{{short description|American politician (born 1957)}} {{for|the British-born New Zealand historian|Vincent Orange (historian)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Vincent Orange | image = Vincent Orange at GWU mayoral panel (cropped).jpg | office = Member of the Council of the District of Columbia<br>from the at-large district | term_start = May 10, 2011 | term_end = August 15, 2016 | predecessor = Sekou Biddle | successor = Robert White | office2 = Member of the Council of the District of Columbia<br>from Ward 5 | term_start2 = January 2, 1999 | term_end2 = January 2, 2007 | predecessor2 = Harry Thomas Sr. | successor2 = Harry Thomas Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|4|11}} | birth_place = Oakland, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | education = University of the Pacific (BA)<br>Howard University (JD)<br>Georgetown University (LLM) }} '''Vincent Bernard Orange Sr.''' (born April 11, 1957) is a former American politician from Washington, D.C., and former president of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce. A lawyer 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<ref name="loco"/> was born April 11, 1957,<ref>{{cite web |title=Voters Guide 2006 Supplement |work=The Washington Informer |date=2006-09-24 |url=http://www.washingtoninformer.com/Voters%20Guide%20REVISED%2006.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625021251/http://www.washingtoninformer.com/Voters%20Guide%20REVISED%2006.pdf |archive-date=2008-06-25 }}</ref> and raised in Oakland, California.<ref name= rest>{{cite news |title= In Chairman's Race, Wilson Won't Rest |date= August 25, 1990 |first1= Michael |last1= Abramowitz |first2= Lynda |last2= Richardson |newspaper= The Washington Post |page= B1 |id= {{ProQuest|140276040}} }}</ref> With a scholarship Orange attended Fountain Valley School of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colorado.<ref name= hopeful>{{cite news |title= D.C. mayoral hopeful Vincent Orange: Running to win but willing to lose |newspaper= The Washington Post |first= Steve |last= Hendrix |date= February 24, 2014 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-mayoral-hopeful-vincent-orange-running-to-win-but-willing-to-lose/2014/02/24/c280a75e-98e8-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html }}</ref> He graduated from the University of the Pacific, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1979<ref name= guide1990/> and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1980.<ref name= guide1990/> In 1983, he earned a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law.<ref name= guide1990/> He worked as a senior tax accountant for accounting firm Arthur Andersen from 1983 to 1987.<ref name= guide1990/> In 1988, he graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he earned a Master of Laws in Taxation.<ref name= guide1990/> Orange is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.<ref>{{cite news |title= Vincent Orange |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 9, 2010 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/08/AR2010090802670.html }}</ref>
In 1981, Orange worked weekends as a security guard at the ''Washington Post'', a position he kept for fourteen years.<ref name= hopeful/> From 1987 to 1989,<ref name= guide1990>{{cite news |title= District of Columbia Voters' Guide |date= September 6, 1990 |newspaper= The Washington Post |page= VGDC4 |id= {{ProQuest|140232118}} }}</ref> Orange worked for the district's department of finance and revenue.<ref>{{cite news |title= Council Contests Shape Up; Contenders Crowd At-Large Seat Race |last= McCall |first= Nathan |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= June 7, 1990 |page= J1 |id= {{ProQuest|307281264}} }}</ref> 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.<ref name= rest/> 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 September 1990, he served as a delegate to the Moscow Conference on Law and Bilateral Economic Relations.
