It’s 60 days until election day and most of you have probably made up your minds about whom you will vote in the general election. However, when it comes to local elections, most people have no idea how their District, Ward or advisory neighborhood commissions are divided or affect them. Local outlets such as Greater Greater Washington do a good job of bringing hyperlocal politics news, and reasons why you should run for these nonpartisan offices. OpenANC allows you to learn more about your own single-member district, so you know the names of the people in the race. As is now a tradition, The Hill is Home is publishing candidate statements in the order in which we’ve received them, so you know a little more about the people running and don’t go into the voting booth (or mail-in ballot) blind. –Maria Helena Carey
Statement by Pranav Nanda, ANC 6C04:
Hello. My name is Pranav Nanda. I am a proud resident and neighbor of the H-Street/Union Station area community, and I am running as a Write-In Candidate to become your next Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for SMD 6C04.
Since moving to DC, I have been an active participant in the local community, and I am proud to be a member of the DC Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the DC Education Coalition For Change. I have spent my time fighting for improvements to public safety and educational equity. I have testified before the DC Council about the DC Safe Passage program, the need to sustain funding for evidence-based violence prevention strategies, and the need for community-based solutions to public safety. I have also testified about increasing the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula, increasing investment in school-based mental health, and ensuring equitable access to distance learning. And earlier this summer, I joined with a group of coalition partners to call on our ANC to support our unhoused neighbors, who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and in support of more affordable and permanent housing options.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I quickly became one of the lead-organizers with Serve Your City/ Ward-6 Mutual Aid Network and I am extremely proud of the work the network has done to keep our community safe during this challenging time. We have provided community members throughout Ward-6 with tens of thousands of dollars worth of food and groceries and thousands of masks, and we provide our neighbors with critical public health and safety information. Most recently, I have helped lead the DC Back to School Bash, an initiative to provide 200+ DC Students with the resources and support that they need to be successful in their distance learning.
As you can see, I am not someone who sits around when I see something wrong, or who does nothing when I know someone might need some support. I am someone who brings people together, comes up with a solution, and, most importantly, gets to work. And that is exactly what I will do if elected to become the next Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Single Member District 6C04.
I’d love to get to know you and the issues you care about most in our neighborhood. Please get in touch with me at @PranavNandaDC or visit my website pranavnanda6c04.com!