10 Shared Values

I. Stewardship

We recognize that all elected officials and public employees of the District of Columbia are commissioned with a responsibility by tax-paying residents to operate assets within a specific area of responsibility that is most beneficial for the majority of residents concerned. Responsible stewardship is selfless, service-oriented, and beneficial to the taxpayer; it rejects self-aggrandizement and personal benefit. Stewardship is the highest degree of trust afforded to each elected official and public employee and that each decision made must comport to the overall trust of the public good.

II. Communication

Proper two-way communication is necessary for the governing of the public good. District of Columbia leadership will enhance two-way communication through corporate and direct means such as the creation and maintenance of a robust District of Columbia website, improved electronic commerce, newsletters, phone calls and much more. We will manage in a way to minimize voicemail so that direct communication to a live body is maximized through proper staffing. Phone messages will be responded to within 24 hours if a voicemail message is left. All residents are considered our customers and will be treated with dignity and the utmost respect.

All complaints, suggestions and commendations will be recorded in a database to ensure resolution in a timely fashion. We will also improve communications by proactively developing, maintaining, and widely disseminating comprehensive and accurate information about our plans, activities, and accomplishments in a timely manner to all elected officials, public employees, and residents.

III. Safety

The District of Columbia will enhance a sense of safety by working across the business units of Police, Fire and Emergency Management to serve one cogent philosophy of safety and emergency response under one operational command. In addition, the mayor candidate (Rhonda Hamilton) as the face of Public Safety will create outreach opportunities and strategies with each department head to continuously maximize safety, as well as offer timely communication regarding safety concerns to residents.

IV. Collaboration

Decisions in the District of Columbia will not be made unilaterally, except for executive actions (such as lowering flag at half-staff, committee assignments, and the like). However, where possible each elected and public official will operate within a committee and request input from colleagues and residents from such a committee, public or established sounding board, that would help to come to a consensus decision whenever possible.

V. Credibility

All District of Columbia officials and employees will operate in a manner that is personally above reproach, will treat people well, will be Fair, Firm, and Equal. There will be no favoritism or partiality to one entity over another. We will govern the assets of the District of Columbia, make decisions, and carry ourselves in a manner that, although all may not always agree, it will be done in the right way and for the right reasons. Consequently, we will manage in a way that allows residents to see that we operate with credibility and not partiality.

VI. Continuous Improvement

We will operate in a manner that we will never be satisfied with the status quo but will seek to personally and collectively enhance our skills and best-business practices that would set us apart and enhance public value and trust while propelling the District of Columbia forward.

VII. Diversity & Inclusion

We seek to balance our leadership in a way that guards against “groupthink.” The more a group or organization is monolithic in race, age, gender, and affiliation, the more we tend to think the same and be trapped in inertia. When we afford others that are different and harness a cross-section of various talent pools, the more we come out of our “comfort zones” to collectively think and develop on a higher, more challenging level. This benefits the District of Columbia as an organization, as well as better prepares residents to be benefitted from a more diverse team.

VIII. Servant-Leadership

The District of Columbia will not be a place where we use our positions for our personal ego or selfish motives. All DC officials will be called upon to be a leader and mentor of others who will “model the way” through nobler motivation of service. We will operate in a manner where we “serve” our constituents. We will seek out, listen to, and become responsive, and sensitive to residents/customers even if we disagree. We will not become disagreeable or shut down. We will also seek to identify and mentor our younger generations and youth so that they will be prepared to take on the leadership challenges of tomorrow.

IX. Residents First

All District of Columbia officials are to operate with a maxim that the residents’ concerns come first. Are the residents or customers always, right? The answer is “no, the resident or customer is not always right.” However, we must always remember that they ARE the residents/or customers. As such, they should be treated as tax-paying customers as they are. We serve them, they do not serve us.

X. Growth & Development

All public officials are responsible for their own personal growth and development and are expected to become more knowledgeable and useful in their areas of stewardship through academic courses, PSAB conferences, best business practices and the like, so that we can be the most optimal stewards of public assets to the residents that we serve.