==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.<ref name= McCall>{{cite news |title= D.C. Elections Certain To Shake Up Council; Leadership, Balance of Power Likely to Shift |last= McCall |first= Nathan |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= March 18, 1990 |page= C1 |id= {{ProQuest|307261746}} }}</ref> Also running for chair was Libertarian Party candidate Jacques Chevalier.<ref name= McCall/><ref>{{cite news |title= Candidates Play Beat the Clock; D.C. Board of Elections Gets Crush of Petitions Near Deadline |last= Abramowitz |first= Michael |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= July 6, 1990 |page= D3 |id= {{ProQuest|307329783}} }}</ref> 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.<ref name= rest/> Orange advocated collecting unpaid tax bills, rather than increasing tax rates, as he said Wilson wanted to do.<ref name= rest/> Wilson won the Democratic primary with 82 percent of the vote, to Orange's 18 percent.<ref>{{cite news |title= Winter Loses Ward 6 Seat; Wilson, Cropp Triumph |first= Rene |last= Sanchez |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 12, 1990 |page= A21 |id= {{ProQuest|140213432}} }}</ref>
In 1991, he was hired as acting director of internal audit<ref name= fuel>{{cite news |title= D.C. Fuel Supplier Is Accused: Official Says Firm Got $1 Million for Phantom Deliveries |last= Henderson |first= Nell |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= August 5, 1992 |page= A1 |id= {{ProQuest|140644752}} }}</ref> for the University of the District of Columbia.<ref>{{cite news |title= UDC Board To Choose President: U. of Penn Official Is Leading Candidate |first= Keith |last= Harriston |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= June 22, 1991 |page= C1 |id= {{ProQuest|140392332}} }}</ref> The next year, Orange discovered that the university was paying a fuel supplier, Tri-Continental, for fuel it never actually received.<ref name= fuel/> 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.<ref name= fuel/> The day after Orange released his memo naming two university administrators to be at fault, Orange's employment was terminated.<ref name= fuel/> The university said that Orange had been hired under an invalid contract.<ref name= fuel/>
===Unsuccessful 1993 race=== After Wilson's death in 1993,<ref>{{cite news |title= John Wilson Found Dead in Apparent Suicide: Friends Cite Depression, Anxiety About Career |last= Sanchez |first= Rene |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= May 20, 1993 |page= A1 |id= {{ProQuest|140798356}} }}</ref> Orange was one of seven individuals to file to run to fill the position of Council Chair.<ref>{{cite news |title= Seven File Petitions to Run For D.C. Council Chairman |last= Sanchez |first= Rene |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= July 8, 1993 |page= B1 |id= {{ProQuest|140832804}} }}</ref> Also filing to run in the race were Ward 4 Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis and Linda Cropp.<ref>{{cite news |title= D.C. Board of Trade Among Jarvis Backers: Endorsements Announced on Heels of Poll |last= Sanchez |first= Rene |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= July 23, 1993 |page= D5 |id= {{ProQuest|140887665}} }}</ref> Orange did not collect enough signatures to run, and his candidacy was disqualified by the District of Columbia Board of Elections.<ref>{{cite news |title= Chairman Race Cut Down to 5: Jarvis Challenge Fells 2 Candidates |last= Sanchez |first= Rene |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= July 24, 1993 |page= B3 |id= {{ProQuest|140826176}} }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title= Election Officials Backed |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= August 12, 1993 |page= B7 |id= {{ProQuest|307664963}} }}</ref> Orange declared himself a write-in candidate.<ref>{{cite news |title= D.C. Campaigns Stress Organization, Not Ads |last1= Henderson |first1= Nell |last2= Escobar |first2= Gabriel |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 11, 1993 |page= B6 |id= {{ProQuest|140915598}} }}</ref> Clarke won the election with 47 percent of the vote. Write-in votes, including those for Orange, were one percent of the total.<ref>{{cite news |title= Clarke Elected Council Chairman; Jarvis, Cropp Beaten Soundly in Seven of Eight D.C. Wards |last= Sanchez |first= Rene |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 15, 1993 |page= A1 |id= {{ProQuest|307687685}} }}</ref>
