Vincent Orange

For the British-born New Zealand historian, see Vincent Orange (historian).
Vincent Orange
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia, At-Large
In office
May 10, 2011 – August 15, 2016
Preceded by Sekou Biddle
Succeeded by Robert White
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 5
In office
January 2, 1999 – January 2, 2007
Preceded by Harry Thomas, Sr.
Succeeded by Harry Thomas, Jr.
Personal details
Born (1957-04-11) April 11, 1957
Oakland, California, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater University of the Pacific
Howard University
Georgetown University

Vincent Bernard Orange, Sr. (born April 11, 1957) is a former politician from Washington, D.C., who is currently the President of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce. An attorney and a certified public accountant, Orange represented Ward 5 on the Council of the District of Columbia from 1999 to 2007, and was an At-Large member from 2011 to 2016. He lost the June 2016 Democratic primary election to Robert White. Although his term was not due to end until January 2, 2017, Orange resigned from the council effective August 15, 2016, in the wake of conflict of interest charges over his new employment at the Chamber of Commerce.

Early years

Vincent Bernard Orange[1] was born April 11, 1957,[2] and raised in Oakland, California.[3] With a scholarship Orange attended Fountain Valley School of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[4] He graduated from the University of the Pacific, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1979[5] and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1980.[5] In 1983, he earned a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law.[5] He worked as a senior tax accountant for accounting firm Arthur Andersen from 1983 to 1987.[5] In 1988, he graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he earned a Master of Laws in Taxation.[5] Orange is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[6]

In 1981, Orange worked weekends as a security guard at The Washington Post, a position he kept for fourteen years.[4] From 1987 to 1989,[5] Orange worked for the District's Department of Finance and Revenue.[7] He was manager of the District's Tax Amnesty Program, and he was acting chief of the District's Office of Real Property Tax Assessment Services Division.[3] In 1988, he served as a United States delegate to the United States/Japan Bilateral Session: "A New Era in Legal and Economic Relations", in Tokyo, Japan. In 1990, he served as a delegate to the Moscow Conference on the Law and Bilateral Economic Relations, in Moscow, USSR.

Early electoral history

Unsuccessful 1990 race

In 1990, he ran for chair of the Council of the District of Columbia, against Democrat John A. Wilson, who was then a council member representing Ward 2.[8] Also running for chair was Libertarian Party candidate Jacques Chevalier.[8][9] Orange criticized Wilson's chairmanship of the Council's Finance and Revenue Committee, noting that the District's financial troubles happened during Wilson's eleven-year tenure.[3] Orange advocated collecting unpaid tax bills, rather than increasing tax rates, as he said Wilson wanted to do.[3] Wilson won the Democratic primary with 82 percent of the vote, to Orange's 18 percent.[10]

In 1991, he was hired as acting director of internal audit[11] for the University of the District of Columbia.[12] The next year, Orange discovered that the university was paying a fuel supplier, Tri-Continental, for fuel it never actually received.[11] According to the District's inspector general, over a period of eighteen months, the District had paid one-million dollars to Tri-Continental for fuel it had not received.[11] The day after Orange released his memo naming two university administrators to be at fault, Orange's employment was terminated.[11] The university said that Orange had been hired under an invalid contract.[11]

Unsuccessful 1993 race

After Wilson's suicide in 1993,[13] Orange was one of seven individuals to file to run to fill the position of Council Chair.[14] Also filing to run in the race were Ward 4 Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis and Linda Cropp.[15] Orange did not collect enough signatures to run, and his candidacy was disqualified by the District of Columbia Board of Elections.[16] Orange's appealed, saying that the District's requirement of filing nominating petitions with 3,000 valid signatures was onerous, but District of Columbia Court of Appeals disagreed, and Orange stayed off the ballot.[17] Orange declared himself a write-in candidate.[18] Clarke won the election with 47 percent of the vote; write-in votes, including those for Orange, were one percent of the total.[19]

