Hear it from a commissioner: Why you should run for ANC

Have you ever thought about being an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner? Well, on June 26, you can pick up a petition to represent where you live as an ANC commissioner. Petitions are due, with 10 valid signatures, on August 5.

You should run. But, don’t just take our word for it. We reached out to several ANC commissioners who we endorsed in 2018, and who we’ve worked with since then, to ask them to share their experience.

Commissioners play a vital role in helping the District run. They advise on a countless number of decisions that impact their neighborhood, from zoning to redevelopment projects, to traffic and public safety issues.

GGWash endorses candidates for ANC, and support those who run with an eye toward urbanism in their neighborhood, whether that’s in an effort to slow streets to through traffic, or create more transparent government, or push for reallocation of funding toward affordable housing.

This should give you a sense of what you can and can’t do as a commissioner, and hopefully incentivize you to run — if only because “don’t you want someone you agree with to be making the decisions?”

That person could be you! Look up your ANC here. Read more about how ANCs work, and what they do, here. More information, from the District, can be found here. If you’re interested in running, let us know at abaca@ggwash.org. (GGANCs who sent us their thoughts on serving as commissioners who aren’t running again are indicated below.)

What the ANC commissioners have to say

Kent Boese, 1A08

Regarding why ANCs matter, in the 10 years I’ve been on ANC1A I can say that when an ANC runs professionally, embraces good public policy, and works in good faith to represent all residents equitably, ANCs can become and are valuable community partners that District agencies rely on to achieve better outcomes. As a member of ANC1A, for example, I have been very involved in many zoning issues including larger efforts like the Park Morton redevelopment and the renovation/redevelopment of the Hebrew Home on Spring Road. Overall, I have a good understanding of development and zoning issues and the Zoning Commission has commented that ANC1A knows zoning … meaning that both the Zoning Commission and BZA pay close attention to our input on development cases.

While Park Morton is currently held up by a court challenge, the ANC work with residents and local organizations to achieve the best possible design that preserves the public housing currently at Park Morton, expands affordable housing with new workforce units, and creates new market rate units. This project wasn’t just about more housing (which is a win), but also about realigning roads and expanding greenspace with the creation of a permanent 1-acre park at the Bruce Monroe site as well as a new, smaller park at the current Park Morton site.

With the Hebrew Home, ANC1A worked with ANC4C to shepherd that project into reality. Work has just begun on the historic Hebrew Home building (I wrote the historic nomination for the building). the historic building will contain 100% affordable senior housing, while the former Robson school next door with be razed and replaced with a mix of housing that also has a mix of affordability. I was very involved in moving this project forward and working with concerned neighbors to ensure that the project “fit” with the neighborhood as best as possible.

In general, I’ve been very involved with transportation in my area as well. I support the Cross-town bike lanes that will connect Brookland and Park View, and have been working creatively to find solutions to community concerns so that we can get the bike lanes planned for Warder Street and Park Place moving as well. In the long-term, I’ve been thinking about how to reconfigure the Michigan Ave. overpass/Wangari gardens area to something more livable and multi-modal when the overpass goes away.

In closing, I will say that ANC1A under my leadership (and largely due to my drive and industry), reviewed every city-wide element of the Comprehensive plan and two area elements. As a result, ANC1A was among the Commissions that submitted the most comments to the Office of Planning (if not the most), and about 20% of our recommendations were accepted by OP and incorporated into the draft. During the Comp Plan process, we recommended areas for upFlumming/increasing density, commented on transportation, and made significant contributions to the Urban Design element.

Drew Courtney, 6C06

Serving as an ANC Commissioner has been a really gratifying way for me to work with my neighbors to try to solve the problems we’re facing as a community. I’ve been able to push for fair solutions to address the cost of housing, the safety of our streets and sidewalks and the health of our neighborhood.

Robb Dooling, formerly 6C06

Running for ANC is worthwhile because you can throw the weight of your neighborhood behind your passion, whether it be affordable housing, walkability, or climate activism. The commitment can scare plenty of people, but at the very minimum, you just need to show up at the monthly meetings and vote.

Gail Fast, 6D01

The best thing about being an ANC Commissioner is being part of the solution. Whether it is helping relocate seniors after the Arthur Capper Fire, or coordinating a neighborhood COVID-19 testing site, or saving residential parking while implementing protected bike lanes, or negotiating community benefit agreements for a new SW Community Center and a free world-class art museum, or standing firm on build-first for Greenleaf — that is why it is the best volunteer job out there.

Corey Holman, 6B06

Being an ANC commissioner is an incredibly fulfilling task, filled with moments of success, frustration, anger, and hope.

Villareal Johnson, 7B05

I am running for office again because I have the feel of the Commission’s culture, the trust of my constituents and can impact large and systemic changes to its operations for the good of the Commission’s boundaries.

The vision of a safe walkable community is the goal. Commission 7B made it a priority to work with DDOT on improving pedestrian and bike safety, traffic calming and enfroment, eliminating cut through traffic and changing driver behaviors.