===Unsuccessful 1995 race=== In 1994, Orange ran for councilmember to represent Ward 5, along with incumbent Harry Thomas, Sr. and eight other Democratic party candidates.<ref>{{cite news |title= Rier Running to Revitalize Ward 5 |last= Wheeler |first= Linda |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= June 2, 1994 |page= DC1 |id= {{ProQuest|751108710}} }}</ref> Orange advocated banning new liquor licenses, developing Fort Lincoln, and building a new convention center at New York Avenue and Florida Avenue.<ref>{{cite news |title= D.C. Council; Ward 5 |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 8, 1994 |page= J3 |id= {{ProQuest|307829917}} }}</ref> Thomas won with 39 percent of the vote, compared to Orange's 17 percent.<ref>{{cite web |title= Final and Complete Election Results for the September 13, 1994 Primary Election |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections |date= September 23, 1994 |url= http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/elec_1994/primary_1994_results.asp }}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news |title= 36 Pick Up Election Petition Forms |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= May 16, 1998 |page= B3 |id= {{ProQuest|408377694}} }}</ref> The ''Washington Post'''s editorial board endorsed Orange's candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |title= Tuesday's Choices |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 14, 1998 |page= A18 |id= {{ProQuest|408404557}} }}</ref> Orange emphasized improvements to New York Avenue, improving the economy and schools, and restricting liquor licenses.<ref>{{cite news |title= Restoring Home Rule Is on Their Minds; Significance of Election Not Lost on 18 Council Contenders Touting Ways to Serve Neighborhoods |last= Montgomery |first= David |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= October 31, 1998 |page= VDC11 |id= {{ProQuest|408401145}} }}</ref> Orange defeated Thomas, receiving 38 percent of the vote to Thomas' 34 percent.<ref>{{cite news |title= The District; Thomas, Smith Out; Mendelson Wins At-Large Council Primary |last= Montgomery |first= David |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 16, 1998 |page= A19 |id= {{ProQuest|408407405}} }}</ref> The ''Post'' called described it as an upset victory.<ref>{{cite news |title= The D.C. Primary and Beyond |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 17, 1998 |page= A20 |id= {{ProQuest|408394925}} }}</ref> Orange won the general election as well with 89 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |title= Result Chart: District of Columbia |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= November 4, 1998 |page= A37 |id= {{ProQuest|408415357}} }}</ref>
===Unsuccessful 2006 mayoral race=== In 2006, Orange ran for District mayor. During his campaign, he said he was against same-sex marriage.<ref name= retain>{{cite news |title= Gays aim to retain political power; Activists eye D.C. elections Marriage-law victory energizes agenda |last= Craig |first= Tim |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= June 13, 2010 |page= C1 |id= {{ProQuest|374868379}} }}</ref> In September 2006, Orange lost his bid for mayor in the Democratic primary, receiving 2.9% of the vote.<ref name=matter>{{cite news |title= Kwame Brown's Debts Might Not Matter to D.C. Voters |work= Washington City Paper |date= July 23, 2010 |first= Alan |last= Suderman |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39471/kwame-browns-debts-might-not-matter-to-dc-voters-in }}</ref>
From 2007<ref>{{cite web |title= Pepco Names Vincent Orange D.C. Region Vice President |date= February 1, 2007 |work= Pepco |format= press release |url= http://www.pepco.com/welcome/news/releases/archives/2007/article.aspx?cid=770 }}</ref> 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 council of the District of Columbia, challenging at-large council member Kwame Brown for the position.<ref>{{cite news |title= Orange to challenge Brown in Democratic primary; Former D.C. Council member has his eye on Gray's chairman post |last= Marimow |first= Ann E. |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= May 12, 2010 |page= B4 |id= {{ProQuest|276072020}} }}</ref> At the time, he was working as the chief financial officer of the National Children's Center.<ref>{{cite news |title= Vincent Orange |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 9, 2010 |page= T15 |id= {{ProQuest|750063390}} }}</ref> Orange said he was now in favor of same-sex marriage, changing his position from four years earlier, saying "times change."<ref name= retain/> 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.