Unsuccessful 1995 race

In 1994, Orange ran for councilmember to represent Ward 5, along with Harry Thomas, Sr. and eight other Democratic party candidates.[20] Orange advocated banning new liquor licenses, developing Fort Lincoln, and building a new convention center at New York Avenue and Florida Avenue.[21] Thomas won with 39 percent of the vote, compared to Orange's 17 percent.[22]

Council of the District of Columbia

1998 successful Council race

In 1998, Orange ran again for councilmember to represent Ward 5; Harry Thomas, Sr. ran for reelection.[23] The Washington Post's editorial board endorsed Orange's candidacy.[24] Orange emphasized improvements to New York Avenue, improving the economy and schools, and restricting liquor licenses.[25] Orange defeated Thomas, receiving 38 percent of the vote to Thomas' 34 percent.[26] The Washington Post called described it as an upset victory.[27] Orange won the general election as well with 89 percent of the vote.[28]

Unsuccessful 2006 mayoral race

In 2006, Orange ran for District mayor. During his campaign, he said he was against same-sex marriage.[29] In September 2006, Orange lost his bid for mayor in the Democratic primary, receiving 2.9% of the vote.[30]

From 2007[31] to 2010, Orange was the regional vice president for Pepco Holdings Inc. for the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Unsuccessful Council Chair race

In 2010, Orange announced his candidacy for Chair of District Council, challenging at-large council member Kwame Brown for the position.[32] At the time, he was working as the Chief Financial Officer of the National Children's Center.[33] Orange said he was now in favor of same-sex marriage, changing his position from four years earlier, saying "times change."[29] After three credit card companies sued Brown for unpaid bills and Brown said his mortgage and other personal debt totaled around $700,000, Orange said Brown's poor handling of his personal finances should make him unfit to handle the District's finances.[34] Orange was also critical of irregularities in Brown's financial filings for his previous two campaigns, which Brown attributed to accounting errors.[34] Two of Orange's campaign aides resigned due to the negative tone of his campaign.[35] The editorial board of The Washington Post endorsed Orange's candidacy.[36] All but one of the sitting council members endorsed Brown's reelection.[37] Brown won the Democratic primary with 55 percent of the vote, while Orange received 39 percent.[38] Brown won in the general election as well.[39]

Having run for Council Chair rather than reelection to his Ward 5 seat, Orange was no longer on the Council. When Brown resigned from his at-large council seat, Orange lobbied the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee to be appointed as the interim to replacement on the Council,[40] but they voted to appoint Sekou Biddle to the seat instead.[41]

Successful 2011 Council race

Orange was a candidate in the 2011 special election to fill the at-large seat; Biddle ran in the special election to keep the seat as well.[42] The editorial board of The Washington Post endorsed the candidacy of Republican Patrick Mara.[43] Orange won election with 28 percent of the vote.[44][45]

In March 2011, the Council was trying to close a budget shortfall, and it considered taxing out-of-state bonds for upper-income individuals.[46] Orange only decided to support the idea on the condition that the Council would budget spending $500,000 for an Emancipation Day parade at the Lincoln Theatre, of which Orange in on the board of directors.[46]

In June 2011, the Washington City Paper reported that Orange received more than $100,000 of campaign contributions from Jeffrey Thompson,[47] CEO of a health provider accused of defrauding the DC government.[48] When council member Muriel Bowser introduced an ethics bill that would disqualify mayors and council members convicted of felonies while in office, Orange opposed the bill, saying it would create unneeded bureaucracy.[49] Orange supported new restrictions on medical marijuana retailers and adult entertainment businesses in Northeast.[50] Orange was in favor of using District funds to build Nationals Park.[51]

