The Role of ANC Commissioner

Dear Neighbors,

In light of recent discussions and postings concerning the duties of ANC Commissioners, I’ve been reflecting on the role commissioners play in DC’s democratic system, and I wanted to reiterate my thoughts on how I approach this important responsibility.

The Power of Hyperlocal Representation

Scale matters in representation — a lot. The structure of DC government provides different levels of elected representation by design, each with distinct roles and capabilities. As of the 2020 Census, a DC Council member represents between 76,000 and 108,000 residents, making direct constituent engagement on most issues logistically impossible. By necessity, Council members must often rely on their personal judgment, philosophy, and the input of those constituents motivated enough to contact them.

In stark contrast, as your ANC Commissioner, I represent only about 2,000 residents in our geographically concentrated area. This dramatically smaller scale creates a unique opportunity for direct democracy that exists nowhere else in our local government structure. Through surveys, meetings, conversations, and digital communication, I have the practical ability to directly ascertain your views on most significant matters affecting our neighborhood.

The Design and Purpose of ANCs

ANC commissioners are in a unique position. The very design of the ANC system under the Home Rule Act suggests an intention for commissioners to function differently than other elected officials. If ANC Commissioners were meant to simply exercise independent judgment like Council members, why create such small districts? Why not have larger ANC districts with fewer commissioners?

The answer seems clear: ANCs were deliberately structured to enable a more direct form of representation that other elected officials simply cannot provide due to their scale. This is not a burden but rather a democratic opportunity that I embrace wholeheartedly.

A Vital Check and Balance

The DC Mayor’s office and Council already have ample means to consider and act on behalf of the entire District of Columbia.

If ANCs merely echo the judgment-based representation model of the Council, what distinct purpose would ANCs serve other than liaising with DC agencies about permits and potholes?

In fact, ANCs provide a vital democratic check on the larger bodies in DC government precisely because we can more accurately reflect hyperlocal perspectives. We serve as the neighborhood’s voice to the government, and, in particular, to the Mayor and the Council, not as the government’s voice to the neighborhood.

The best way to understand our community’s opinions is through well-crafted and balanced surveys. When I can report that a specific percentage of surveyed constituents hold a particular view on a development plan, this provides crucial information that might otherwise be lost in city-wide planning. As intended under the Home Rule Act and the oath that Commissioners take to uphold it, it is incumbent upon me to relay that information to DC government to bridge this important gap between DC residents and their government.

Informed Representation vs. Substitution of Judgment

I believe it’s essential that I become knowledgeable about the issues affecting our neighborhood. However, there is a meaningful distinction between being informed of your opinions and substituting my judgment for them.

The ability to actually engage with our neighborhood regarding the very concrete and local issues affecting us undermines any argument that commissioners need to exercise judgment on behalf of constituents. Of course, I still need to analyze the opinions of hundreds of households, but that analysis can be firmly based on local and direct feedback, placing me in the unique position of not needing to rely on interest groups, parties, or influencers.

My Commitment to You

What’s at stake here is not whether I should be knowledgeable—I absolutely should be—but whether I should accord privilege to my personal judgment over your clearly expressed will. In a system specifically designed for direct representation at the neighborhood level, my principle is clear: when you have been thoroughly informed and have expressed clear preferences, those preferences should be respected.

The beauty of the ANC system is that it offers a form of representation not available elsewhere in our democratic structure. To squander that opportunity by defaulting to the same judgment-based model used at higher levels of government would be to diminish what makes ANCs unique and valuable in DC’s governance.

I welcome your thoughts on this, as I believe these kinds of respectful conversations strengthen our community’s democratic process. It’s precisely because I care deeply about effective representation that I wanted to share these reflections with you.