Kevin Chavous
Washington Business Journal Mayoral Candidate Survey

1. What specific actions would you take to improve the District's business climate?

My administration will respond to the needs of both small businesses and large corporations for a streamlined, user-friendly regulatory and tax environment. Business operations overseen by the District — from planning to permitting — must be automated and under one roof proper implementation of regulatory reforms, review :of legislative, regulatory and tax burdens and frequent meetings with businesses and their representatives as well as the communities they serve, we will support viable commercial opportunities.

The Chavous administration will aggressively: 1) recruit appropriate commercial development near or in residential Washington; V recruit hi-tech businesses to operate both downtown and in the neighborhoods; 3) recruit appropriate businesses for neighborhood corridors; 4) use public funds to leverage private sector development; 5) link job training to job opportunities for our citizens; 6) focus on capturing more of the tourism dollar; and 7) use the tools available through the National Capital Revitalization Act and the Tax Increment Financing Authorization Act to encourage firms to locate in the city. In addition, we must assist cost containment and ease of operation.

2. Why do you support (or oppose) construction of a new convention center at Mount Vernon Square

I voted against the proposed Convention Center at the Mount Vernon Square site. While I support a new convention center of a size adequate to attract large conventions, I'm not convinced that spending close to a billion dollars on a building that will be obsolete in ten years is a good investment of public economic development monies. The city should consider attractive alternative sites such as the Northeast 1 site which could be a centerpiece for major economic development.

3. Please explain your position on rent control

I support rent control and do not support "vacancy decontrol" in order to maintain neighborhood stability.

4. What is your position on reforming the District's costly worker's compensation and unemployment benefits?

As Mayor, one of my first actions will be to examine the operation of the District's program to assure that it is operating in a cost-efficient manner. Savings generated through reductions in operating costs could then be directed to reducing employer payments and/or to supporting the delivery of benefits to those injured.

5. What changes in the DC Tax Code do you support, if any? Please comment on the two recently proposed options: a 0.35 percent gross receipts tax; and a 1.5 percent business activities or “value-added tax.”

I support reductions in the corporate franchise tax, sales tax and property tax, as long as these reductions are balanced by savings generated through management efficiencies within the District government or other new revenues. I do not support either a value-added tax or an additional gross receipt tax.

6. How will you improve the District's relationship with key members of Congress?

I have met and will continue to meet frequently with key members of Congress. I will lobby for true self-determination for the District and the right of our citizens to have the District run by their elected officials. As Mayor I will represent the interests of the District before Congress and urge congressional action based on our recommendations.

7. How can you improve the working relationship between the mayor, DC Council and the financial control board?

After two years of balanced budgets, the District is moving rapidly toward return to elected government. We've paid over $20 million to consultants to verify what District citizens and civic organizations have already defined as our problems and solutions. It's time we implemented the reforms and delivered the services our taxpayers expect.

The last budget process illustrated that an improved working relationship between the three parties is possible and can be productive. As Mayor, I will emphasize centralized information flow and regularly scheduled meetings to streamline the working relationship between all parties and set goals for the implementation of the prescribed management reforms.

8. What are your priorities for economic development?

My administration's economic development priorities are to: 1) develop incentives to retain and attract federal employers and the tourism and the information technology industries; 2) recruit and retain viable businesses to locate in our neighborhoods; and 3) work with employers to identify entry level jobs to be filled with DC job-seekers.

We will emphasize:

• skills training for those already employed. Programs like New York's Metro Tech, which connects employers, employees and job training for specific jobs, will be established.
• working with the schools and the University of the District of Columbia to increase the numbers of new job-seekers with the requisite technical preparation.
• economic policy reform to reduce the barriers and frustrations faced by new and established businesses. facilitating competition by DC workers for available jobs in near-in suburbs, including transportation, job fairs and other support services such as child care.
• working closely with unions and employers, both to ensure fair treatment of workers and that apprenticeship opportunities are open to new workers.

9. The Mayor's office now has diminished powers. What can you do to restore respect to the office?

I intend to win this election with a strong majority of the vote and with this mandate from District voters, I will lobby not only for the full restoration of mayoral power but all rights accorded to citizens of a democratic nation. My parents taught me that respect is earned. As Mayor l intend to earn the respect of all those who live and/or work in or visit our city.

10. Do you think the current system is preferable to having a city manager or commissioner system? Why?

I do not support any change in the structure of the District government that reduces the role of elected officials. The choice to make these structural changes belongs to . District citizens — not the mayor — and must be made in open forum, ratified by referendum and clarified in law. As Mayor, I will facilitate these the discussions.

More important, my task as Mayor is to reconnect District citizens to their government. Citizens must understand their government and have effective say in its operation. Truly democratic governments have nothing to fear through greater public participation in the decision-making process.

11. Additional Comments

The neighborhoods of Washington, DC must be stabilized, protected, served and developed. Our neighborhoods and the people who live there are the heart and soul of the District. Residents are our single largest source of revenue. Yet, major capital and economic development projects rarely leave downtown and benefit mainly commuters and tourists.

We can not continue to base our economic development hopes on ethereal capital projects like the proposed convention center at Mount Vernon Square. With a projected cost close to $1 billion, the center promises only a "trickle-down" benefit to our neighborhoods and, more predictably, will have a long-term negative impact.

The key is to welcome people back to District neighborhoods. The most stable investment the District can have is residents invested in their jobs, homes and families.

As Mayor, my policies, budgets and programs will focus on building neighborhoods, retaining neighbors and attracting new residents and residential and business developments. To get there, we need:

• Good schools and libraries with good teachers and administrators Parks, well-maintained with professional staff
• Businesses that serve the residents Safe streets, secure public spaces
• Economic development that makes sense first and foremost for DC communities
• Cost efficient, user-friendly service delivery

My administration will ensure that our city isn't left again with barren neighborhoods, failing small businesses and billions of dollars in debt after the developers and builders have moved on.