olitical floodgates in DC opened after at-large Council member David Grosso announced he would retire at the end of his term this year, rather than seek reelection. A virtual sea of individuals — at least a dozen at last counting — have jumped into the November general election race. As required by law, the seat Grosso held is reserved for a minority party member or independent. 

None of the candidates has self-identified as a Democratic Socialist. More than a few have labeled themselves “independent Democrats.” That’s a fake moniker, but I won’t rant; I’ve done that already.

       Off the beaten path, hidden from most uninformed citizens deep in Ward 5 in Northeast Washington, D.C., is one of the region’s business behemoth. Some people have referred to Fort Myer Construction Corporation as an icon. Its story is a version of “The Little Engine That Could.” Co-founders and partners, Jose Rodriguez and Lewis Shrensky, bootstrap a small concrete company that initially had no administrative offices or staff, into a corporation with an annual income of more than $250 million and a payroll of nearly 900 workers, the majority of whom are minorities.