<ref name= detailing>{{cite news |title= D.C. candidate's old fundraising probed; Council fight has Brown detailing his use of accounts to city officials |last= Marimow |first= Ann E. |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 1, 2010 |page= B5 |id= {{ProQuest|748878511}} }}</ref> Orange was also critical of irregularities in Brown's financial filings for his previous two campaigns, which Brown attributed to accounting errors.<ref name= detailing/> Two of Orange's campaign aides resigned due to the negative tone of his campaign.<ref>{{cite news |title= A seat of power: Brown leading Orange in race for D.C. Council chairman |last1= Marimow |first1= Ann E. |last2=Kumar |first2= Anita |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 15, 2010 |page= B1 |id= {{ProQuest|750517879}} }}</ref> The editorial board of the ''Washington Post'' endorsed Orange's candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |title= For D.C. Council chairman; Vincent Orange is the best qualified candidate to face the city's challenges |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= August 9, 2010 |page= A12 |id= {{ProQuest|740330627}} }}</ref> All but one of the sitting council members endorsed Brown's reelection.<ref>{{cite news |title= In D.C., a hard-fought fight to the top; Mayoral race displays disparate styles of Fenty and Gray |last= Marimow |first= Ann E. |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= September 9, 2010 |page= DE13 |id= {{ProQuest|749967998}} }}</ref> Brown won the Democratic primary with 55 percent of the vote, while Orange received 39 percent.<ref>{{cite web |title= Primary Election 2010: Certified Results |date= September 29, 2010 |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |url= http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/results_2010.asp?prev=0&electionid=4&result_type=3 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221954/http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/results_2010.asp?prev=0&electionid=4&result_type=3 |archive-date= July 25, 2011 }}</ref> Brown prevailed in the general election as well.<ref>{{cite web |title= General Election 2010: Certified Results |date= November 19, 2010 |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |url= http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010 |access-date= March 13, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101106010504/http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010 |archive-date= November 6, 2010 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref>
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,<ref>{{cite news |title= Getting a leg up on D.C. Council |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= November 14, 2010 |page= A22 |id= {{ProQuest|763701601}} }}</ref> but they voted to appoint Sekou Biddle to the seat instead.<ref>{{cite news |title= Biddle picked for vacant council seat |last= Craig |first= Tim |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= January 7, 2011 |page= B4 |id= {{ProQuest|822697353}} }}</ref>
===Successful 2011 Council race=== Orange was a candidate in the 2011 special election to fill the at-large seat vacated by Brown; Biddle ran in the special election to keep the seat as well.<ref>{{cite news |title= District's special election for council seat is a scrimmage |last= Craig |first= Tim |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= April 11, 2011 |series= B1 |id= {{ProQuest|861195722}} }}</ref> The editorial board of the ''Washington Post'' endorsed the candidacy of Republican Patrick Mara.<ref>{{cite news |title= Patrick Mara for D.C. Council |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= April 13, 2011 |page= A14 |id= {{ProQuest|861524219}} }}</ref> Orange won election with 28 percent of the vote.<ref name="washingtontimes.com">{{cite news |title= Orange rejoins D.C. Council; grateful for his 'resurrection' |work= The Washington Times |first= Tom |last= Howell Jr. |date= May 10, 2011 |url= http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/10/orange-rejoins-dc-council-grateful-for-his-resurre/?page=1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Infighting on D.C. Council? |last1= Craig |first1= Tim |last2= DeBonis |first2= Mike |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= April 28, 2011 |page= B1 |id= {{ProQuest|863745363}} }}</ref>
In March 2011, the council was trying to close a budget shortfall, and it considered taxing out-of-state bonds for upper-income individuals.<ref name= upper>{{cite news |title= Upper-income residents in D.C. won't face higher tax rate |first= Mike |last= DeBonis |date= May 25, 2011 |newspaper= The Washington Post |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/upper-income-residents-in-dc-wont-face-higher-tax-rate/2011/05/25/AG3l3YBH_story.html }}</ref> 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, where Orange sat on the board of directors.<ref name= upper/>
