire skills and compete in the job market, while allowing UDC to focus on the mission of producing top-quality baccalaureate and graduate school programs.
I know the District is currently focused on primary and secondary education, but I feel post-secondary education is equally as important to supply the need to fill labor skill vacancies our City has with our own residents.

HOUSING: As the next Councilmember of Ward 8, I would support all the above-mentioned items to meet our affordable housing increases. I will also seek out other resources that include the following programs:

HOME: HOME provides formula grants to States and localities that communities use-often in partnership with local nonprofit groups-to fund a wide range of activities that build, buy, and/or rehabilitate affordable housing for rent or homeownership or provide direct rental assistance to low-income people.

SHOP: SHOP provides funds for eligible national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs for low-income persons and families.

Homeownership Zone Initiative: The Homeownership Zone Initiative (HOZ) is a HUD demonstration program that was launched in 1996 as part of a national strategy to expand homeownership. The goal of the HOZ initiative is to test the idea that cities can transform their blighted areas into stable, vibrant communities by creating entire new neighborhoods of mixed-income single-family homes, called Homeownership Zones.

HEALTH: I believe all children should have access to basic health care needs. Therefore, there should be universal health care program for all children in the District of Columbia to provide preventive care that will prepare them to be healthy adults. Additionally, universal health care for children would ensure that parents could provide the care they need for the children without fear of costly medical bills.

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