Education
MBA
Qualifications
I bring more than three decades of experience spanning public service, international affairs, business, finance, education, and community leadership. My professional background includes service as a U.S. government international development contractor, work on Wall Street, teaching finance at New York University, and leading a Washington, D.C.-based small business since 2010. I have managed international development initiatives, worked with government agencies and private-sector organizations, and advised on economic and international affairs. With an MBA and extensive experience managing organizations, budgets, property, and complex projects, I bring a practical understanding of government, business, and the economic challenges facing Dist
Website
www.robert4senate.com
I have worked to strengthen civic participation and bring a broader range of District residents into the conversation about DC's future. Through my public-service, business, and community activities, I have emphasized that more than 700,000 District residents deserve meaningful representation and a strong voice in the federal decisions that affect them. I have also used my candidacy to engage voters who may not traditionally participate in the statehood debate and to encourage a more bipartisan discussion of representation, local self-government, and DC's relationship with Congress.
I will make the issue understandable to Americans outside Washington by focusing on the facts: District residents pay federal taxes, serve in the military, and fulfill the responsibilities of American citizenship, yet DC does not have voting representation in the U.S. Senate or House. I will engage civic organizations, elected officials, universities, businesses, veterans, and media throughout the country to explain this unique situation and encourage informed discussion about representation and self-government.
I will treat statehood as a national issue requiring sustained engagement beyond the District. I will meet with members of Congress from both parties, build relationships with state and local leaders, and engage civic, business, veterans, academic, and community organizations across the country. I will also work with the other members of DC's Statehood Delegation and the New Columbia Statehood Commission to educate Americans about DC's status and keep the issue before Congress. DC law specifically assigns the delegation responsibility for informing Congress and monitoring the statehood effort.
I will treat statehood as a national issue requiring sustained engagement beyond the District. I will meet with members of Congress from both parties, build relationships with state and local leaders, and engage civic, business, veterans, academic, and community organizations across the country. I will also work with the other members of DC's Statehood Delegation and the New Columbia Statehood Commission to educate Americans about DC's status and keep the issue before Congress. DC law specifically assigns the delegation responsibility for informing Congress and monitoring the statehood effort.
Education
BA Political Science, American University, JD LAW, AU Washington College of Law
Qualifications
Incumbent US Senator, Former ANC Commissioner and ANC Commission Chairperson, Attorney and Business Owner
Website
www.paulstrauss.org
As the ranking member of the DC Statehood Congressional Delegation, I have led our efforts to fund and implement Statehood Initiatives in conjunction with the New Columbia Statehood Commission. I have traveled to and engaged with State and local Legislators in targeted States to promote support for DC Statehood in areas where we need it most. I have continued to recruit high profile celebrity ambassadors for our "51 Stars" DC Statehood PSA Initiative. I have also worked with International Organizations, like the UNPO and other NGO's to frame the denial of DC's Self-Determination as an International Human Rights issue. This is all in addition to my direct engagement with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
By actually going "across the country" and continuing to directly engage with leaders. I will continue to travel to targeted states and engage with Legislators, as well as other community leaders in specific communities to promote support for DC Statehood in areas where we need to raise awareness the most. I will continue to recruit additional high profile celebrity participants for the "51 Stars" DC Statehood PSA Initiative and use those PSA's "across the country" in the parts of the US we need to visit the most. I also think it is important to promote close relations with the other territories. I went to Guam met with their Territorial Legislature and Governor, and Puerto Rico where I met with and trained their "shadow" Delegation.
The US Constitution makes clear that only the US Congress can admit new states. As a result, the chances of DC Statehood are tied to the political composition of Congress. Each new Congress will require a different legislative strategy based on which members hold which seats. Tailoring that strategy to the specific composition requires experience and knowledge of the historical struggles which transformed DC Statehood from a fringe issue on the left of the political spectrum to a more widely accepted solution to the problem of DC's disenfranchisement.
I will continue work to protect our rights and keep Congress and the President out of our local government business.