In June 2011, the ''Washington City Paper'' reported that Orange received more than $100,000 of campaign contributions from Jeffrey Thompson,<ref>{{cite news |title= The King of Campaign Cash |work= Washington City Paper |first= Alan |last= Suderman |date= June 29, 2011 |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2011/06/29/the-king-of-campaign-cash/ }}</ref> CEO of a health provider accused of defrauding the D.C. government.<ref>{{cite news |title= Medicaid Malpractice |work= Washington City Paper |date= June 1, 2011 |first= Alan |last= Suderman |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2011/06/01/medicaid-malpractice/ }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title= D.C. Council weighs leave for Thomas |last= DeBonis |first= Mike |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= December 6, 2011 |page= B1 |id= {{ProQuest|908462431}} }}</ref> Orange supported new restrictions on medical marijuana retailers and adult entertainment businesses in Northeast D.C.<ref name= faces>{{cite news |title= Orange faces 3 challengers in primary for at-large seat |last= Craig |first= Tim |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= March 29, 2012 |page= B1 |id= {{ProQuest|952892634}} }}</ref> Orange was also in favor of using District funds to build Nationals Park.<ref>{{cite news |title= Diamond in the rough |last= Fisher |first= Marc |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= April 1, 2012 |page= A1 |id= {{ProQuest|963374179}} }}</ref>
===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.<ref>{{cite news |title= D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown resigns after he is charged with bank fraud |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= June 6, 2012 |first1= Del Quentin |last1= Wilber |first2= Tim |last2= Craig |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/2012/06/06/gJQAUXJqIV_story.html }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title= And Thus Begins the Mendo Era? |first= Mike |last= Madden |date= June 6, 2012 |work= Washington City Paper |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/06/06/and-thus-begins-the-mendo-era/ }}</ref> Orange and Phil Mendelson both wanted to be appointed chair.<ref name= quietly>{{cite news |title= VO Not Losing Quietly |first= Alan |last= Suderman |work= Washington City Paper |date= June 12, 2012 |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/06/12/vo-not-losing-quietly/ }}</ref> 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''.<ref name= loco>{{cite news |title= VO Goes Loco |first= Alan |last= Suderman |date= June 13, 2012 |work= Washington City Paper |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/06/13/vo-goes-loco/ }}</ref> The council voted to appoint Michael A. Brown to the position of chair pro tem.<ref name= loco/> Orange felt appointing an independent council member to a position formerly held by a Democrat was a poor idea.<ref name= loco/>
In 2012, Orange ran for reelection as at-large council member, his fifth campaign in six years.<ref name= faces/> Orange received $26,000 of money orders, which he called "suspicious" campaign donations, all in sequential numbers and written in the same handwriting.<ref>{{cite news |title= VO and Those "Suspicious" Money Orders |first= Alan |last= Suderman |work= Washington City Paper |date= March 13, 2012 |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/03/13/vo-and-those-suspicious-money-orders/ }}</ref> 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.<ref name= faces/> Jeanne Clarke Harris later admitted she had run a straw donor scheme funded by Thompson.<ref>{{cite news |title= One City, Two Campaigns |first= Alan |last= Suderman |date= July 11, 2012 |work= Washington City Paper |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/07/11/one-city-two-campaigns/ }}</ref> Orange won the Democratic primary with 42 percent of the vote<ref>{{cite web |title= Presidential/Council Primary Official Results: Summary Report |date= April 19, 2012 |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |url= http://www.voteresults.org/Results2012/DCBOEEApril32012Summary.pdf }}</ref> and the subsequent general election with 38 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title= D.C. General and Special Election |date= November 29, 2012 |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |url= http://www.voteresults.org/Results2012/xml_file_out1112.xml }}</ref> During his term in office, Orange supported a bill to increase the minimum wage to $12.50 per hour for certain large employers.<ref>{{cite news |title= Watch: Vincent Orange vs. Fox News |first= Will |last= Sommer |date= July 12, 2013 |work= Washington City Paper |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2013/07/12/watch-vincent-orange-vs-fox-news/ }}</ref>
