Adrian M. Fenty was elected the fifth Mayor of the District of Columbia in November 2006. He has made quality public education for all and efficient and accountable government hallmarks of his administration.
Removing layers of bureaucracy and increasing efficiencies have resulted in major improvements in the test score results. In 2008, both elementary and secondary schools achieved significant gains in reading and math proficiency, compared to a lackluster performance in past years. His administration has also taken on a massive, five-year maintenance and construction effort to dramatically improve school buildings by 2014.
Fenty worked as the lead attorney and counsel for the DC Council Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation before throwing his hat in the ring for the Ward Four council seat and defeating a four-term incumbent in 2000. After being re-elected in 2004 for a second Council term, Fenty made the decision to run for Mayor in the 2006 race. He won all 142 precincts in the city’s democratic primary and went on to be sworn in on January 2, 2007.
Vincent C. Gray Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
With his long-standing involvement with and commitment to children, Vincent C. Gray has a solid reputation as a champion for young people and their families. His career in social services spans over 30 years, beginning with his service as Executive Director of the D.C. Association for Retarded Citizens, where he successfully advocated public policy initiatives on behalf of people with mental retardation in the Washington metropolitan area.
In 1991, Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly appointed Mr. Gray to the post of Director of the Department of Human Services. In this position, he oversaw the functions of a 7,000 person department and directed DHS’s activities related to Public Health, Social Services, Mental Health Services and Health Care Finance. Mr. Gray shepherded the implementation of several initiatives to address the developmental needs of children and served longer than any other Director since the department became DHS in 1980.
Jack Evans Councilmember for Ward 2 Jack was first elected to the Council of the District of Columbia in a 1991 special election and re-elected in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. In 2001, Jack was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Chair Pro Tempore (Vice Chair) of the DC Council.
At the Council, Jack serves as Chair of the Council's Committee on Finance and Revenue, which oversees the District's finances and tax policy. In addition to earning a reputation as one of DC's toughest budget and tax stewards, Jack has used this Committee to secure approval of many major legislative tax reforms. Jack worked vigorously towards: reducing tax rates; simplifying DC's antiquated Tax Code; promoting tax breaks for working families; and, establishing incentives for businesses.
Jack also serves on two standing Council committees - Economic Development and Public Safety and the Judiciary. As a member of the Economic Development Committee, Jack has brought a number of high profile projects to Ward 2. Jack was involved in the development of the Verizon (MCI) Center, the Convention Center, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and most recently the resurgence of the 14th Street Corridor - notably the Studio Theater.
Guangyuan Liu MInister, Embassy of China in the United States
Minister Guangyuan Liu started his diplomatic career in 1986 after university graduation. He worked successively in the department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of China in Ghana, the Embassy of China in Nigeria and the department of Personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc, and had been appointed as deputy director and director. In 2000, Minister Liu was appointed as deputy consul general in the consulate general of China in San Francisco, US, and in 2002, he became deputy director general of the department of Personnel of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He took his office as Minister of the Embassy of China in the United States in October 20, 2007.
Soohyun Koo
Director, Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
Ms. Soohyun "Julie" Koo was appointed Executive Director of the Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs in March 2007. Ms. Koo is known as a leader who is very sensitive to the needs of ethnic communities and has an in-depth understanding about the District's Asian and Pacific Islander community. Ms. Koo has focused on working closely with community based organizations, community activists, business leaders, and other government agencies and officials at all levels in order to increase community access to city services and civic participation.
Ms. Koo holds an M.A in Interpretation and Translation from the highly regarded Graduate School of International Studies of Hankook University, and earned a BA degree in History from HallymUniversity in South Korea.
Gabe Klein
Director, District Department of Transportation
Mayor Adrian Fenty announced the appointment of Mr. Gabe Klein as the permanent DDOT Director in December 2008. Mr. Klein is an entrepreneurial executive with over 12 years experience leading marketing, business development, and operations efforts for both start-up and established retail, transportation and technology-oriented companies. Along with a passion for public service, Mr. Klein brings to the position a commitment to quality customer service, a talent for developing innovative transportation solutions, and an entrepreneurial flair born of his experience in the private sector.
He is the co-founder and most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of On the Fly, an innovative, boutique food-service company with retail, wholesale, catering and events businesses all-in-one.
Linda Argo
Director, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Linda K. Argo was appointed by Mayor Adrian Fenty as Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), in June, 2007. She served in interim and acting director capacities from April until September, 2007 when she was confirmed by the DC Council.
Argo has over 30 years of management experience, the last nine of which have included managing major innovations in District government service delivery. She served as the chief of staff and public information officer at the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) for nearly six years.
Argo graduated with honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara and has a master’s degree from the University of Southern California. In 2005, she completed the Executive Education Certificate Program, Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies, at HarvardUniversity’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Chinese Lunar New Year Parade, Year of the SNAKE will be held on Sunday, February 10th, 2013 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Chinatown, DC