2012 term and reelection

On June 6, 2012, Federal prosecutors charged District Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown with one count of bank fraud in U.S. District Court; Brown resigned from the Council later that day.[52] Upon Kwame R. Brown's resignation, it became the responsibility of the Council to vote to appoint one of the at-large council members to the vacant seat of Chair.[53] Orange and Phil Mendelson both wanted to be appointed Chair.[54] After the Council voted to appoint Mendelson the new Chair, Orange asked the Council to appoint him to Mendelson's former position of Chair pro tem.[55] The Council voted to appoint Michael A. Brown to the position of Chair pro tem.[55] Orange felt appointing an independent council member to a position formerly held by a Democrat was a poor idea.[55]

In 2012, Orange ran for reelection as at-large council member, his fifth campaign in six years.[50] Orange received $26,000 of money orders, which he called "suspicious" campaign donations, all in sequential numbers and written in the same handwriting.[56] The money orders may have been connected to city contractor Jeffrey E. Thompson, whose home and office had been raided by the FBI and the IRS.[50] Jeanne Clarke Harris later admitted she had run a straw donor scheme funded by Thompson.[57] Orange won the Democratic primary with 42 percent of the vote[58] and the subsequent general election with 38 percent of the vote.[59] During his term in office, Orange supported a bill to increase the minimum wage to $12.50 per hour for certain large employers.[60]

In December 2012, health inspectors found unsanitary conditions and rat droppings in a produce market in the Florida Avenue Market.[61] The District of Coumbia Department of Health ordered the market be closed immediately.[61] Orange intervened for the owner, who had donated to Orange's campaign,[62] While Orange accepted responsibility of the charges, he insisted he performed a function of constituent service and thus did not violate the council's Code of Conduct or abuse his position.[62] Orange agreed he would attend ethics training and never abuse his position again.[62] Orange said he thought his actions were an acceptable constituent service and that his behavior did not reflect poorly on him at all.[62]

To settle the matter, Orange agreed to attend ethics training. “In the past, this has been clearly acceptable constituent service, but now you have people looking at it a different way,” Orange told the Post’s Tim Craig. To the Examiner, he said, “I don’t think it reflects poorly on me at all.”and health inspectors allowed the market to open the next day.[61]

Unsuccessful 2013 mayoral race

On November 8, 2013, Orange announced that he would run for Mayor of the District of Columbia in the 2014 election.[63] His campaign slogans were "Leaving No One Behind" and "Taking No One for Granted".[64] He supported demolishing Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and replacing it with a commercial strip, a golf course, a movie sound stage, a hotel, an indoor waterpark, and a film and photography center.[65] In the Democratic primary, he came sixth out of eight candidates, receiving 1,946 votes (2.01%).[66]

Unsuccessful 2016 reelection race

Orange filed to run for reelection in October 2015.[67] The same month, former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Shaw resident[68] David Garber filed to run against Orange, calling Orange "a corrupt politician with deep pockets."[67] Robert White, a former aide to District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine and resident of Brightwood Park, also ran against Orange.[69]

The editorial board of The Washington Post endorsed Orange's candidacy.[70]

Committees

Orange served on the following committees while on the Council of the District of Columbia:

Council resignation

On July 28, 2016, the D.C. Chamber of Commerce announced that it had selected Vincent Orange to be the organization's next president. Council rules permit outside employment, and Orange said he had received guidance from the city's ethics office that his new job would not create a conflict of interest with his council work.[71] Orange's new job created a public scandal. His colleagues on the council strongly disputed Orange's claim that there was no conflict of interest.[72] On August 3, Orange dissolved a subcommittee on business regulation, which he chaired.[73]

On August 5, with the scandal only worsening, Orange announced he would retire from the council on August 15, 2016, the same day on which his Chamber of Commerce position began.[74] Orange officially left the council on August 15, reminding the public of his 12 years of "service above self". No other council members appeared at his press conference. The D.C. Office of Government Ethics said it would soon issue a draft of restrictions that would limit Orange's ability to lobby the Council, as required by law.[75]

The D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability ruled in late September 2016 that Orange did not break ethics laws or regulations in seeking the Chamber of Commerce position.[76]