In December 2012, health inspectors found unsanitary conditions and rat droppings in a produce market in the Florida Avenue Market.<ref name= rats>{{cite news |title= Rat-Infested Grocery Gets a Hand From Mystery Councilmember, Then From Vincent Orange |work= Washington City Paper |first= Will |last= Sommer |date= January 14, 2013 |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2013/01/14/rat-infested-grocery-gets-a-hand-from-mystery-councilmember-then-from-vincent-orange/ }}</ref> The District of Columbia Department of Health ordered the market be closed immediately.<ref name= rats/> Orange intervened for the owner, who had donated to Orange's campaign,<ref name= ethics>{{cite news |title= Vincent Orange gets ethics sanction |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= May 3, 2013 |first= Mike |last= DeBonis |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/05/03/vincent-orange-gets-ethics-sanction/ }}</ref> 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.<ref name= ethics/> Orange agreed he would attend ethics training and never abuse his position again.<ref name= ethics/> Orange said he thought his actions were an acceptable constituent service and that his behavior did not reflect poorly on him at all.<ref name= ethics/>
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''<nowiki/>'s Tim Craig. To the ''Washington 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.<ref name= rats/>
===Unsuccessful 2014 mayoral race=== On November 8, 2013, Orange announced that he would run for Mayor of the District of Columbia in the 2014 election.<ref>{{cite news |title= Vincent Orange is running for mayor |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= November 8, 2013 |first= Mike |last= DeBonis |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/11/08/vincent-orange-is-running-for-d-c-mayor/ }}</ref> His campaign slogans were "Leaving No One Behind" and "Taking No One for Granted".<ref>{{cite news |title= Vincent Orange Launches Hefty Mailing Campaign |first= Will |last= Sommer |date= January 29, 2014 |work= Washington City Paper |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2014/01/29/vincent-orange-launches-hefty-mailing-campaign/ }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title= The 5 Strangest Parts of Vincent Orange's RFK Stadium Plan |first= Will |last= Sommer |date= December 23, 2013 |work= Washington City Paper |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2013/12/23/the-5-strangest-parts-of-vincent-oranges-rfk-stadium-plan/ }}</ref> In the Democratic primary, he came sixth out of eight candidates, receiving 1,946 votes (2.01%).<ref name=results-4-11-14>{{cite news |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections |title= Primary Election |date= April 23, 2014 |url= https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2014/April-1-Primary-Election |access-date= April 25, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140412074919/http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2014/April-1-Primary-Election |archive-date= April 12, 2014 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref>
===Unsuccessful 2016 reelection race=== Orange filed to run for reelection in October 2015.<ref name= biggestrace>King, Colbert I. "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1726321365/ The biggest race in the District next year]". ''The Washington Post''. October 24, 2015. p. A15.</ref> The same month, former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Shaw resident<ref name= fivequestions>"[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1794716819/ 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.</ref> David Garber filed to run against Orange in the Democratic primary, calling Orange "a corrupt politician with deep pockets."<ref name= biggestrace/> Robert White, a former aide to District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine and resident of Brightwood Park, also ran against Orange.<ref name= fewer>"[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1794715440/ 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.</ref> The editorial board of the ''Washington Post'' endorsed Orange's candidacy.<ref>"[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1792115658/ For D.C. Council]" (editorial). ''The Washington Post''. May 28, 2016.</ref> White won the Democratic primary with 43% of the vote, compared to Orange's 41% and Garber's 16%.
