GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
Policy Mission
A government that works for you, with a focus on workforce safety, fair compensation for government workers, and ensuring equity and inclusion in every decision. Bernita Carmichael will champion a transparent, responsive, and just government for Ward 5 and all of Washington, DC.
Community Concern
Ward 5 residents deserve a Council Member who holds government accountable — not just in rhetoric, but in action. Too often, DC residents experience government as inaccessible, inequitable, or unresponsive to the needs of working families, public servants, and vulnerable populations. Bernita Carmichael is committed to a government that is transparent, fair, and truly representative of the people it serves.
Policy Priorities
Workforce Safety & Fair Compensation
- Advocate for competitive, equitable pay for DC government workers — particularly frontline staff in public safety, healthcare, education, and social services
- Support strengthened workplace safety protections for DC government employees to ensure safe working conditions across all agencies
- Push for comprehensive whistleblower protections for government employees who report misconduct, waste, or fraud
- Advocate for improved workers’ compensation access and mental health support for employees in high-stress or traumatic work environments
- Support enforcement of DC’s Living Wage Act to ensure all government contractors pay their employees a living wage
Equity & Inclusion in Government
- Advocate for equity audits across DC agencies to identify and remediate disparities in service delivery to Ward 5 and underserved communities
- Push for diverse representation at senior leadership levels across DC government agencies, with particular focus on agencies serving Ward 5
- Support the creation of a Ward 5 Government Accountability Task Force comprised of residents, business owners, and community advocates
- Introduce legislation requiring annual public reporting on agency-level equity and inclusion metrics
- Advocate for the expansion of language access services across all DC agencies serving Ward 5’s multilingual communities
Key Performance Goals
Goal
Target
Timeline
Complete equity audits across top DC agencies
Introduce Government Accountability & Equity Act
Audit agencies with pay disparities
Legislation introduced
Year 1
Days 30–60
Home Built. Home Driven ~ Carmichael 2026
DC Election Day is June 16, 2026
Together we the people achieve more than any single person could ever do alone.
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© 2026, Bernita Carmichael 2026. All Rights Reserved.
Paid for by Bernita Carmichael 2026, Marquita Day, Treasurer. A copy of our report is filed with the DC OCF, Washington, DC