Public Service - Election Time!

Much of the election oxygen has been sucked up by the Mayoral race, Council Chair race, & even the At Large council seat race...but today marks the first day that petitions are available for the ANC races.  What is ANC you ask? ANC stands for Advisory Neighborhood Commission(er) which is a lowly elected position that is unpaid.  Commissioners are elected to represent roughly about 2000 of their constituents.  Each ward has several commissions which, by law, the government is required to give "great weight" regarding matters of neighborhood concern.  So things like liquor licenses, zoning decisions, street closures...ANCs are supposed to be the voice of the community.  ANC elections occur every 2 years during the general election in Novemeber.

So in our neighborhood we are split between 2 wards (2 & 6) and 2 ANCs (2C and 6C).  ANCs are further broken down into SMDs (Single Member Districts) which supposedly constitute the aformentioned 2000 or so constituents.  The boundaries are a bit convoluted (and will change with the next census) but we have handy maps so you can figure out which ANC single member district you reside in.

ANC 6C is fairly large consisting of 9 commissioners.  It has committees and generally functions - but like any other ANC there are issues.  ANC 2C has only 4 commissioners and is frequently deadlocked.  There is a long history of dysfunction there which we can get into later but if you do a simple search on this blog and/or google you could while away hours...but that is not the point of this post.

To run for the office of ANC you have to reside in that particular SMD and get the signature of at least 25 registered voters in that SMD on your nominating petition.    You can pick this up at the DC Board of elections.  The deadline to file a completed petition to get on the ballot is September 3rd.  All of the info is available here.

I'm telling you all this for 2 reasons: First this is a call to public service to serve your community because (second) we have a current lack of adequate representation in our area - this needs to be remedied.   This is hyperlocal politics and it is important if we want to have an actual voice in our own neighborhood, not be subject to those who ignore us.

oh one more thing, register & VOTE.  Forms will be available at the 5 Eye Movies or go online.  Now let the election madness begin! ;)