===Committees=== Orange served on the following committees while on the Council of the District of Columbia: * Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (chair during his final term) * Committee on Finance and Revenue * Committee on Housing and Committee Development
===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 there are laws prohibiting government officials from being involved in matters directly affecting their employer or their potential employer.<ref name= break-rules/> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Medici|first=Andy|title=D.C. Chamber of Commerce picks Vincent Orange as next president|work=Washington Business Journal|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=August 5, 2016|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2016/07/28/d-c-chamber-of-commerce-picks-vincent-orange-as.html}}</ref> His colleagues on the council strongly disputed Orange's claim that there was no conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Aaron C.|last2=Nirappil|first2=Fenit|title=After a quiet couple of years, D.C. Council roiled by apparent conflict of interest|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 29, 2015|access-date=August 5, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/after-a-quiet-couple-of-years-dc-council-again-roiled-by-a-conflict-of-interest/2016/07/29/b04bcac0-55ae-11e6-88eb-7dda4e2f2aec_story.html}}</ref> On August 3, Orange dissolved the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which he chaired.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nirappil|first=Fenit|title=What Vincent Orange's D.C. Council colleagues say about his new Chamber of Commerce job|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 4, 2015|access-date=August 5, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2016/08/04/what-vincent-oranges-d-c-council-colleagues-say-about-his-new-job-at-the-chamber/}}</ref>
On August 5, Orange announced he would retire from the council on August 15, 2016, the same day on which his Chamber of Commerce position began.<ref name=nirappilresign>{{cite news|last=Nirappil|first=Fenit|title=Vincent Orange to resign from D.C. Council after fury over Chamber of Commerce job|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 5, 2016|access-date=August 5, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/vincent-orange-to-resign-from-dc-council-after-fury-over-chamber-of-commerce-job/2016/08/05/155294d2-5b2f-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html}}</ref> 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.<ref name=resign>{{cite news|last=Nirappil|first=Fenit|title=Vincent Orange makes resignation from D.C. Council official|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 15, 2016|access-date=August 15, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/vincent-orange-makes-resignation-from-dc-council-official/2016/08/15/3994abd4-62f3-11e6-be4e-23fc4d4d12b4_story.html}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nirappil|first=Fenit|title=Ethics opinion: D.C.'s Vincent B. Orange didn't break rules by seeking Chamber job|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/ethics-opinion-dcs-vincent-orange-didnt-break-rules-by-seeking-chamber-job/2016/09/30/665f8e7a-8677-11e6-92c2-14b64f3d453f_story.html}}</ref> The report said that a D.C. Chamber of Commerce official contacted Orange about the job on July 8, Orange interviewed for the job twice in July, and he formally accepted the job on July 27.<ref name= break-rules/>
===Unsuccessful 2020 council race=== In June 2020, Orange left his job at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce to run for an at-large council seat left open by David Grosso's retirement.<ref>{{cite news |work=DCist |title=At-Large Race Now Has Nearly 20 Candidates, Including Ex-Lawmaker Vincent Orange |url=https://dcist.com/story/20/06/24/vincent-orange-dc-council-ward-5-at-large-running/ |last=Grablick |first=Colleen |date=June 24, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628203617/https://dcist.com/story/20/06/24/vincent-orange-dc-council-ward-5-at-large-running/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An issue in the race was DC's paid family leave law, which Orange criticized and suggested repealing.<ref>{{cite news|work=Washington City Paper |title = The State of the Campaign, According to Vincent Bernard Orange, Sr. |url = https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/460966/vincent-orange-state-of-the-campaign/ |last=Ryals |first=Mitch |date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref> Orange lost the general election with 12% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections |title= DCBOE General Election 2020 Election Results|date= December 2, 2020 |url= https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2020-General-Election |access-date= December 29, 2020}}</ref>
