This post is another appeal for residents to consider running for an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) position. The ANC is a nonpartisan position. The election for new ANCs will be this year in the general election in November. Nominating petitions for ANC become available June 26, 2020. To get on the ballot, all you need is 25 signatures from residents in the single member district (SMD) where you live.

There is a solid chance three or four of the current ANC 5A commissioners will not run again. Some of them have been serving many terms and they appear ready to move on.

In particular, it would be awesome for someone in my SMD, ANC 5A01, to run. The boundaries of 5A01 are the south side of Kennedy Street NE to the north, Eastern Avenue NE to the east, Galloway Street NE to the south, and the east side of South Dakota Avenue NE to the west. It is a nice little manageable area that includes the Bertie Backus campus and the Lamond-Riggs Library. You can see a map of ANC 5A below.

The ANC is an interesting creature of DC Home Rule. I think as with any volunteer position, it is as much work as you make it. There are of course certain things that must be done in terms of number of meetings, reporting, and the like. One could do simply the required minimum. There is also the opportunity to really have a big impact. One could advocate for budget items, give ideas for meaningful legislation, request improvements around pedestrian safety and civic assets, give substantive input on development projects, or any number of things.

Some people see the ANC as a stepping stone to higher office. Mayor Muriel Bowser served as an ANC in Riggs Park before representing Ward 4 on the DC Council and eventually becoming mayor. If there are residents out there for whom that is a goal, I say go for it. What better way to campaign than showing you have done tangible things in the neighborhood where you live. For the rest of us who do not have political aspirations, I think there is tremendous value in doing the work that we wish someone else would do.

I happen to live on the Ward 5 side of the neighborhood, so I most often attend ANC 5A meetings, but my appeal applies to Ward 4 neighbors as well. For people truly interested in running, I would recommend attending the monthly ANC meetings. There are a handful of meetings left before the summer break, so there is plenty of time to observe and think about how you would like to serve.