D.C. Chamber of Commerce presidency

Orange's appointment as the president the D.C. Chamber of Commerce (DCCoC) was effective at noon on August 15, 2016. Orange said that, due to legal restrictions on his ability to lobby is former Council colleagues, he would, for the immediate future, focus on adding new members to the DCCoC and raising funds for its operations.[75]

Personal life

Orange lives in Ward 5,[5] with his wife, Gwendolyn.[77] He has three children,[77] and is a member of the Metropolitan AME Church.[78]

References

  1. ↑ Suderman, Alan (June 13, 2012). "VO Goes Loco". Washington City Paper.
  2. ↑ "Voters Guide 2006 Supplement" (PDF). The Washington Informer. 2006-09-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Abramowitz, Michael; Richardson, Lynda (August 25, 1990). "In Chairman's Race, Wilson Won't Rest". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  4. 1 2 Hendrix, Steve (February 24, 2014). "D.C. mayoral hopeful Vincent Orange: Running to win but willing to lose". The Washington Post.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "District of Columbia Voters' Guide". The Washington Post. September 6, 1990. p. VGDC4.
  6. ↑ "Vincent Orange". The Washington Post. September 9, 2010.
  7. ↑ McCall, Nathan (June 7, 1990). "Council Contests Shape Up; Contenders Crowd At-Large Seat Race". The Washington Post. p. J1.
  8. 1 2 McCall, Nathan (March 18, 1990). "D.C. Elections Certain To Shake Up Council; Leadership, Balance of Power Likely to Shift". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  9. ↑ Abramowitz, Michael (July 6, 1990). "Candidates Play Beat the Clock; D.C. Board of Elections Gets Crush of Petitions Near Deadline". The Washington Post. p. D3.
  10. ↑ Sanchez, Rene (September 12, 1990). "Winter Loses Ward 6 Seat; Wilson, Cropp Triumph". The Washington Post. p. A21.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Henderson, Nell (August 5, 1992). "D.C. Fuel Supplier Is Accused: Official Says Firm Got $1 Million for Phantom Deliveries". The Washington Post. p. A1.
  12. ↑ Harriston, Keith (June 22, 1991). "UDC Board To Choose President: U. of Penn Official Is Leading Candidate". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  13. ↑ Sanchez, Rene (May 20, 1993). "John Wilson Found Dead in Apparent Suicide: Friends Cite Depression, Anxiety About Career". The Washington Post. p. A1.
  14. ↑ Sanchez, Rene (July 8, 1993). "Seven File Petitions to Run For D.C. Council Chairman". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  15. ↑ Sanchez, Rene (July 23, 1993). "D.C. Board of Trade Among Jarvis Backers: Endorsements Announced on Heels of Poll". The Washington Post. p. D5.
  16. ↑ Sanchez, Rene (July 24, 1993). "Chairman Race Cut Down to 5: Jarvis Challenge Fells 2 Candidates". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  17. ↑ "Election Officials Backed". The Washington Post. August 12, 1993. p. B7.
  18. ↑ Henderson, Nell; Escobar, Gabriel (September 11, 1993). "D.C. Campaigns Stress Organization, Not Ads". The Washington Post. p. B6.
  19. ↑ Sanchez, Rene (September 15, 1993). "Clarke Elected Council Chairman; Jarvis, Cropp Beaten Soundly in Seven of Eight D.C. Wards". The Washington Post. p. A1.
  20. ↑ Wheeler, Linda (June 2, 1994). "Rier Running to Revitalize Ward 5". The Washington Post. p. DC1.
  21. ↑ "D.C. Council; Ward 5". The Washington Post. September 8, 1994. p. J3.
  22. ↑ "Final and Complete Election Results for the September 13, 1994 Primary Election". District of Columbia Board of Elections. September 23, 1994.
  23. ↑ "36 Pick Up Election Petition Forms". The Washington Post. May 16, 1998. p. B3.
  24. ↑ "Tuesday's Choices". The Washington Post. September 14, 1998. p. A18.