===2022 council race=== In the wake of Councilman McDuffie's decision not to seek another term as ward 5 council member,<ref>{{cite news|work=DCist |title = D.C. Council member McDuffie not running for re-election |url = https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2021/10/07/dc-council-mcduffie-not-running-re-election |last=Dil|first=Cuneyt |date=October 7, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref> Orange declared that he would run in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|work=DCist |title = Scoop: Ex-council member Orange seeks comeback |url = https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2021/10/12/vincent-orange-dc-city-council-comeback |last=Dil|first=Cuneyt |date=October 12, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>
In the 2022 race, Orange used a DC Stonewall Democrats forum to attack his opponent, Zachary Parker, for not having come out of the closet sooner in his political life, calling Parker's identity "a matter of convenience" and that "it just doesn't add up."<ref>{{Cite tweet |access-date=2023-04-01 |user=kcivey |language=en |url=https://twitter.com/kcivey/status/1522338808653623297 |number=1522338808653623297 |title=For those asking what this is about,...}}</ref> Local DC gay community members and activists criticized him for politicizing the process of coming out of the closet; for example, the grassroots organizing group Persist DC said that they were "Still stunned that Vincent Orange chose the Stonewall Dems(!) forum for a shameful, unprovoked attack on [Zachary Parker]'s decision to be public about his sexual orientation. If VO wasn't being outright homophobic, he was at minimum showing catastrophically poor judgement."<ref>{{Cite tweet |access-date=2023-04-01 |user=PersistDC |language=en |url=https://twitter.com/persistdc/status/1522028866965053440 |number=1522028866965053440 |title=Still stunned that Vincent Orange chose the Stonewall Dems(!) forum...}}</ref> Similarly, Councilmember Brianne K Nadeau criticized Orange for his actions, saying, "Hell no, VO. You need to do some more work sir. This is not acceptable and the District deserves better."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/briannekn/status/1522991159924117504 |access-date=2023-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507172633/https://twitter.com/briannekn/status/1522991159924117504 |archive-date=2022-05-07 |date=May 7, 2022 |title=WOW |language=en}}</ref>
In repeated tweets in response to the criticism, Orange asserted that Parker "made this issue" when Parker announced that he was gay at the start of his run for the council member seat, asking, "why now Mr Parker" (sic)<ref>{{Cite tweet |access-date=2023-04-01 |user=OrangeVo40 |language=en |url=https://twitter.com/orangevo40/status/1522745995641163776 |number=1522745995641163776 |title=@mitchryals @AlexKomaWCP @ZacharyforWard5 made this issue when he announced on twitter...}}</ref> in repeated tweets.
==D.C. Chamber of Commerce presidency== Orange's appointment as the president of 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 his former Council colleagues, he would, for the immediate future, focus on adding new members to the DCCoC and raising funds for its operations.<ref name=resign /> The Chamber's board announced on July 16, 2020 that Orange would step down from the organization, effective July 30, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Koma|first=Alex|date=16 June 2020|title=Vincent Orange is out as the head of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/06/16/vincent-orange-out-as-head-of-dc-chamber-commerce.html|access-date=22 October 2020|website=Washington Business Journal}}</ref>
==Personal life== Orange lives in Ward 5,<ref name= guide1990/> with his wife, Gwendolyn.<ref name=house>{{cite news |title= DC City Council Vincent Orange |first= Jura |last= Koncius |work= DC City Council |date= February 23, 2016 |url= http://dccouncil.us/council/vincent-orange |access-date= February 23, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160220222717/http://dccouncil.us/council/vincent-orange |archive-date= February 20, 2016 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref> He has three children,<ref name= house/> and is a member of the Metropolitan AME Church.<ref name=religion>{{cite news |title=A soul-stirring performance by D.C. mayoral candidates |first=Colbert |last=King |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 18, 2014 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/02/18/a-soul-stirring-performance-by-d-c-mayoral-candidates/}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|3}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orange, Vincent}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century Washington, D.C., politicians Category:African-American people in Washington, D.C., politics Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:Howard University alumni Category:University of the Pacific (United States) alumni Category:Washington, D.C., Democrats