Meet The Candidate: Martín Miguel Fernández For DC Council

WASHINGTON, DC — In addition to voting for president and vice president of the United States in the Nov. 3 general election, voters in Washington, D.C., will choose a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives; at-large member of the D.C. Council; member of the D.C. Council for wards 2, 4, 7 and 8; U.S. senator; U.S. representative; at-large member of the State Board of Education; member of the State Board of Education for wards 2, 4, 7, and 8; and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner.

Martín Miguel Fernández is a 29-year-old science and technology policy expert who is running for the Ward 2 seat on the D.C. Council.

As part of its coverage of the 2020 election, Patch has asked candidates in select races in D.C. to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Candidate

Martín Miguel Fernández

Age (as of Election Day)

29

Office Sought

D.C. Council in Ward 2

Party Affiliation

Independent

Family

Do not wish to share

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

M.S. Biomedical Anthropology (Binghamton University), B.A. Anthropology (Syracuse University)

Occupation

Science and Technology Policy; 7 years

Campaign website

martinforward2.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

The single most pressing issue facing the District is affordable housing, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I intend to enact systemic changes like expanding and emboldening rent control, boosting funding for the Housing Production Trustfund to preserve and generate more affordable housing stock, and leveraging DOPA (District Opportunity to Purchase Act) to acquire housing stock.
In the more immediate term, I support expanding rental assistance programs, extending the moratorium on evictions for at least a year after the pandemic, freezing rent increases for two years after the public health emergency ends, and cancelling rent for tenants and mortgages for small owners who are experiencing severe and extended loss of income--with relief instead targeting landlords and lenders.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

Black Lives Matter. The uprisings related to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and many many others--including Deon Kay here in DC--are a justified reaction to a racist and abusive policing system that oppresses Black and brown life. I myself have participated in many direct actions and will continue to support in any way that I am needed.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

I support the calls to defund the police, and recently released a 14-point plan for divesting from police and reinvesting in critical social services, decoupling civilian and social worker functions from police, de-policing schools, demilitarizing our police force, and establishing accountability for excessive use of force. You can read it here: martinforward2.com/defundmpd

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

The national response has been a failure at every level. As a scientist, I am horrified by the total disregard for public health advice and data, and we are still experiencing a nationwide shortage in PPE and other critical supplies as the result of federal inaction. Moreover, the economic fallout has laid bare the inhumanity and inequalities in our society for everyone to see.
Locally, it's been a mixed bag. Most DC residents have been abided by regulations, including mask-wearing, and as a result, the overall prevalence rate and death count has not been as high as in other places. However, Black residents make up 75% of DC's COVID-19 deaths, and the prevalence rate is troublingly high in the Latinx community. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the structural racism that characterizes DC. Residents of color are feeling the impact of the pandemic in an outsized way, both medically speaking because of lack of access to care and other social determinants, and financially speaking since many are "frontline workers" or were already living on the brink.

Lastly, the Executive Office of the Mayor was found to be manipulating its own metrics and public dashboard in order to justify reopening for Phase 2. We cannot be altering data to accommodate business interests. We must follow the objective advice at hand and continue mask wearing and other limited operations until it is safe to do so. Until then, we should be doing whatever possible to keep people whole during this time of crisis.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am not encumbered by problematic allegations related to campaign finance violations, sharing connections with Jack Evans or Donald Trump, paying staff inadequately, or a conservative voting record. I am a Latinx immigrant and a lifelong resident of the area, and would be the first Latinx representative on the DC Council. As a medical anthropologist, I am uniquely qualified to address our current public health crisis, as well as the historic structural disparities of the District. Lastly, I am not driven by careerism or protecting monied interests; my sole motivation is to ensure that everyday people are getting a fair shake, and to stand up for our most vulnerable residents.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Interim Councilmember Pinto has failed to build trust with Ward 2 voters, who are particularly sensitive to unethical and morally questionable leadership after decades of Jack Evans. Whether through shady campaign finance moves, troubling connections to Donald Trump and Mar-A-Lago, unacceptable wage offerings for campaign staff, or generally being out-of-touch with the financial realities of District residents, the Councilmember has garnered a substantial amount of concern from DC residents in Ward 2 and beyond.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

1. Comprehensive local business relief through no-payback grants for establishments able to partially operate, and rent/mortgage cancellation for businesses unable to open.
2. Bridging the digital divide by launching a municipal broadband network and promoting digital literacy, to enable remote learning for students, telehealth, unemployment applications, and more.
3. Protecting workers during the pandemic and beyond through predictive scheduling laws, guarantees for workplace safety, right of refusal to return, and expanded unemployment benefits.
4. Becoming a true sanctuary city by passing the Sanctuary Values Act to prohibit collaboration with ICE, extending voting rights to permanent residents, ensuring funding for English Language Learners, and mirroring unemployment programs with cash assistance for excluded workers.
5. I won't mention policing here, as I go into that in a different response.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have managed and worked on large scale projects with substantial budgets in my federal and nonprofit experiences, which often required building consensus between several parties. I am also quite comfortable in the realm of policy.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Generating meaningful relief to save our local businesses, and all of the people who depend on them. We have already lost so many of our staples to gentrification and a hostile real estate market, we cannot continue to chip away at the soul of DC. Just as important are the service industry and entertainment workers, who are often neglected by policymakers and deserve real policy actions.

Why should voters trust you?

I am not a careerist or a plutocrat. I grew up here and know that DC can do better than perpetuating villainous levels of wealth disparity, and that entitlement and morally questionable leadership does not have to be the theme song of Ward 2.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

We are facing a revenue shortfall as a result of the pandemic, and DC is missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue by not raising taxes on wealthy residents and corporations. We must enact a more progressive tax code, including increased income taxes on high earners, adjustments to the estate tax threshold, mansion taxes, and getting rid of abused tax loopholes, in order to make sure everyone is paying their fair share in working towards a more equitable DC.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No.