# Sekou Biddle

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{{short description|American politician}}
{{infobox officeholder
| name = Sekou Biddle
| alma_mater = [Morehouse College](/source/Morehouse_College)
| profession = [Teacher](/source/school_teacher)
| office = Member of the [Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia) At-large
| image = File:Sekou Biddle at Greater Greater Washington Candidate Forum 2012.jpg
| term_start = January 6, 2011
| term_end = May 10, 2011
| predecessor = [Kwame R. Brown](/source/Kwame_R._Brown)
| successor = [Vincent Orange](/source/Vincent_Orange)
}}
'''Sekou Biddle''' is a politician in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)

==Early years and education==
Biddle was raised in [Columbia Heights](/source/Columbia_Heights%2C_Washington%2C_D.C.) in Washington, D.C.,<ref name=wants>{{cite news |title=Sekou Biddle Wants To Be Your Councilmember |first=Alan |last=Suderman |work=Washington City Paper |date=January 19, 2011 |url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2011/01/19/sekou-biddle-wants-to-be-your-councilmember/ }}</ref> and graduated from [Woodrow Wilson High School](/source/Woodrow_Wilson_High_School_(Washington%2C_D.C.)),<ref name=wp>{{cite news |title= Biddle Promised Hands-On Strategy |date= August 23, 2007 |first= Theola |last= Labbé |work= The Washington Post |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/22/AR2007082201099.html }}</ref> where he played football.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wilson Overhauls Anacostia |work=The Washington Post |date=October 2, 1988 |first=Richard W.C. |last=Lin |page=D12 }}</ref> Biddle graduated from [Morehouse College](/source/Morehouse_College) with a degree in business administration.<ref name=wp/>

==Professional career==
Following graduation, he taught at an elementary school in the [Bronx](/source/Bronx%2C_New_York) borough of New York City, through [Teach for America](/source/Teach_for_America).<ref name=wp/> He later taught at an elementary school in Atlanta, became a math teacher at the [Knowledge Is Power Program](/source/Knowledge_Is_Power_Program) KEY Academy in the District in 2005,<ref name=wp/> and then became director of community outreach for the Knowledge Is Power Program.<ref name=wants/>

==Political career==
Biddle was one of eight candidates in a 2007 special election to represent District 2 ([wards 3](/source/List_of_neighborhoods_of_the_District_of_Columbia_by_ward) and [4](/source/List_of_neighborhoods_of_the_District_of_Columbia_by_ward)) in the District of Columbia State Board of Education.<ref name=2007s>{{cite web |title= Certified Official Results Report |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date= May 1, 2007 |url= http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/pn_111.pdf }}</ref> Biddle's candidacy focused on his upbringing and educational work in the District.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biddle Chosen to Fill District 2 Board Seat |first=Theola |last=Labbé |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/02/AR2007050200003.html |date=May 2, 2007}}</ref> Biddle's candidacy was endorsed by The Washington Post's editorial board<ref>{{cite news |title=The D.C. Special Election |format=editorial |work=The Washington Post |date=April 15, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/14/AR2007041401205.html }}</ref> and the District's Gertrude Stein Democratic Club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Where the Boys Aren't |work=The Washington Post |date=April 12, 2007 |last=Stewart |first=Nikita |last2=Silverman |first2=Elissa |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR2007041100830.html }}</ref> Biddle won the election with 30% of the vote.<ref name=2007s/>

In 2008, the composition of the District of Columbia State Board of Education was changed from five mayoral-appointed members and four elected members to only nine elected members, one from each ward and one at-large member. Biddle ran uncontested to represent Ward 4.<ref>{{cite news |title=School Body Prepares for All-Elected Status for the First Time in 12 Years |first=Timothy |last=Wilson |date=November 5, 2008 |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110403874.html }}</ref> His candidacy was endorsed by ''The Washington Post''{{'}}s editorial board.<ref>{{cite news |title=For D.C.'s School Board |format=editorial |work=The Washington Post |date=November 1, 2008 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/31/AR2008103103600.html }}</ref> Biddle also became [executive director](/source/executive_director) of Jumpstart for Young Children, a nonprofit organization that prepares children for elementary school.<ref name=pick>{{cite news |title=D.C. Democrats to pick interim at-large council member |work=The Washington Post |date=January 4, 2011 |last=Craig |first=Tim |last2=DeBonis |first2=Mike |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/04/AR2011010404963.html }}</ref>