  25. ↑ Montgomery, David (October 31, 1998). "Restoring Home Rule Is on Their Minds; Significance of Election Not Lost on 18 Council Contenders Touting Ways to Serve Neighborhoods". The Washington Post. p. VDC11.
  26. ↑ Montgomery, David (September 16, 1998). "The District; Thomas, Smith Out; Mendelson Wins At-Large Council Primary". The Washington Post. p. A19.
  27. ↑ "The D.C. Primary and Beyond". The Washington Post. September 17, 1998. p. A20.
  28. ↑ "Result Chart: District of Columbia". The Washington Post. November 4, 1998. p. A37.
  29. 1 2 Craig, Tim (June 13, 2010). "Gays aim to retain political power; Activists eye D.C. elections Marriage-law victory energizes agenda". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  30. ↑ Suderman, Alan (July 23, 2010). "Kwame Brown's Debts Might Not Matter to D.C. Voters". Washington City Paper.
  31. ↑ "Pepco Names Vincent Orange D.C. Region Vice President" (press release). Pepco. February 1, 2007.
  32. ↑ Marimow, Ann E. (May 12, 2010). "Orange to challenge Brown in Democratic primary; Former D.C. Council member has his eye on Gray's chairman post". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  33. ↑ "Vincent Orange". The Washington Post. September 9, 2010. p. T15.
  34. 1 2 Marimow, Ann E. (September 1, 2010). "D.C. candidate's old fundraising probed; Council fight has Brown detailing his use of accounts to city officials". The Washington Post. p. B5.
  35. ↑ Marimow, Ann E.; Kumar, Anita (September 15, 2010). "A seat of power: Brown leading Orange in race for D.C. Council chairman". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  36. ↑ "For D.C. Council chairman; Vincent Orange is the best qualified candidate to face the city's challenges" (editorial). The Washington Post. August 9, 2010. p. A12.
  37. ↑ Marimow, Ann E. (September 9, 2010). "In D.C., a hard-fought fight to the top; Mayoral race displays disparate styles of Fenty and Gray". The Washington Post. p. DE13.
  38. ↑ "Primary Election 2010: Certified Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. September 29, 2010.
  39. ↑ "General Election 2010: Certified Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 19, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Getting a leg up on D.C. Council". The Washington Post. November 14, 2010. p. A22.
  41. ↑ Craig, Tim (January 7, 2011). "Biddle picked for vacant council seat". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  42. ↑ Craig, Tim (April 11, 2011). "District's special election for council seat is a scrimmage". The Washington Post. B1.
  43. ↑ "Patrick Mara for D.C. Council" (editorial). The Washington Post. April 13, 2011. p. A14.
  44. ↑ Howell Jr., Tom (May 10, 2011). "Orange rejoins D.C. Council; grateful for his 'resurrection'". The Washington Times.
  45. ↑ Craig, Tim; DeBonis, Mike (April 28, 2011). "Infighting on D.C. Council?". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  46. 1 2 DeBonis, Mike (May 25, 2011). "Upper-income residents in D.C. won't face higher tax rate". The Washington Post.
  47. ↑ Suderman, Alan (June 29, 2011). "The King of Campaign Cash". Washington City Paper.
  48. ↑ Suderman, Alan (June 1, 2011). "Medicaid Malpractice". Washington City Paper.
  49. ↑ DeBonis, Mike (December 6, 2011). "D.C. Council weighs leave for Thomas". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  50. 1 2 3 Craig, Tim (March 29, 2012). "Orange faces 3 challengers in primary for at-large seat". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  51. ↑ Fisher, Marc (April 1, 2012). "Diamond in the rough". The Washington Post. p. A1.
  52. ↑ Wilber, Del Quentin; Craig, Tim (June 6, 2012). "D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown resigns after he is charged with bank fraud". The Washington Post.
