Why I Am Running

Hi.  My name is Richard Urban, and I have lived in Washington, DC for 27 years.  I am here tonight to explain why I am asking for your support in my bid to be a candidate for Washington, DC City Council at large representative..

 First of all, I am running to represent YOU, the people of Washington, DC and their interests and needs as relating to the District of Columbia government.  I am especially running to represent those whose voices have not been heard:  parents and their school age children attending DC public schools.  I will fight for the right of their children to have the best resources possible to assure a bright future.

 I am running to encourage the formation of two parent man and woman families.  These families provide the best outcomes for children, and will provide a stable environment for the growth and prosperity of Washington DC.  The right of every Washington DC citizen to have such a family must be protected.  The family must be defined as one man and one woman only, and tax laws and regulations must not discriminate against this definition.  I will fight for the right of DC voters to vote on this issue.  I will work to make government and tax regulations more friendly to marriage and to working families struggling to make ends meet.

 I am running to fight for every child to have the option of a program that emphasizes sexual abstinence so that they can be free from the burden and consequences of premature sexual activity.  I will introduce legislation to fund programs that emphasize sexual abstinence in preparation for marriage as the expected standard for school age youth.

 I am running to stop the spread of HIV/AIDs in Washington, DC.    With 6.5% of black men and 2.6 % of Black females infected with HIV/AIDS, and many more infected and not reported we must take action immediately to promote sexual abstinence and faithfulness between couples.  The message is simple:  don’t have sex outside of marriage or a lifetime monogamous relationship and remain faithful to one partner to stop the spread of HIV/AIDs.

 I am running to return control of the DC public schools to an elected school board and to remove Chancellor Michelle Rhee. I will fight to help public institutions like schools cooperate more with churches, community organizations and those who would like to lend a hand.

 I am running to bring transparency and honesty to government.  Government belongs to the people, and must be as transparent as possible.  I am running to make the City Council and city government more accountable to the citizens of Washington DC.

 I am running to make policing in Washington, DC more community based, and to have better coordination between the Police Department and community, block, and other neighborhood organizations.

 In short, I am running to serve you, and to help each family to raise children that will be successful happy and safe, which will make the entire city a better place to live.  I am running because the DC government has been hijacked by those who do not represent the values that most DC citizens hold dear.  Thank you.