It is worth running for ANC because it is worth the time, effort and energy to build bridges and connect people to the things they need to have a quality of life in the District of Columbia. The ANC is that bridge between the neighborhood, the council and the executive branch.

Phil Toomajian, 6A02

I find my service rewarding and feel good that I’m making a positive difference for my neighbors and for our city as a whole. We’ve made a lot of improvements to our community through our work here and I’m especially proud of the numerous safety improvements we’ve made to a number of our streets and intersections over the past several years, including along Maryland Ave, Florida Ave, and at several intersections where we’ve added stop signs, traffic signals, curb extensions and raised crosswalks. Running for ANC is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to be more involved in their community and who wants to help make a difference.

Kim Varzi, 4C07

In the past two years I have learned more than I imagined I would about how our city runs, performs, and lacks in performance. I have met more community members that are inspiring, hopeful, truly devoted to the area they live in. If you have the time and passion you can make change happen either at the local level or greater district level. I would encourage those considering running to keep an open mind and always remind themselves they are voting not for themselves but around 2000 other people. I am more than happy to speak with anyone interested in running for 4C07. It is a unique and challenging area as you have development, residents in homes as well as condos and apartments, restaurants, a grocery store, small businesses, NGO’s, two schools, three churches and Petworth Playground.

Varzi isn’t running for reelection; if you live in 4C07 (Petworth—check here), consider running!

Daniel Warwick, 2B02

Being an ANC Commissioner is a lot of work and not always fun. A few of my experiences over the past five years:

• I have become intimately familiar with the Freedom of Information Act as I have been FOIA’d by another commissioner multiple times. Unlike FOIA responses from executive agencies, these FOIA’s are not publicly posted and portions of the documents have been released out of context to attack me and others.
• I was subpoenaed to provide a deposition in a lawsuit against the District government filed by a neighborhood group started by a former commissioner after he lost a reelection campaign
• In my first term, a constituent set up an autoemailer to the entire commission in opposition to a policy I supported in my Single Member District. The autoemailer was used by a few dozen angry constituents. I now consider the person who set up the autoemailer campaign a friend.
• I, and most my fellow commissioners, were accused of “poor breeding” on a private neighborhood listserve I am not allowed to join.
• This was before I was accused of “lubing up for a political future” which led to a spirited neighborhood listserve debate on whether the term “lubing up” is homophobic in nature, and neighbors commented on their presumptions of my sexuality.
• In a neighborhood meeting discussing the historic preservation review of a proposed development with micro units, I mentioned my experience of, when a roommate moved out after college, potentially being forced to move from my Single Member District unless I found an affordable small/micro studio apartment in my SMD. Fortunately I found an apartment and was able to remain in the neighborhood. During my explination, a community said she wished I was forced to move and no longer be on the ANC.
• While not every experience of being a commissioner is positive, I have gotten to know some of the most kindhearted, intelligent, and dedicated members of my neighborhood; folks who are passionate about our community. People care about what’s happening on their block and bridging the gap of working with applicants who want to do things, neighbors who might be skeptical, and District agencies which do not have the capacity to pay attention to every block is immensly rewarding. While not why I ran, a former commissioner I admire used to say he ran for ANC to “make friends.” He said it mostly in jest, but getting to know and work with your neighbors is a real honor and typically lots of fun.

Besides, when things come to a vote in the monthly meetings, don’t you want someone you agree with to be making the decisions rather than leaving it to the people who will run for ANC to stop anything from ever changing?

Michaela Wright, 1C06

In a city that often feels dominated by the federal government, there are so many interesting things going on at the local level. My experience running for ANC opened my eyes to DC politics and local issues, and I learned that one person can make a huge impact in shaping the future of neighborhoods and communities. Through the ANC, I met so many of my neighbors, made new friends, and felt more connected to my community and the city of DC than I ever had before. Being an ANC Commissioner is a great opportunity to learn firsthand how city government works. As a Commissioner, I attended planning meetings, trainings, networking events, and even got coffee with my Councilmember. It can be a lot of work at times, but it’s also incredibly rewarding!

Wright isn’t running for reelection; if you live in 1C06 (Adams Morgan—check here), consider running!

Jen Bundy, 1A07

I am not running again for ANC1A07, but found my time on the ANC to be such a great experience. You are able to get to know your community in an entirely different way and also has made me a much more informed citizen. It also is critical to represent localized issues to the DC City Council and ANCs are a direct channel to advocating around specific neighborhood priorities. I would recommend that anyone who is passionate or interested in their communities should get involved - whether is by attending meetings, reading the ANC newsletter or running for the ANC as a candidate!

Bundy isn’t running for reelection; if you live in 1A07 (Park View—check here), consider running!

What to do next

We’ll be sharing more details about the ANC endorsement process once petitions are filed, in August. You should consider running! Once again, Look up your ANC here. Read more about how ANCs work, and what they do, here. More information, from the District, can be found here. If you’re interested in running, let us know at abaca@ggwash.org.