Following [Kwame Brown](/source/Kwame_R._Brown)'s swearing in as chair of the [Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia) in 2011, the [District of Columbia Democratic State Committee](/source/District_of_Columbia_Democratic_State_Committee) announced an election by its members to replace Brown as at-large member of the Council.<ref name=pick/> Biddle, former Council member [Vincent Orange](/source/Vincent_Orange), and six others filed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eight File with Democrats to Replace Kwame Brown |work=Washington Informer |first=James |last=Wright |date=15 December 2010 |url= http://www.washingtoninformer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5182:eight-file-with-democrats-to-replace-kwame-brown&catid=50:local&Itemid=113 }}</ref> Brown endorsed Biddle for the position, as did Council members [Harry Thomas Jr.](/source/Harry_Thomas_Jr.), [Mary Cheh](/source/Mary_Cheh), [Muriel Bowser](/source/Muriel_Bowser), [Yvette Alexander](/source/Yvette_Alexander), and [Marion Barry](/source/Marion_Barry).<ref name=pick/> District mayor [Vincent Gray](/source/Vincent_C._Gray) said he supported Brown's endorsement of Biddle.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor stops just short of endorsing Sekou Biddle |first=Nikita R |last=Stewart |work=The Washington Post |date=January 6, 2011 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/mayor_vincent_gray_stops_just.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722204857/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/mayor_vincent_gray_stops_just.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2012 }}</ref> On January 6, 2011, Biddle was chosen by the Committee as at-large member of the Council.<ref name=council>{{cite news |title=D.C. Democrats secretly select Biddle |work=The Washington Post |date=January 7, 2011 |first=Tim |last=Craig |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/dc_democrats_secretly_select_b.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009121233/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/dc_democrats_secretly_select_b.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 9, 2012 }}</ref>

Biddle announced that he would run for the position in a special election to be held on April 26, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biddle picked for vacant council seat |first=Tim |last=Craig |date=January 7, 2011 |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010607102.html }}</ref> Other candidates in the race include former Council member [Vincent Orange](/source/Vincent_Orange),<ref>{{cite news |title=Vincent Orange says 'it's full speed ahead' for D.C. council bid |first=Tim |last=Craig |date=January 19, 2011 |work=The Washington Post |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/vince_oranges_says_its_full_sp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010004859/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/vince_oranges_says_its_full_sp.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2012 }}</ref> District Board of Education member [Patrick Mara](/source/Patrick_Mara),<ref>{{cite news |title=Patrick Mara to run for D.C. Council at-large seat |first=Mike |last=DeBonis |date=January 19, 2011 |work=The Washington Post |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/debonis/2011/01/patrick_mara_to_run_for_dc_cou.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009174204/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/debonis/2011/01/patrick_mara_to_run_for_dc_cou.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 9, 2012 }}</ref> and community activist Bryan Weaver.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bryan Weaver enters at-large race |first=Tim |last=Craig |work=The Washington Post |date=January 19, 2011 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/bryan_weaver_enters_at-large_r.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716201858/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/bryan_weaver_enters_at-large_r.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2012 }}</ref> Mayor [Vincent Gray](/source/Vincent_C._Gray) endorsed Biddle's candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vince Gray Gives Biddle a rousing endorsement |first=Tim |last=Craig |work=The Washington Post |date=January 21, 2011 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/vince_gray_gives_biddle_a_rous.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010004944/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2011/01/vince_gray_gives_biddle_a_rous.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2012 }}</ref> Biddle placed third in the special election, losing to former Council member Vincent Orange.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Results of the April 26, 2011 Special Election |url=http://www.dcboee.us/2011_special/results.asp |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625023905/http://www.dcboee.us/2011_special/results.asp |archivedate=June 25, 2011 }}</ref> Biddle's temporary appointment expired on May 10, 2011, when Vincent Orange was sworn into office.

==Personal life==
Biddle lives in [Shepherd Park](/source/Shepherd_Park%2C_Washington%2C_D.C.) with his wife and children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sekou Biddle |work=State Board of Education |publisher=Government of the District of Columbia |accessdate=January 10, 2011 |url=http://oe.dc.gov/sboe/cwp/view,a,1388,q,574724.asp }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://sekoubiddle.com/}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-dc}}
{{s-bef|before=[Kwame R. Brown](/source/Kwame_R._Brown)}}
{{s-ttl
|title=At-Large Member, {{nowrap|[Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia)}}
|years=January 6, 2011 – May 10, 2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[Vincent Orange](/source/Vincent_Orange)}}
{{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biddle, Sekou}}
Category:African-American people in Washington, D.C., politics
Category:Living people
Category:Morehouse College alumni
Category:Members of the Council of the District of Columbia
Category:Members of the District of Columbia Board of Education
Category:Washington, D.C., Democrats
Category:Woodrow Wilson High School (Washington, D.C.) alumni
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century African-American politicians

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sekou Biddle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekou_Biddle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekou_Biddle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.