  53. ↑ Madden, Mike (June 6, 2012). "And Thus Begins the Mendo Era?". Washington City Paper.
  54. ↑ Suderman, Alan (June 12, 2012). "VO Not Losing Quietly". Washington City Paper.
  55. 1 2 3 Suderman, Alan (June 13, 2012). "VO Goes Loco". Washington City Paper.
  56. ↑ Suderman, Alan (March 13, 2012). "VO and Those "Suspicious" Money Orders". Washington City Paper.
  57. ↑ Suderman, Alan (July 11, 2012). "One City, Two Campaigns". Washington City Paper.
  58. ↑ "Presidential/Council Primary Official Results: Summary Report" (PDF). District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. April 19, 2012.
  59. ↑ "D.C. General and Special Election". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 29, 2012.
  60. ↑ Sommer, Will (July 12, 2013). "Watch: Vincent Orange vs. Fox News". Washington City Paper.
  61. 1 2 3 Sommer, Will (January 14, 2013). "Rat-Infested Grocery Gets a Hand From Mystery Councilmember, Then From Vincent Orange". Washington City Paper.
  62. 1 2 3 4 DeBonis, Mike (May 3, 2013). "Vincent Orange gets ethics sanction". The Washington Post.
  63. ↑ DeBonis, Mike (November 8, 2013). "Vincent Orange is running for mayor". The Washington Post.
  64. ↑ Sommer, Will (January 29, 2014). "Vincent Orange Launches Hefty Mailing Campaign". Washington City Paper.
  65. ↑ Sommer, Will (December 23, 2013). "The 5 Strangest Parts of Vincent Orange's RFK Stadium Plan". Washington City Paper.
  66. ↑ "Primary Election". District of Columbia Board of Elections. April 23, 2014.
  67. 1 2 King, Colbert I. "The biggest race in the District next year". The Washington Post. October 24, 2015. p. A15.
  68. ↑ "Five questions for D.C. at-large candidates: Incumbent Vincent B. Orange and challengers David Garber and Robert White explain why they deserve your vote". The Washington Post. June 8, 2016.
  69. ↑ "Fewer oranges, more minimum-wage talk in Vincent Orange's 11th D.C. campaign: Challengers Robert White and David Garber say the incumbent has outlandish ideas and is focused on himself". The Washington Post. June 8, 2016.
  70. ↑ "For D.C. Council" (editorial). The Washington Post. May 28, 2016.
  71. ↑ Medici, Andy (July 28, 2016). "D.C. Chamber of Commerce picks Vincent Orange as next president". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  72. ↑ Davis, Aaron C.; Nirappil, Fenit (July 29, 2015). "After a quiet couple of years, D.C. Council roiled by apparent conflict of interest". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  73. ↑ Nirappil, Fenit (August 4, 2015). "What Vincent Orange's D.C. Council colleagues say about his new Chamber of Commerce job". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  74. ↑ Nirappil, Fenit (August 5, 2016). "Vincent Orange to resign from D.C. Council after fury over Chamber of Commerce job". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  75. 1 2 Nirappil, Fenit (August 15, 2016). "Vincent Orange makes resignation from D.C. Council official". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  76. ↑ Nirappil, Fenit (September 30, 2016). "Ethics opinion: D.C.'s Vincent B. Orange didn't break rules by seeking Chamber job". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  77. 1 2 Koncius, Jura (February 23, 2016). "DC City Council Vincent Orange". DC City Council.
  78. ↑ King, Colbert (February 18, 2014). "A soul-stirring performance by D.C. mayoral candidates". The Washington Post.
Council of the District of Columbia
Preceded by
Harry Thomas, Sr.		 Ward 5 Member, Council of the District of Columbia
1999–2007 		Succeeded by
Harry Thomas, Jr.
Preceded by
Sekou Biddle		 At-Large Member, Council of the District of Columbia
2011–August 15, 2016 		Succeeded by
Robert White
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